Technical Insight
Nitride Semiconductors Develops 350 nm Ultraviolet LED (News from Japan)
Nitride Semiconductors Co., a spin-off from Tokushima University, has developed an ultraviolet LED with a 350 nm wavelength and sufficient light output for commercialization. The wavelength of the devices, which were grown on sapphire, was achieved by optimizing the layer structure and the aluminum content of the GaN-based devices. Sample products can output 0.1 mW of light, and the company says the technology is ready to support outputs of up to 1 mW. Because they have short wavelengths and are easy to focus, ultraviolet LEDs are expected to be used in detecting microscopic quantities of chemical substances, as well as light sources for medical devices.