Deep-UV LEDs set for production ramp-up
Sensor Electronic Technology (SET) says that it has demonstrated deep-UV LEDs with both a high output power and a low drive current.
The III-V start-up company, which is based in Columbia, SC, has made the devices emit 1 mW continuous-wave (CW) output at 280 nm with a drive current of 25 mA.
In pulsed mode, the same devices yield 9 mW when driven at 200 mA.
SET had made similar devices delivering these kinds of output powers before (see related story), but has only recently been able to reduce the required drive current to a level suitable for commercial use. Previously, 280 nm-emitting LEDs had been made to emit 1.53 mW in CW mode, but only at a drive current of 450 mA.
The company has been working on developing the novel light sources, which could be used in biological agent detection, spectroscopy and water purification, under a DARPA Small Business Innovation Research contract.
"This is a major development in our efforts to commercialize semiconductor-based deep ultraviolet sources," said SET s president and CEO, Remis Gaska. "Our technology can provide ultraviolet LEDs emitting in any part of the spectrum currently covered by mercury lamps and deliver power levels acceptable for a variety of commercial applications."
"The company is scaling up production of these novel devices and already started sampling and promotional sales of deep-ultraviolet LED products," said SET in a statement.
The company manufactures the deep-UV sources using its proprietary migration-enhanced MOCVD deposition technology. According to SET, epiwafers grown using this technique have a better material quality and improved doping characteristics, particularly when it comes to depositing layers with a high aluminium content such as the AlGaN-based 280 nm LEDs.
