Researchers at Lund University have developed a new type of light-emitting diode based on thin, branched nanowires that could offer significantly higher efficiency and lower production costs compared to current technology. In conventional LEDs, a large proportion of the generated light is trapped inside the material due to total internal reflection, limiting the amount that escapes. The new design overcomes this problem by emitting light from very thin side branches extending from a central nanowire. By controlling where in the structure the light is generated, the researchers have reduced these losses. While the technology is still at the research stage and needs further optimization (for example, to reduce losses from surface defects in the nanostructures), the team sees great potential for more energy-efficient light sources in the future — with applications ranging from public lighting to advanced optoelectronic devices.
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