Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Japan, Kiyosu, has developed deep ultraviolet (UV-C) LEDs with light output. As an alternative light source for mercury lamps used for disinfection, improved performance of UV-C LEDs has been expected. Sample sales of Toyoda Gosei’s high power LEDs will begin internationally from April 2024, to promote their wider use for disinfecting water, air and surface. Compared with mercury lamps, UV-C LEDs are environmentally-friendly as they are mercury-free, more compact and have a longer life. These advantages promoted their wide use in devices for disinfecting air and surfaces during the Covid-19 pandemic. For water purification plants and other situations where high disinfection performance is needed, mercury lamps are still used. Toyoda Gosei has successfully developed UV-C LEDs that achieve light output at the level of 200 milliwatts with a single chip when driven by a current of 350 milliamperes. Improvement of the LED structure and composition quadrupled the amount of light that can be extracted. Enhanced LED performance including disinfecting capability of about three times higher will expand their applicable areas including a future alternative to mercury lamps, contributing to more hygienic and safer living. For more information, visit: https://www.toyodagosei-led.jp/en/.
