May 13, 2009 -- German scientists said Wednesday they had tweaked organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) -- the materials used in flat-screen TVs, laptop computer screens and mobile phone displays -- to become flexible, energy-efficient sources of white light. Sebastian Reineke and colleagues of Dresden's Technical University, reporting in the British journal Nature, modified the internal structure of a white-light OLED to reduce internal energy loss and boost photon output. The improved device yielded 90 lumens (a measurement of brightness) per watt of electricity consumed, he said. Related Content:
This compared to 15 lumens for a conventional incandescent light bulb and between 50 and 70 lumens per watt for modern compact fluorescent light bulbs. Reineke said OLED screens could be used to light a room or provide a reading light, provided they overcame two obstacles in order to make the product commercially feasible. The first is to boosting the lifespan of important components called "blue emitters" and also achieve economies of scale in manufacturing, he said. Related Links: Discovery Tech: Expert Interviews, Video, Slide Shows and More Get More NewsMouse Cloned From Long-Frozen CellResearchers create a mouse from a long-frozen cell. Will the mammoth be next?'Bubble' Could Protect AstronautsScientists say a "bubble" around a Mars-bound spaceship could protect astronauts.Big Reduction of Snowmobiles in Yellowstone ProposedA new plan would cut snowmobile use by 40 percent in Yellowstone.Microbes: Fuel of the Future?A reddish South American microbe is literally breathing fuel, say scientists.DNA Links Remains to Steve FossetDNA tests on two bones found in California confirm they are those of Steve Fossett.Women Carry More Bacteria Than MenSome bacteria prefer women, suggests a new study. But why?Ancient 'Water Monster' Facing ExtinctionA foot-long salamander that was a key part of Aztec legend is threatened by extinction.Grand Canyon's Youth ConfirmedThe Grand Canyon is millions of years younger than previously thought, argue geologists.My Take: E-Voting Not User FriendlyOpinion: Electronic voting machines don't always capture the intent of voters.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.At 40, Brain and Body SlowThe part of the brain in charge of motion starts a gradual slide in middle age.Spiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates. |
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