Breakthrough could lead to 400% clearer smartphone displays

Using nanotechnology, Professor Stephen Chou increased the effectiveness of solar cells by 175% back in 2012. Now, Professor Chou has improved the LED. Besides making them last longer and more efficient, the professor has made LEDs five times clearer. The implication for smartphone users is tremendous. Currently, only 2% to 4% of the light generated by an LED is actually emitted by the diode. This makes the light dim and also helps give an LED short life since it is generating heat inside itself.

Scientists have been able to raise the percentage of light generated by LEDs to 38%. In doing so, it creates ambient light which causes the image to become hazy. But Chou has been able to eliminate the ambient light with a nanotechnology structure called "plasmonic cavity with subwavelength hole-array". Surely you remember that from science class, right? This raises the percentage of emitted light to 60%. Contrast is increased by 400% and the whole process rids the LED of the heat that costs it long life.

Testing still continues, patents need to be filed, and there is still a long way to go before this comes out of the lab and into your smartphone screen. But the technology does exist to improve the displays on future handsets. It is all just a matter of time.


source: Phys.org via Gizmodo