How Perovskite LEDs Could Revolutionize Home Lighting

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a new type of light-emitting diode (LED) using perovskite, a calcium titanium oxide mineral commonly associated with inexpensive solar panels. Perovskite LEDs, or PeLEDs, are cheaper and easier to manufacture than traditional LEDs, which rely on costly materials like gallium nitride, and can produce vibrant colors suitable for screens. A comprehensive life-cycle assessment revealed that while PeLEDs demonstrate comparable environmental performance to mature organic LEDs (OLEDs), they need to achieve a lifespan of at least 10,000 hours to fully mitigate their environmental impacts, as current options only last a few hundred hours. With improvements, PeLEDs could revolutionize lighting, display technology, and medical devices, with potential costs around $100 per square meter, making them competitive with OLED panels. The findings suggest significant commercialization potential for PeLEDs in the long term, as indicated in a recent study published in Nature Sustainability.