Tile light, a new way of illuminating

Scientists Paul Blom Paul and Ton van Mol of Holst Centre in Eindhoven (Netherlands) explained in this month's issue of the magazine Physics World a revolutionary form of light called OLED (organic light-emitting diode), which can change the way to illuminate homes, buildings and vehicles.

OLED is related to the LED, semiconductor material that emits light by applying a voltage , which is used to compose images on screens of various tools such as calculators and digital watches.

The main feature of OLED is that it is rolled into a sheet of paper and its applications are most varied. The authors state that can be used as light tiles or strips to put on the windows of homes and offices also can be programmed to simulate dawn and dusk .

Instead of the traditional solid leds that are on the screen of traffic signals, indicators of the cars and many other elements, the OLED can easily be dissolved and sprayed on a thin sheet of flexible plastic with a process similar to the traditional newspaper printing.

The bottom layer of an OLED screen, which acts as a support, is a flexible material such as a polymer sheet containing the electrodes and a light emitting layer attached on top completes the device. Each layer has a thickness about 200 nanometers (a billionth of a meter). The authors suggest that traditional LEDs have failed to become a viable alternative to light bulbs , because despite being highly efficient, have to be manufactured in laboratories sterile and expensive.

Researchers around the world are working with private companies like the U.S. General Electric and Japan's Fuji to improve efficiency and costs of this new innovative technology that could well help save electricity . "Many companies recognize the potential of OLED and are investing heavily in research and development to stay ahead when this technology take off 'point.

According to the authors 20% of the electricity consumed worldwide goes to lighting, so expect their technology will help reduce the consumption of global energy but still have to overcome some obstacles.

Before OLEDs become a regular commercial product lighting, have to solve, for example, how to protect it from water and reduce the time of synthesis of materials, but hope that in time 'is not just a curiosity but start a revolution in lighting. "