According to a study conducted by researchers at Linköping University ( LiU ) and published in Nature Sustainability , indicated that perovskite LEDs offer notable advantages compared to the LEDs we use in the digital market today.
Perovskite LEDs: a cheaper and more sustainable alternative
Professor Feng Gao, an optoelectronics expert at Linköping University , says these LEDs are cheaper and easier to manufacture, making them an attractive option for the global market. Furthermore, perovskite allows for the creation of LEDs that produce more vibrant and intense colors, making them ideal for displays and visual devices.
To make perovskite LEDs a successful replacement for conventional LEDs, researchers have considered three factors: cost , technical performance , and environmental impact . Despite their efficiency, one of the biggest challenges is the longevity of these LEDs. However, recent advances suggest this problem could be solved over time.
The life cycle of LEDs: a technical and environmental analysis
Researchers analyzed 18 different types of perovskite LEDs using a techno-economic assessment and life cycle analysis ( LCA ). This analysis examines the five phases of the product life cycle: raw material production, manufacturing, distribution, use, and decommissioning.
This analysis highlights the need to avoid toxic materials such as lead, which is essential for the effectiveness of perovskite LEDs. However, the researchers emphasize that gold, another material used in their production, has an even more negative environmental impact due to its highly toxic and expensive manufacturing process. Gold is easily replaced with more accessible metals such as copper, aluminum, or nickel, which would reduce the environmental impact of the process.
Furthermore, the analysis revealed the importance of considering the reuse of organic solvents and how raw materials are produced, especially those that are rare and expensive. According to Professor Olof Hjelm, the production methods for rare materials, such as gold and lead, have a profound environmental impact.
The future of perovskite LEDs
Currently, perovskite LEDs have a limited lifespan, with the best models lasting only a few hundred hours. However, researchers estimate that in the coming years, ” perovskite lights ” could last up to 10,000 hours, making their environmental impact considerably positive.
PhD student Muyi Zhang, part of the research team, notes that much of the research so far has focused on improving the technical performance of these LEDs . For now, he acknowledges that in the future, it will be equally important to develop LEDs that are efficient, yet affordable and environmentally friendly.
The study was funded by several institutions, including the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation , the Swedish Research Council , the Swedish Energy Agency , and the Olle Enqvist Foundation . It also received support from Linköping University’s Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, which is important for the development of new sustainable technologies. The researchers have high hopes that perovskite LEDs will become a viable and widespread option in the lighting industry.
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Source and photo: Linköping University
