Lund University researchers develop efficient nanowire LED

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have developed an experimental light-emitting diode (LED) utilizing extremely thin, branching nanowires. This design aims to address the issue of total internal reflection, where light becomes trapped inside conventional LED materials and reflects back inward rather than escaping.

In standard LEDs, only about 4% of generated light may escape directly without additional surface treatments, which increases manufacturing complexity and cost. The new structure features a central nanowire with branches thinner than the wavelength of the light they produce. Because these branches are so small, light cannot be trapped as easily, potentially allowing a much higher proportion of light to escape and improving overall energy efficiency.