Feb 17 2010

Nanotechnology: Shedding Light

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall

According to the Book of Genesis, God said "Let there be light," and there was light upon the Earth. 

But in our homes, offices and businesses, where humans are involved, it's not so easy.
 
Should we use incandescent bulbs, which emit a familiar warm glow but guzzle energy? Should we save energy with compact fluorescent bulbs--but worry about possible mercury pollution? Or should we hold out of cool, long-lasting, but extremely expensive light emitting diodes (LEDs), as some cities are now doing for holiday and street lighting (with help from PG&E)?
Credit: RTI
 
The choice will get a little easier starting in 2012, when a phased federal ban on the sale of incandescent bulbs starts going into effect. But that still leaves the problem of finding the best replacement.
 
A company called RTI International--based, appropriately enough, at Research Triangle in North Carolina--says it has a "revolutinary lighting technology" that is five times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but without the toxic mercury contained (in tiny quantities) in CFLs. 
 
With funding from the Department of Energy's solid-state lighting program, RTI says it has developed nanofibers, much thinner than the human hair, that radiate light and act as suitable reflectors, making them ideal for lighting applications.
 
The color spectrum of their light is also said to be more pleasing than that of many CFLs, which used to encounter consumer resistance because of perceived harshness.
 
"Because lighting consumes almost one-fourth of all electricity generated in the United States, our technology could have a significant impact in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions," said Lynn Davis, director of RTI's Nanoscale Materials Program.
 
The company's web site explains helpfully that "Photoluminescent nanofibers (PLNs) can be formed by combining electrospun polymeric nanofibers and luminescent particles such as quantum dots (QDs)." I won't spoil the surprise by quoting the rest. 
 
Commercial products are still a few years off. In the meantime, given the enormous size of the market, the technology race is sure make the Olympics look tame. 
 
CREE, a leader in LED technology, has already announced a prototype chip that produces twice as much light per watt as RTI's technology--though its spectrum may not be as pleasing and cost comparisons aren't available.  
 
In all likelihood, no one technology will rule the entire market--many will be needed to meet a variety of niche applications. Whoever wins in the end, there will be light.

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