A new type of LED technology may soon change the way we light up our homes and screens.
Scientists at Linköping University in Sweden are developing perovskite LEDs, which are cheaper, easier to make, and more colorful than traditional LEDs.
“Perovskite LEDs could be the next big thing in lighting and display technology,” says Feng Gao, a professor of optoelectronics at Linköping University.
For new technology to succeed, it must be affordable, work well, and be good for the environment.
While perovskite LEDs perform well, researchers wanted to know if they are also cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
To find out, Professor Gao’s team worked with environmental experts to analyze 18 types of perovskite LEDs.
They used two methods: life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA). These methods study a product’s impact from creation to disposal, considering factors like raw materials, production, transportation, usage, and recycling.
Reducing environmental impact
One concern with perovskite LEDs is that they contain a small amount of toxic lead. However, researchers argue that lead is not the biggest problem. Instead, they point to gold, which is used in LEDs and has a much greater environmental impact.
“Gold mining produces toxic waste, including mercury and cyanide, and uses a lot of energy,” says Professor Olof Hjelm, a researcher in environmental sustainability.
To make perovskite LEDs more eco-friendly, the team suggests replacing gold with cheaper and safer materials like copper, aluminum, or nickel, while keeping the small amount of lead needed for performance.
Can perovskite LEDs replace traditional LEDs?
Perovskite LEDs show great promise for the future, but they have one big challenge—they don’t last long enough yet.
Currently, the best perovskite LEDs last for hundreds of hours, but for them to be environmentally friendly and useful in the real world, they need to last at least 10,000 hours.
Researchers believe this goal is achievable as technology improves. As Ph.D. student Muyi Zhang explains, scientists are now shifting their focus to making perovskite LEDs not just powerful, but also long-lasting, affordable, and sustainable.
“If a product works well but is too expensive or bad for the environment, it won’t succeed in the market. That’s why we need to think beyond just technical performance,” he says.
With continued progress, perovskite LEDs could one day replace traditional LEDs, offering a brighter, cheaper, and greener lighting solution for the future.
