Scientists have developed a system that converts the blue light of LEDs into ultraviolet light. About informs Kyushu University press office.
The main source of ultraviolet radiation on Earth is the Sun. UV light is divided into three types based on wavelength: A, B, and C. Only UV-A reaches the Earth’s surface, while B and C are mostly absorbed by the ozone layer. However, scientists have found that man-made UV-B and UV-C are useful for disinfection as well as photochemical reactions, detoxification of pollutants and wastewater treatment. They are also used to treat a number of skin conditions such as eczema and vitiligo. Mercury lamps are now used for these purposes, which are inefficient and toxic if not properly disposed of.
For many years, Japanese scientists led by Nobuhiro Yanai and colleagues have been choosing the right substances and materials that can absorb blue light photon pairs and “combine” them with twice the energy (frequency). This happens because of the triple-triple destruction process. “The wavelength of blue LED light is closest to ultraviolet light. We succeeded in converting long wavelength blue LED light into short wavelength UV-A. Therefore, our next step was to find compounds that could convert blue LED light into UV-B,” the authors write.
Potentially this could be used to create a UV-B lamp, but before that it would be necessary to solve the stability problem of the liquid working fluid. The main advantage of this technology is simplicity and environmental friendliness.