What is LED light?

An LED light is a light-emitting diode (LED) that produces a narrow band of visible light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs are common light sources for artificial lighting and electronic screens because they are energy-efficient, affordable and sturdy.

An LED light contains a material called a semiconductor, which gives off visible light when an electric current flows through it. The semiconductor (the diode) determines the color of the LED light. Blue, red and green LEDs, often combined with other materials such as phosphor, can produce a full spectrum of colors. 

LEDs have become the most common source of artificial lighting. Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs have fallen in popularity. 

• Incandescent light bulbs produce light with a filament that heats up, making them less efficient. 

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) contain mercury gas that gives off ultraviolet (UV) light when electricity passes through it. The UV light is then absorbed by a phosphor coating, emitting visible light. Fluorescent light bulbs are not as energy efficient or long-lasting and contain toxic materials. 

For these reasons, LED lighting can be found in many places, including:

LED bulbs are cool to the touch and produce bright light using a fraction of the energy of incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. 

Blue LED light is an important component of white LED light

The development of a blue LED in 2014 was a significant achievement that led to LED lighting becoming widely popular. The reason for this is that blue LED lights can be used to produce white light. 

While red and green LED lights had been around for decades, LED blue light was difficult to produce — until researchers from Japan made this a reality. It was such a remarkable development that the scientists behind it were awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics. 

One way to create artificial white light is to combine the output of three single-colored LEDs — a blending of red, green and blue LED light sources. The semiconductor material determines the color of the LED. But this is expensive and somewhat difficult to accomplish.

Artificial white light can also be made by combining blue LED light with low-energy yellow phosphor. For example, a bulb may contain blue LED light that excites the yellow phosphor, and the colors combine to form white light. 

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