What is an LED? (2024)

In the simplest terms, a light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current is passed through it. Light is produced when the particles that carry the current (known as electrons and holes) combine together within the semiconductor material.

Since light is generated within the solid semiconductor material, LEDs are described as solid-state devices. The term solid-state lighting, which also encompasses organic LEDs (OLEDs), distinguishes this lighting technology from other sources that use heated filaments (incandescent and tungsten halogen lamps) or gas discharge (fluorescent lamps).

Different colors
Inside the semiconductor material of the LED, the electrons and holes are contained within energy bands. The separation of the bands (i.e. the bandgap) determines the energy of the photons (light particles) that are emitted by the LED.

The photon energy determines the wavelength of the emitted light, and hence its color. Different semiconductor materials with different bandgaps produce different colors of light. The precise wavelength (color) can be tuned by altering the composition of the light-emitting, or active, region.

LEDs are comprised of compound semiconductor materials, which are made up of elements from group III and group V of the periodic table (these are known as III-V materials). Examples of III-V materials commonly used to make LEDs are gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium phosphide (GaP).

Until the mid-90s LEDs had a limited range of colors, and in particular commercial blue and white LEDs did not exist. The development of LEDs based on the gallium nitride (GaN) material system completed the palette of colors and opened up many new applications.

Main LED materials
The main semiconductor materials used to manufacture LEDs are:

  • Indium gallium nitride (InGaN): blue, green and ultraviolet high-brightness LEDs
  • Aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP): yellow, orange and red high-brightness LEDs
  • Aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs): red and infrared LEDs
  • Gallium phosphide (GaP): yellow and green LEDs
What is an LED? (2024)

FAQs

What is a LED short answer? ›

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current flows through it. When current passes through an LED, the electrons recombine with holes emitting light in the process.

What is LED explained? ›

LED stands for light emitting diode. LED lighting products produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs. How do they work? An electrical current passes through a microchip, which illuminates the tiny light sources we call LEDs and the result is visible light.

How is a LED different from a light bulb? ›

When you turn on an LED light, electricity passes through a small microchip, AKA the light-emitting diode, causing it to glow brightly. A few reasons for the growing popularity of LED lights are that they are cooler to the touch, use much less energy, and last up to 25 times longer than standard light bulbs.

What is the difference between a diode and an LED? ›

The diode converts the alternating current into the direct current, whereas the led converts the voltage into the light. The diode has high reverse breakdown voltage while the LED has the low reverse breakdown voltage. The reverse breakdown voltage is the voltage that allows current to conducts in the reverse bias.

Why do we say an LED? ›

It is 'an', because we say El Ee Dee light, so 'LED' doesn't start with a consonant sound (L) but with a vowel sound (El) and therefore it is proper to say 'an'.

What does an LED do simple? ›

Compared with conventional light sources that first convert electrical energy into heat, and then into light, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) convert electrical energy directly into light, delivering efficient light generation with little-wasted electricity.

How does a LED work in simple words? ›

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons.

What is the main purpose of LED? ›

The major uses of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) are to illuminate objects and even places. Its application is everywhere due to its compact size, low consumption of energy, extended lifetime, and flexibility in terms of use in various applications. Applications and uses of LEDs can be seen in: TV Backlighting.

What is special about an LED? ›

LEDs are the most efficient type of lightbulb. Unlike incandescent bulbs, which release 90% of their energy as heat, LEDs use energy far more efficiently with little wasted heat. Every time you flip a switch, you're getting your money's worth.

How do you tell if a light is an LED? ›

How to identify. Most residential LED light bulbs have a typical light bulb shape but are usually made with a plastic shell instead of glass, with only a portion of the body being translucent. Look for an "LED" or "LED LAMP" marking on the bulb as well.

Do LED lights get hot? ›

LED lights produce heat the same way any other light bulb does. When a light bulb consumes energy, it releases heat and increases its temperature. Fortunately, their temperature rises considerably less than any other alternative would.

How many volts does it take to light a LED? ›

on LED datasheets. Typically, the forward voltage of an LED is between 1.8 and 3.3 volts. It varies by the color of the LED. A red LED typically drops around 1.7 to 2.0 volts, but since both voltage drop and light frequency increase with band gap, a blue LED may drop around 3 to 3.3 volts.

Why do LED diodes fail? ›

If the current and/or voltage is too low the LEDs will appear too dim, or fail to light at all. If the current and/or voltage is too high the LEDs could either age prematurely (in the case of minor overdrive) or fail catastrophically (in the case of major overdrive) with all scenarios in between being possible.

Do you need a diode for LED? ›

An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible range. Passing a current through a chunk of semiconductor with no diode junction in it would simply produce heat.

What is LED for kids? ›

The letters L.E.D. stand for light-emitting diode, and inside each one is a small crystal that, when properly connected with electricity, lights up. LEDs that light up red have a crystal made of gallium arsenide. An aluminum gallium crystal creates green, and indium gallium nitride creates blue.

What is LED in one sentence? ›

Led is the past tense of the verb lead (pronounced leed), which means to guide, direct, be in charge, or to bring something about: She led the party through the marshland. She lead the party through the marshland. The accident led to an astonishing discovery.

What does the term LED stand for? ›

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LEDs began as exciting but expensive electronic components in the sixties, used in handheld calculators and other similar devices. Through research and development, LED technology advanced, became more efficient and less expensive, until it reached its current form.

What is LED TV explanation? ›

LED TV is a type of LCD television that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to backlight the display instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) used in standard LCD televisions. LED TVs are more formally known as LED-backlight LCD television.

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