The Chemistry of the Impossible Blue LED

Blue LED isn’t just about the screen you are currently reading this from; it’s a scientific puzzle across three decades and the missing ingredient to making white light. So why was red and green LEDs much easier to make, while making a stable and efficient blue LED was considered a scientific nightmare? In this episode, we are diving into why blue LED is so special and how it was finally made thanks to the persistence of Japanese-American electronic engineer Shuji Nakamura. Linking closely to chemistry, the success of the blue LED could not have happened if not for the unique properties of gallium nitride (GaN), energy bands and gaps, creating n and p-type GaN as well as the use of nitrogen gas in the making of the crystal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.