Energy Department Invests More Than $10 Million in Lighting R&D

June 24, 2014
Product architectures and improvements in fabrication techniques won investment support from the DOE. Other notable investments include Philips Research's development of an all-LED patient suite for healthcare facilities and the University of California's search for a low-cost plastic substrate to bring down the cost of LED lighting.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced nine research and development projects that will receive funding to support solid-state lighting (SSL) core technology research and product development. The projects, the department said, will help accelerate the development of high-quality light-emitting diode (LED) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products. This is the department’s ninth round of investments in SSL core technology R&D. In total, the nine selected projects in this round will receive nearly $10.5 million and will make a cost-share contribution for a total public-private investment of more than $13.7 million. The projects selected to receive funding will help to further reduce the cost and improve the quality of SSL products:

Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pa.) — Improving the heat-conducting properties of the phosphor used in LEDs, which will increase light output and reduce costs.

Cree, Inc. (Durham, N.C.) — Developing a new low-cost, high-efficiency LED structure by modifying the manufacturing process to reduce processing time and waste.

Momentive Performance Materials Quartz, Inc. (Strongsville, Ohio) — Developing next-generation LED package structures using transparent encapsulants that allow for higher drive current, resulting in increased light output.

OLEDWorks, LLC (Rochester, N.Y.) — Developing cost-effective manufacturing technologies necessary to make high-performance, low-cost OLED panels.

Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLC (San Jose, Calif.)—Reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of LED lighting products by developing a high-voltage LED light engine with a built-in driver.

Philips Research North America, LLC (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) — Developing an innovative, energy-efficient LED lighting system for hospital patient suites that takes into consideration health and wellbeing as well as visual needs.

Pixelligent Technologies, LLC (Baltimore, Md.) — Improving the efficiency of OLED lighting by using nanocrystals to increase the light extraction.

Princeton University (Princeton, N.J.) — Increasing the efficiency of OLED lighting on flexible substrates by enhancing the light extraction and removing costly materials.

University of California (Los Angeles, Calif.) — Improving energy efficiency and reducing the manufacturing cost of OLED lighting through the use of an integrated plastic substrate instead of the usual glass with indium tin oxide.

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