Dowa develops DUV LEDs with record 90mW output for resin curing and medical care

Dowa Holdings Co Ltd subsidiary Dowa Electronic Materials Co Ltd of Tokyo, Japan has developed a deep-ultraviolet LED chip featuring what is claimed to be record output power of 90mW, with a peak wavelength of 310nm, and dimensions of 1mm x 1mm.

Deep-ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 310nm is used for curing and skin therapy. Replacing conventional mercury and excimer lamps with such LEDs enables equipment to be smaller and mercury-free. With the advantages of long life time and power saving, the LED is expected to find new applications.

Combining a high-quality aluminium nitride (AlN) template with unique crystal growth technology, Dowa Electronic Materials is already equiped for mass production for deep-ultraviolet LED chips with record output power at the 280nm disinfection wavelength. For the 310nm wavelength, by combining this technology with fine-structured sapphire substrates developed by Tokyo-based Oji Holdings Corp, Dowa has improved luminous efficiency, boosting output power by 20% (compared with existing products) to a record 90mW for 310nm. The firm will begin to mass produce the new 310nm DUV LEDs in April.