Scientists from Osram Opto Semiconductors and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering have been nominated for the prestigious German Future Prize, in recognition of their work on high-brightness LEDs.
The award, which recognises outstanding engineering and scientific achievements that will lead to practical and marketable applications, will be presented by Federal President Horst Köhler in December.
The team’s work could be used in applications ranging from rear projection televisions to automobile headlights. Normally, the LED crystals are grown on a substrate that absorbs most of the light produced. The team found a way of removing this to increase emission, while adding a very thin layer of metal at the very top of the LED to act as a reflector that further improves the brightness.
The nominated team includes Dr Stefan Illek and Dr. Klaus Streubel from Osram, and Dr Andreas Bräuer from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering.
