LED stands for light emitting diodes. This small device has great importance in the world of electronics. From digital clocks to color displays, we find these diodes.
The diode is a semiconductor device made up of P-type and N-type of material. In the case of LEDs, aluminum-gallium-arsenide (AlGaAs) is used as the conductor material. In pure aluminum-gallium-arsenide, the entire atom bond leaves no free electrons to carry electric current. When the proper voltage is applied free electrons are created, which moves across a diode to fall into empty holes created in the P-type layer. In this process, the electrons release energy in the form of photons. The frequency of the photon depends on the size of the conduction gap. This is due to the fact that it is in the infrared part of the light spectrum. When the conduction band is short, the photons released are not visible to human eyes. These types of diodes are used in television remote controls. But when the conduction band is made wide, the light emitted by diodes can be seen by human eyes.
To create a large number of photons, LEDs are constructed to release electrons. Also, the plastic bulb in which the diode is placed helps concentrate the light in a particular direction. The sides of the bulb make most of the light from the diode bounce off and travel on through the rounded end of the bulb.
The plus point is that LEDs require less power. The energy wasted is minimal in case of LEDs. They are more durable and more resistant to blows or shocks. The average life of the LED is up to 10,000 hours. The negative point is cost. As they are made with advanced semiconductor technology, the cost is more than for conventional bulbs. But long-running capacity and durability give LEDs the upper hand.
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