The Potential Impact of Nanotechnology on Lighting

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Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) seem to be a potential means to produce light sources that are cheaper and last longer, minimizing power consumption in the process. At least one team of scientists has developed a bulb powered by nanotubes.

Small electron emitters, known as field emission devices, including those based on nanotubes, exhibit the potential for use in flat panel displays.

Significant Changes in Lighting Technologies

Within the next decade, considerable modifications in lighting technologies are anticipated. Semiconductors used to create LEDs for lighting can be increasingly carved on nanoscale dimensions. In the United States, around 20% of all electricity is used for lighting, including incandescent as well as fluorescent lights.

Projected Savings Through Nanotechnology

Predictions suggest that in the next 10 to 15 years, such nanotechnology-based lighting advances hold the promise to minimize global use of energy by over 10%, reflecting a savings of $100 billion annually and a corresponding decrease of 200 million tons of carbon emissions (NNI: The Initiative and Its Implementation Plan).

Future Applications of Nanotechnology in Lighting

The use of nanotubes for more robust and efficient electron emission will be one of the future applications of nanotechnology in lighting. It is predicted that this would enable lights to last a lot longer as well as consume less electricity.