Development of World's First Discharge-Free Lighting Device Using Nanocrystalline Silicon

Panasonic Electric Works announced on July 8, 2008, that it had successfully developed the world's first discharge-free lighting device using a nanocrystalline silicon cathode. The new technology, developed in collaboration with Professor Nobuyoshi Koshida of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, realizes high-efficiency and high-luminosity without using harmful mercury. It is expected to be applied to the next generation of thin-shaped lighting fixtures.

Unlike conventional fluorescent lamps which create an electric discharge using mercury vapor, this new technology allows emission of vacuum ultraviolet light from xenon gas to excite a phosphor without an electric discharge. The use of a nanocrystalline silicon cathode, which supplies highly-energized electrons to the ambient air, was the key to developing this technology.

Since the new technology does not involve an electric discharge, it uses energy more efficiently. In theory, it can be expected to produce light at 1.5 times the efficiency of fluorescent light in the future.

- Development of the World's First Discharge-Free Fluorescent Lighting Device using a Nanocrystalline Silicon Cathode Applications
http://panasonic-denko.co.jp/e/corp/news/2008/0807-01.htm

Posted: 2008/12/11 06:40:39 AM

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