UV LEDs and their applications

The purpose of this research is to design and develop a semiconductor light source emitting ultraviolet (UV) light. The final device will then be integrated into a biomedical application to assist clinicians in patient diagnosis. A light emitting diode (LED) is the specific UV source of interest, which has been the subject of major research and development over the past 20 years, with applications spanning surface disinfection to biomedical imaging. To realise the UV LED, the semiconductor structure must first be ‘grown’ which is a research area in and of itself. This project focuses specifically on taking the as-grown material of the LED and forming individual functioning devices, characterisation and then further optimisation of the growth. Challenges currently being faced include the physical constraints (electrical and optical properties) of certain materials, and extracting as much UV light as possible from the device. With 2 years left in the project, these challenges will hopefully be overcome to produce a high efficiency UV LED, integrated into a biophotonics diagnostic tool.