A new design for light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
developed by a team including scientists at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) may hold the key to overcoming a
long-standing limitation in the light sources’ efficiency. The
concept, demonstrated with microscopic LEDs in the lab, achieves a
dramatic increase in brightness as well as the ability to create
laser light—all characteristics that could make it valuable in a
range of large-scale and miniaturized applications.