Matsushita Electric Works and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology are developing a prototype light-emitting device that is more efficient and smaller than conventional LEDs. The device uses 5nm or smaller nanosilicon to create a ballistic electron discharge into xenon gas. The device is able to theoretically produce 150 lumens per Watt making it more efficient than conventional white LEDs that can produce 80-100 lumens per Watt. The increase in light output for the device is a result of its design and not amount of voltage passed through it and hence its efficiency can be easily enhanced.
The Nanosilicon layer in the device generates electrons when voltage is passed through it. Those electrons are passed through the xenon gas resulting in ultraviolet light (not visible to human eye), which is they passed through layer of phosphor to make it visible light. If perfected the technology may be used in future notebooks, computers and HDTV screens, extending the battery life of the portable device and saving power for the computer and HDTV.
[Via Tech On!]