Group IV Semiconductor unveils plans for silicon lighting

For those out there just looking for zanier methods to get your illumination on, Group IV Semiconductor is hoping to deliver the goods you crave. While about 60 percent of the world's artificial lighting is still derived from the incredibly inefficient incandescent variety, companies like Philips are offering up LED alternatives that conserve energy, emit less heat, and convert perfectly normal buildings into nerdish eye candy. The Ottawa startup has spent its last four years researching and developing a silicon-based lighting system that will hopefully be "just as cheap" to produce as solid-state alternatives and emit equivalent amounts of light to boot. To overcome one of silicon's less helpful characteristics (poor light emission, of all things), the company has packed nanocrystals -- otherwise known as "quantum dots" -- between a transparent layer in which current is directed and a substrate of silicon underneath. Once electricity is applied, the nanocrystals settle back into their natural state, give off photons, and create a low-heat form of light roughly equivalent to a standard 100 watt light bulb. Group IV is aiming to produce a product that requires "90 percent" less energy than options currently on the market, while building it to last "50 times" longer than the already longevous alternatives, so you should probably expect this (presumably) once in a lifetime purchase to demand quite a premium should it actually hit store shelves.

[Ben Keppers @ Oct 9th 2006 7:25AM]

Thats pretty cool. If I could afford it, they would be in my home. The company is prolly going to be filthy rich when the new lights come out!

[tekdroid @ Oct 9th 2006 7:53AM]

They expect to make a prototype in 3 years. And want to release on the market in 5. P rovided they can overcome many obstacles to get the light far brighter and cost waaaay down.

Oohhhkaay then. I could give them more credit for all their posturing if they were 6 months away from making a prototype. Then I could come back and laugh at the lies, at least. But 3 years for the prototype? C'mon, there's a lot of work to be done yet.

Perhaps the company can rename themselves to Group-IV-Slushfunds.

[Chris @ Oct 9th 2006 11:17AM]

I totally agree with tekdroid. If this company wants to compete with the existing GaN based LED companies, they need to get their act together and have that prototype ready in 6 months. If not, the improvements to GaN based LEDs will far surpass anything this company can output.

Yet another company will big claims but no substance.