USM PENANG, 28 March 2023 – Researchers from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR) have successfully produced light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a peak luminous efficacy of 207 lumens per Watt (lm/W), exceeding many industry standards and on par with some of the high-performance LEDs in the global market.

The INOR-developed LED technology is far more energy-efficient compared to traditional lights and in the long run, it could provide a reduction in energy use and costs, and raising the standard of living for users.

Director of INOR, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamir Pakhuruddin said, this is a truly significant achievement, resulting from years of collaboration in the GaN-on-GaN (GoG) programme with Physics Nobel Prize 2014 recipient, Professor Dr. Shuji Nakamura from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and also with the industry such as ams OSRAM and others, via the Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology Centre (CREST).

“The success of INOR researchers has in part proven their capability in conducting prime LED research in Malaysia, through the application of the 'quadruple helix' model, with the involvement of the academia, industry partners, the government and the community.

“This achievement highlights the technological capability of local universities and the ability to be competitive at the international level,” he said.

He added, this inspiring success could lead to the setting up of a spin-off company for INOR that could commercialise the technology and to attract direct foreign investment in the nation’s electric and electronic (LED sector) industry.

“Indirectly, it would allow for the creation of job opportunities for graduates in Malaysia and would contribute overall to the increase in the nation’s economy,” he explained.

Mohd Zamir also emphasised that, since the GoG programme began in 2016, a number of discoveries have been made regarding the epitaxy growth in LED technology.

These discoveries have been published in high-impact journals and filed as patents, and having the potential to be adapted for specific industrial usage.

LEDs have wide applications in people’s lives at present, among which in electronic devices such as mobile phones, TVs and laptops.

Additionally, they are also utilised in decorative lights, road traffic lights and torch lights. LEDs too offer the advantage of low energy usage, being efficient and longer lasting than ordinary lighting.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Photo: INOR USM/Infographic: Mohammad Nazer Abdul Hadi