UVLED technology progress: from wavelength division, application expansion to safety tips
The wavelength of ultraviolet light lies between visible light and X-rays. Its wavelength range is 10 to 400nm. However, many optoelectronics manufacturers consider wavelengths of 430nm to be ultraviolet light. Although much of ultraviolet light is not visible to the human eye, it is still named for the part of the visible spectrum that produces violet light. UV LEDs have made great progress in the past few years. This is not only the result of technological advances in the production of solid-state UV devices, but also due to the increased demand for the production of environmentally friendly UV lamps.
The current supply of UV LEDs in the optoelectronics market includes a wavelength range of 265 to 420 nm, with a variety of packaging forms, such as perforation, surface mounting and COB. UV LED generators have a variety of unique applications. However, each generator is independent in wavelength and output power. Generally speaking, UV light used in LEDs can be divided into three areas.
They are defined as UV-A (long-wave ultraviolet), UV-B (medium-wave ultraviolet) and UV-C (short-wave ultraviolet). UV A devices have been produced since 1990. These LEDs are generally used in applications such as counterfeit detection or verification (currency, driver's license or documents, etc.). The power output requirements for these applications are very low, and the actual wavelength range used is within 390~420nm. Products with lower wavelengths are not suitable for applications.
Because of their long life cycle in the market and ease of manufacturing, these LEDs are used as a variety of light sources and the cheapest UV products. The UVA LED component field has seen great growth in the past few years. Most applications in this wavelength range (approximately 350-390nm) are in commercial and industrial materials production, such as UV curing of adhesives, coatings and inks. Due to increased efficiency, reduced costs and system miniaturization, LED lights have great advantages over traditional curing technologies such as mercury or fluorescent lamps. Therefore, the supply chain is constantly pushing the use of LED technology, making the trend of adopting LED curing more and more obvious. Although the cost of products in this wavelength range is significantly higher than that of the UV A region, rapid advances in manufacturing technology and steady increases in production volumes are gradually reducing prices. The lower UV A and higher UV B wavelength ranges (approximately 300-350nm) are the most recent areas of commercialization. These devices have great potential for a variety of applications, including UV curing, biomedicine, DNA analysis and various types of sensing.
A common question about UV LEDs is: Do they pose a safety hazard? As mentioned above, there are many levels of UV light. One of the most commonly used UV light sources is the black bulb. This product has been used for decades to create glowing or fluorescent effects on posters, as well as for the authentication of paintings and currency. The light produced by these bulbs is generally in the UV A spectrum, which is closest to the visible light wavelength and has lower energy. Although high exposure has been linked to skin cancer and other potential problems, such as accelerated skin aging, this part of the UVA spectrum is the safest of the three types of UV light. UV C and most UV B light are mainly used for sterilization and disinfection. These wavelengths of light are not only harmful to microorganisms, but are also dangerous to humans and other life forms if they come into contact with it. These LED lights should always be shielded and never viewed directly with the naked eye, even if it emits a small amount of light. Exposure to these wavelengths of light can cause skin cancer and temporary or permanent loss or impairment of vision.
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