The outbreak of the new crown epidemic in early 2020 has caused people to continuously improve their awareness of health protection. Various UV disinfection products were once in short supply, and the industrialization of UV LED was accelerated. By 2021, the new crown epidemic is still raging around the world, and the epidemic has rebounded sporadically in many places in China. Against this background, the UV LED market still maintains a high degree of popularity.
Since 2021, new and old players on the UV LED track have been chasing each other, actively carrying out R&D and production work in the UV LED field, and continuing to increase the layout of the UV LED field. To this end, LEDinside briefly sorted out the major events related to UV LED in 2021 for readers.
UV LED Manufacturers News
1. ams Osram acquires 20% stake in deep UV LED supplier Bolb
On February 18, ams Osram announced that through its venture capital arm Fluxunit, it has acquired about 20% of the shares of Bolb Inc., a U.S. deep-UV LED supplier, aiming to further expand its technology and product layout in UVC sterilization applications.
2. The UVC LED chip of Mulinsen's joint-stock company was put into production, and the air net vision intelligent technology was established.
In April, the UVC LED chips provided by Zhixin Semiconductor, a joint-stock company of Mulinsen, were officially put into production in Hangzhou, with an estimated annual output of 300 million UVC LED chips. The UVC LED chip provided by Zhixin Semiconductor is used in the latest green disinfection equipment of Zhishan Intelligent. After the P3 laboratory of the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it has been tested for the inactivation of the new coronavirus by the P3 laboratory. The inactivation rate was 99.994%.
On July 31st, Mulinsen announced the official opening of Kongjing Vision Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., which was established in cooperation with Academician Zhong Nanshan, and the two parties started global strategic cooperation. At the same time, Mulinsen launched five core solutions for air quality and safety in public spaces, namely public space situational awareness system, health and safety fresh air series, health oxygen prevention and control series, public space healthy air disinfection series, and UVC deep ultraviolet surface disinfection series.
3. Ultraviolet LED company Youweixing completed the B round of financing of nearly 100 million yuan
In November, UV LED supplier Youweixing announced the completion of the B round of financing of nearly 100 million yuan. The funds will be mainly used to increase the research and development investment of LED chips and products, build a top talent team, and further increase the product market share.
It is reported that Youweixing owns semiconductor UVA/UVB/UVC LED full-band core devices and light source systems, and its holding subsidiary Deep Purple Technology is equipped with semiconductor UV LED R&D production lines from epitaxial growth, chip preparation, and device packaging. In terms of industry, Youweixing focuses on the development of 320nm-400nm near-ultraviolet LED products, focusing on industrial applications; while Deep Purple Technology aims at 200nm-320nm deep-ultraviolet LED chips, focusing on life applications.
4. Ruifeng Optoelectronics UVC LED products are put into the consumer market
In December, Ruifeng Optoelectronics announced that several C-end products developed by the company that utilize optical properties to achieve air purification and virus killing have been verified many times in the early stage and have been successfully put on the market. It is reported that the UVC deep ultraviolet sterilization & air purification product "Magic" series developed and produced by Ruifeng Ziguang adopts UVC LED deep ultraviolet sterilization technology, new anti-virus composite materials and negative ion fresh air purification technology.
5. Shanxi's "GaN-based high-efficiency deep-ultraviolet LED chip technology" project achieved key technological breakthroughs
On November 17th, the Semiconductor and New Materials Science and Technology Department of Shanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department conducted on-site tracking services for the major special project of Shanxi Province "Gallium Nitride-based High Efficiency Deep Ultraviolet LED Chip Technology". After a detailed review and inquiry of the completed work, the expert group believes that the project has completed the expected indicators, and has achieved phased progress and key technological breakthroughs.
According to reports, the project team systematically studied the preparation process of aluminum nitride template materials, and proposed a new method of high-efficiency P-type doping, breaking through polarization-induced doping, sputtering annealing aluminum nitride templates, and high-efficiency chip micro-nano structure. With key technologies such as light extraction, the light extraction efficiency of deep ultraviolet LED chips has been greatly improved.
6. Jingneng Optoelectronics' "Silicon Substrate UV LED Epitaxy Project" successfully passed the acceptance
On December 16th, Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology organized relevant experts to carry out the provincial major research and development project "Silicon Substrate UV LED Epitaxy, Chip, Packaging and Module Key Technology Research and Industrialization" undertaken by Jingneng Optoelectronics (Jiangxi) Co., Ltd. acceptance. Driven by this project, the silicon substrate near-ultraviolet LED products launched by Jingneng Optoelectronics have been widely used in industrial curing, nail art, mosquito trapping and other fields.
UV LED technology
1. Seoul Viosys Violeds UV LED Technology Breakthrough
On January 7, Seoul Viosys announced that the company and SETi, a subsidiary of Seoul Semiconductor, conducted tests in December 2020 at KR Biotech, a Korean research institute specializing in sterilization testing of the new coronavirus, proving that Violeds UV LED technology can be used in one second. Quickly and effectively inactivate 99.437% of the new coronavirus.
On August 4, Seoul Viosys and SETi announced at a press conference that in the surface disinfection test, the Violeds solution had a kill rate of 99.3% for the new coronavirus delta variant within 1 second and 5 seconds. The rate is 99.9999%.
2. Japan's Nitride Micro UV LED technology made a breakthrough
According to foreign media reports in May, Nitride, a Japanese UV LED manufacturer, used Micro UV LEDs to excite red, blue, and green phosphors, and successfully miniaturized the Micro UV LED chips to 12μm x 24μm, with the chips in the horizontal and vertical directions. The distance is 5μm, which can be used on Micro LED displays and is expected to be applied to wearable devices such as next-generation AR glasses and smart glasses. This technology can reduce the cost of Micro UV LED chips for displays. Currently, Nitride is developing a technology for mass production.
3. The world's first announcement of the sterilization rate and safety test results of 226nm UVC LEDs
According to foreign media reports in June, Japan's Asahi Kasei and Japan's Nara Prefectural Medical University cooperated to study the inactivation effect of UVC LEDs with a wavelength of 226nm on the new coronavirus and its impact on animal skin cells. The research results show that 226nm UVC LED can quickly inactivate the new coronavirus, and compared with 270nm UVC LED, 226nm UVC LED has little effect on animal skin cells.
4. Yangming Jiaotong University breaks through UVC LED packaging technology
In June, Prof. Guo Haozhong's team from Yangming Jiaotong University in Taiwan used Picosun ALD equipment, a leading supplier in Finland, to deposit passivation layers and barrier films, which extended the service life and reliability of UVC LEDs. ALD passivation protection technology can improve the cost of LEDs. The packaging process and thus reduce the production cost.
In August, Yangming Jiaotong University and Yuanxing research team proposed IH heating eutectic structure packaging technology, which can be locally heated in a vacuum environment and can be operated continuously, which not only reduces gas costs, but also increases the electrical conductivity of components and avoids heat dissipation from aluminum materials Oxidation of the substrate affects the heat dissipation efficiency, and successfully breaks through the UVC LED packaging technology.
5. Huayin core UVC sterilization products can inactivate 99.99% of the new coronavirus
In July, the Huayin core HGC-UVC sterilization module was confirmed by the Inspection and Testing Institute of the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the inactivation rate of the new coronavirus was as high as 99.99%. In addition, the module can effectively kill pathogenic bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, etc. in the environment.
1. Nichia 280nm UVC LED series products
In January, Nichia developed a deep UV LED portable UV irradiator with an emission wavelength of 280 nm and an optical output of 70 mW. Experiments have confirmed that the product can eliminate 99.99% of virus particles when irradiated at a distance of 5 cm from the new coronavirus for 30 seconds. The product has a mass production system and is expected to be used in air purifiers and air conditioners.
In February, Nichia announced the launch of a new NCSU334B UVC LED product with a peak wavelength of 280nm. According to relevant research by Tokushima University in Japan, NCSU334B UVC LED (dose of 51mJ/cm2) irradiated the new coronavirus for 30 seconds, and the sterilization rate can reach 99.99%.
On September 21, Nichia released the 280nm high radiation flux density UVC LED product NCSU434B, which can inactivate various viruses and bacteria, including the new coronavirus, and has begun to enter the mass production stage.
On October 6, Nichia announced the start of mass production of another high radiant flux UVC LED product, NC4U334BR, with a size of 6.8mm x 6.8mm and a wavelength of 280nm. Under the condition of 7.8W input power, the typical radiant flux reaches 200mW, can be used to inactivate various bacteria and viruses, especially suitable for industrial water and air purification scenarios.
2. Zhongke Lu'an and others prepared high-power deep ultraviolet LED chips
In April, the high-power deep-ultraviolet LED chip prepared by the "GaN-based high-efficiency deep-ultraviolet LED chip technology project" jointly undertaken by Zhongke Lu'an and others has a luminous power of more than 40mW, and developed a deep-ultraviolet with a luminous power of more than 1W. LED module, the module life is more than 5000 hours. Relevant high-power products have been produced in small batches.
3. Huiyi Technology launched UVC LED large-scale surface sterilization module
In April, Huiyi Technology released a VTSS-type surface sterilization module for medical institution application scenarios. The module integrates 36 high-power UVC LEDs and is equipped with a secondary optical module specially designed for UVC LEDs. At a distance of 2m, the irradiation dose of 1min is more than 30mJ/cm2, which can effectively kill bacteria and bacteria attached to the light-receiving surface. Virus.
4. The world's smallest and brightest UVC LED comes out
According to foreign media reports in April, scientists at the University of South Carolina in the United States have developed the world's smallest and brightest deep ultraviolet LED, with a chip size of only 5 microns and a wavelength of 281 nm. The UVC LED array composed of these chips has a brightness of 361W·cm-2.
5. Citizen Electronics developed high output 265nm UVC LED sterilization module
In September, Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. announced the launch of a high-output UVC LED equipped with a 265nm light-emitting wavelength, and developed a "high-output UVC LED module for sterilization" with a maximum output power of 400mW. The product adopts a high-reflection mirror, which can evenly illuminate the sterilization area, and has dust-proof and waterproof performance (IP54), which can be used in various environments.
6. HC Semitek launched its flagship UVC LED chip
In November, HC Semitek launched its flagship UVC LED chip, the UC20K series, with a main size of 10milX20mil. Under the rated working current of 20mA-100mA, the effective output optical power of this product is 4mW-20mW.
7. Crystal IS single core 100mW UVC LED new product
In November, Crystal IS, a subsidiary of Japan's Asahi Kasei Group, launched the world's first new generation of Klaran LA single-core UV LED lamp beads with a wavelength of 265nm. The product can provide 100 mW, stable output in the 260-270 nm deep ultraviolet band, with a lifespan of 10,000 hours.
UV LED application products
1. LG launches portable UVC disinfection box, UVC LED vacuum cleaner
On January 7, LG announced the launch of a UV disinfection charging box for LG PuriCare mask-type air purifiers to clean and sterilize while charging. The sterilizing charging box is equipped with UVC LED lights, certified by TUV Rheinland, and can effectively remove 99.99% of bacteria within 30 minutes.
In September, LG released the new A9 T series vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a built-in UVC LED ultraviolet germicidal lamp, which can inhibit the growth of dust bacteria in the dust bag, thereby reducing the number of bacteria.
2. Seoul Viosys develops UVC LED portable surface disinfection equipment
In February, Seoul Viosys announced the development of the "Photon Stand", a UVC LED portable surface disinfection device. The surface disinfection device uses Violeds UVC LED technology and is designed to disinfect areas where COVID-19 occurs, killing more than 90% of viruses and bacteria within 10 minutes.
In September, Seoul Viosys launched the Violeds air purifier and sterilizer, which can reduce the risk of new coronavirus infection from 22% to about 3%. At present, the product has been supplied free of charge to small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the epidemic, and companies that have the ability to produce and sell Violeds air purifiers to the world will also receive patent licenses.
3. Daikin Industrial UV air purifier launched
On March 1, Asahi Kasei announced that it will install Klaran UVC LEDs for high-intensity sterilization by its subsidiary Crystal IS. in the "UV Streamer Air Purifier" of Daikin Industries, which will be released on April 26.
4. Xiaomi launches UVC LED Mijia fresh air conditioner
At the Xiaomi conference on March 30, Xiaomi pushed the Mijia Fresh Air Air Conditioner Premium Edition, the body is equipped with UVC LED deep ultraviolet sterilization system, the sterilization rate is as high as 99.9%, and the price is 3599 yuan.
5. India Haier released UV LED air conditioner
On March 31, Haier Group announced that Haier India has released a new UV air conditioner UV Clean Pro. The UVC Generator in the Haier air conditioner emits light with a wavelength of 270-280nm, which has passed the virus inactivation verification of the French virus laboratory Texcell, which can kill 99.998% of the new coronavirus.
6. Kunshan University of Science and Technology UVC LED sterilization package launched
On April 21, the portable "OCONNOR Fungus Pack" jointly developed by Kunshan University of Science and Technology in Taiwan and Onno Creative Company was launched. The sterilization bag has a built-in UVC LED light source, and the 90-second mode can kill more than 100 kinds of germs, with a sterilization rate of more than 99.9%.
7. Toyoda Gosei launched UVC personal space disinfection and deodorizer, UVC LED surface disinfection equipment
In June, Toyoda Gosei launched a UVC personal space disinfection deodorizer that effectively inactivates viruses and bacteria. The product has a diameter of 9cm, a height of 15.5cm and a weight of 250g. It captures airborne viruses and bacteria through an internal filter, and is then sterilized by UVC LED irradiation.
In November, Toyoda Gosei released a UVC LED high-speed surface disinfection equipment. The device uses a special optical mechanism to concentrate UVC LED radiation to inactivate more than 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on the surface of a smartphone or other device within 7 seconds.
8. International team Biotlab launches UV
