Enhanced reliability and performance for UV LEDs

LEDs on the UV-B and UV-C spectrum are finding new applications in the medical and industrial sectors. In these demanding areas, efficiency, longevity, and optimal costs per Watt are key factors for their increased adoption. SCHOTT, the international technology group, offers a suite of materials, components and complete LED modules that enable exceptional reliability and performance in uses ranging from IR to UV-B/C applications. New technology, including improved thermal properties and RayVolution®, a highly UV-transmissive borosilicate glass for deep UV applications, will be highlighted at LED Japan, taking place in Tokyo from January 29 - 31.

TOKYO, Japan – January 29, 2020 – SCHOTT, the international technology group, announced new products today to meet the growing need for ultra-reliable LEDs with UV-B/C for the most demanding medical and industrial applications. The company’s new RayVolution^® high UV-transmission borosilicate glass adds to SCHOTT’s extensive LED portfolio: in addition to wafer-based glass materials and optics, SCHOTT offers a range of LED components that includes encapsulation materials to increase radiation flux, transistor outline headers and ceramic substrates, and a great variety of lens caps and optics. Additionally, system providers can also procure complete High Brightness Solidur^® LED modules in several customizable designs.

Withstanding Challenging UV-B/C Requirements

SCHOTT’s broad LED portfolio offers benefits for all steps of the value chain to meet unique and evolving design and performance challenges – especially in deep UV applications, which have stringent demands due to the harsh operating circumstances. They must maintain high optical performance while delivering thermal, chemical, and pressure resistance. Product designers employing LEDs may also have additional requirements, such as unique dimensions or high thermal conductivity, that can be met by these modules.

Ready–To–Use High-Reliability UV LED Modules

SCHOTT’s expertise in developing ultra-high reliability materials and components opens up possibilities for innovation. “Solidur^® LEDs can simplify and improve existing lighting systems and enable usage in applications that were previously unsupported by conventional LEDs, or couldn’t have a light source at all.” said Dr. Frank Gindele, Head of LED R&D. “Their robustness is achieved with vacuum-tight housings and glass optics that protect the internal LED chips from any external impact.” Customizable designs open up a wealth of design opportunities for engineers. With the Mini LED, miniaturization down to 1.5mm is possible, while SMD LED variants were specifically optimized to endure challenging UV-B/C sterilization, purification, and medical treatment applications. By using materials and designs with high thermal conductivity, excellent and stable optical performance with high radiation power can be achieved.

New UV-Transmissive Glass Materials

SCHOTT’s new RayVolution^® borosilicate glass, which provides excellent transmission (>90% at 285nm, 0.3mm thick) and has a coefficient of thermal expansion (4.1ppm) similar to AIN ceramics, comes in a wafer form with a diameter of up to six inches. Various structures and internal cavities are available, a benefit of SCHOTT’s low process-forming temperatures compared with fused silica. RayVolution^® is also compatible with SCHOTT’s line of fully gas-tight Solidur^® LEDs.About SCHOTTSCHOTT is a leading international technology group in the areas of specialty glass, glass-ceramics and related high-tech materials. With over 130 years of experience, the company is an innovative partner to many industries, including the home appliance, pharma, electronics, optics, life sciences, automotive and aviation industries. SCHOTT has a global presence with production sites and sales offices in 34 countries. In the 2018/2019 fiscal year, the group generated sales of around $2.54 billion with over 16,200 employees.