U. physicists invent new LED

SALT LAKE CITY — Physicists at the University of Utah have invented a brighter, cheaper, more environmentally friendly organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, the university announced Monday.

Physicists made a prototype of the new "spintronic" OLED that produces an orange color and expect the technology to be able to produce red and blue in two years and eventually white, according to the university. Light-emitting diodes are commonly used in televisions, computer displays, traffic lights and other electronic devices.

"It's a completely different technology," said Valy Vardeny, a physics professor and senior author of a study of the new OLEDs published in the July 13 issue of "Science."

Vardeny said it could be five years before the OLEDs reach the market because they currently operate at temperatures significantly lower than room temperature.