Toshiba have developed a new kind of fluorescent converter material (i.e., phosphor) that allows white LEDs to produce white light of particularly pleasing quality and accurate colour rendition—light the makers say is close in appearance to sunlight. The newly developed material transforms blue LED light into a broader than usual range of colours rich in yellow and orange, and is meant for combination with another phosphor that converts blue to red. Conventional white LEDs use a phosphor that converts blue to yellow, resulting in light deficient in green and orange. As a result, red and green objects appear dark and their colour is rendered poorly.
Toshiba are now considering whether to sell the new material to existing LED manufacturers or develop their own white LED lighting products. Products containing the new materials could be available in as little as two or three years.
