- News
24 January 2018
Crystal IS’ new Klaran WD series UVC LEDs breaks $0.25/mW price barrier for point-of-use water disinfection
© Semiconductor Today Magazine / Juno PublishiPicture: Disco’s DAL7440 KABRA laser saw.
Crystal IS Inc of Green Island, NY, USA, an Asahi Kasei company that makes proprietary ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVC LEDs), has expanded its Klaran platform with the launch of the WD series LEDs.
Developed specifically for the price and performance needs of point-of-use (POU) water disinfection, Crystal IS claims that the Klaran WD series marks the first time that a UVC LED maker has demonstrated the ability to break the $0.25/mW price barrier required for mass production of UVC LED-based water purification products. The firm will initially offer 30mW and 40mW variants, with plans to introduce more powerful devices in the coming months.
“Our aluminum nitride substrates have always held the promise of superior cost for performance at the deep UV wavelengths,” says CEO Larry Felton. “Klaran WD series LEDs, developed specifically for point-of-use water, meet OEM requirements at a compelling price per milliwatt to drive innovation in water purification products.”
Klaran WD series LEDs aim to enable OEMs to address the rising global demand for water purification products as the surge in industrialization, urban population and rise in water pollution propels consumers to take a more active role in ensuring drinking water quality. This is exemplified in the Asia Pacific region, specifically China and India. In 2015, the water purifier market in China was $4.61bn, and is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.45% to $11.21bn by 2020.
Klaran UVC LEDs are produced on a unique ultra-wide-bandgap aluminum nitride substrate produced by Crystal IS. The substrate overcomes the material challenges inherent with traditional sapphire-based devices, and the LEDs emit their full germicidal power from the top of the chip, allowing low-cost and simpler packaging design. The resulting UVC LEDs offer high output at peak germicidal wavelengths (260-275nm) and the ability to be operated at high drive currents for more effective disinfection.
www.cisuvc.com/products/klaran