Light Emitting Diode
The Light Emitting Diode was developed by Professor Nick Holonyak Jr. in 1962 during his employment at General Electric. Following up on prior research on gallium arsenide Holonyak began to develop the LED. He hypothesized that the gallium arsenide would produce visible light when the right amount of electrical current is applied to the leads.
This modern marvel has led to major innovations since Professor Holonyak’s demonstration in 1962. The LED can now be found in the majority of our technological devices. Over the past few years as the technology has become more affordable, we see the LED popping up throughout our daily lives in cellphones, televisions, lights, computers, and in automobiles.
Click to read more about the LED’s Impacts.
– Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory. This is where Holonyak’s office was located while a professor at Illinois.
Aronson, D. (2012). The LED is Ubiquitous – But Its Home is Illinois. Retrieved 26 September 2014 from http://www.debaronson.com/features/The%20LED%20is%20Ubiquitous%20%E2%80%94%20But%20Its%20Home%20Is%20Illinois.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. (2012). LED 50th Anniversary Symposium. Retrieved 26 September 2014 http://www.led50years.illinois.edu/index.html
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. (n.d.). ECE Hall of Fame Light-Emitting Diode (LED). Retrieved 26 September 2014 from http://www.ece.illinois.edu/about/history/hall-of-fame/leds.html. (Updated link here)
Early Light Emitting Diode. (1962). Alumni and Faculty Biographical (Alumni News Morgue) File, 1882-1995. Record Series Number: 26/4/1, Box 1, Folder Holonyak, Nick Jr. , 1950, M.S. 1954, Ph.D. 1954 . University of Illinois Archives.