What will lightbulbs look like in the future?
Today’s most energy-efficient, durable and environmentally friendly lightbulbs are light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Most rely on inorganic components though, which are difficult to recycle and are based on finite materials. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are based on carbon-based organic materials and create a soft glow that closely matches natural light. OLEDs feature rich, saturated and tunable colours, while their flexible design means they can be embedded into panels, and into a wide range of materials. Once costs come down, you may see them popping up all over walls near you, or maybe even on your body. “OLEDs will be more compatible for wearables as well as medical applications,” says Costa. “Their light weight and good performance should also be achieved with sustainable materials, like graphene electrodes and biopolymer substrates. This will make them extremely versatile for limitless applications.” As light sources shift, this may change the way we approach illumination in our lives, says Costa. Lighting has become highly efficient in a short space of time, so we have used it for many purposes, pretty much everywhere. “Now, it is important to educate ourselves on the proper use of light to avoid wasting energy,” he remarks. This means using the right amount of light for the right purpose, while thinking about how to develop efficient microenergy harvesting systems in which light (both indoor and outdoor) plays an important role. Smart systems or devices could harvest energy loss in the form of photons, for example using photovoltaics or thermal technology. In the EU-funded ARTIBLED project, Costa and his team used artificial proteins to create colour filters for LEDs. This advance replaces rare earth elements, finite resources so sought after they are causing geopolitical rumbles. ARTIBLED explored over 80 different emitters and 10 000 protein designs to achieve two artificial fluorescent proteins with low- and mid-energy emissions, opening the door to a new era in sustainable lighting. Speaking of organic lighting – many organisms exhibit bioluminescence, emitting light from their bodies through chemical reactions: think glowing jellyfish or shorelines of sparkling plankton at night. Companies are now tinkering with bioluminescent bacteria, proteins and biopolymers to try to replicate this soft glow in products such as house plants. “These ideas are still in development and we do not know their limits yet,” adds Costa. “But I believe they could become complementary systems in the future.” Your next light bulb? It might just be a glowing petunia. Read more about Rubén Costa’s research: Sustainable lighting powered by artificial proteins
