What is an LED?

Light emitting diode, LED is an example of a semiconductor gadget. Semiconductor usually has the purpose of conducting electricity. But semiconductors usually contain a fair amount of impurities which is made possible through a process called doping.

LEDs come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. The most common sizes for an l.e.d is 3mm or 5mm. LEDs also come in a variety of colors, the most popular colors of diodes are the blue leds, green leds, white leds, RGB leds and flashing leds.

N-type material has an over abundance of negatively charged particles, stemming from extra electrons. These free electrons move towards a positively charged space from a negatively charged space.

Until recently, most bright LED lights and diodes were made with a color coated LED bulbs. Through the advancement of LED technology, today's diodes are now not only super bright LEDs but also come in water clear LED bulbs.

The LED's conducting material is usually made from aluminum-gallium-arsenide. This material in its purest state does not conduct electricity, but when doped with additional atoms this process makes the material conduct electricity.

P-type material has an over abundance of positively charged particles, and extra holes. Electrons move from negatively charged spaces to positively charged spaces, or from hole to hole. This would make the holes seem to move in an opposite effect, from a positively charged space to a negatively charged space

A L.E.D, or diode, is made from bonding an N-type section to a P-type section, with electrodes on both sides. Electricity flows in only one direction. While there is no voltage being applied, electrons from the N-type fill holes from the P-type. This creates a depleted zone so that there are no free electrons or vacant spaces for electrons. This creates a charging block.

Connecting P-type side to the positive end and N-type side to the negative end of a circuit will move electrons from the N-type to P-type which will get rid of the depletion zone. N-type material electrons are attracted to the positive electrodes and repelled by negative electrodes. The P-type holes move in the opposite direction. Depleted zone electrons freely move from their holes when the voltage is sufficient. Thus making charges move across the diode.

Reversing the current the other was has a strange effect. Although it creates an increase in depletion zone, it also creates light. This fairly new innovation has created a path for a massive introduction of new LED products such as LED flashlights, car leds, motorcycle leds and more.

Want to know more? Read on!! LED 101