LumiSands Inc, a spinout from the University of Washingtonâs Center for Commercialization, is a Silicon Nano-materials Research & Development firm, working on cost-effective, non-toxic, and eco-friendly options for REE-phosphors with silicon quantum dot phosphor (SiQD-phosphor) technology. Phosphors used in lighting and display solutions are mostly derived from rare-earth elements (REEs), an environmental hazard for both extraction and processing. An added issue is one of cost, as persistently elevated prices and IP restrictions on LED applications have driven the lighting industry to seek alternatives for REE-phosphors. By creating LEDs made of sand, LumiSands has developed an alternative to the rare earth elements. Rare earth elements are used in LEDs to help soften their harsh, blue light. To create an alternative LumiSands uses silicon, derived from sand, which is produced via etching off nano-particles from silicon wafers. Although this element will not usually produce light, it will start to glow if its crystalline particle size is less than five nanometers. The surface is then reinforced and the material added to LED bulbs, red-emitting silicon particles warm and soften the blue light. LumiSands intends to perfect the red technology before moving to other colors, ultimately enabling LEDs to cast a pure, white light with no rare earth elements required at all
