LRC News

LRC winner earns one of only three Link Foundation Energy fellowships in the United States

Yiting Zhu has received a Link Foundation Energy Fellowship.

Zhu is exploring the use of novel phosphors to improve the efficiency of light-emitting diodes (LED). Her work is currently dedicated to white LED efficiency improvement to meet the industry goal of 150 lumens per watt (a measurement of a lamp’s light output compared to its wattage). When commercialized, these light sources will be 10 times more efficient than the energy-hungry incandescent lamps commonly used in interior spaces.

“The LRC has helped me to challenge and develop myself over the past three years. This fellowship will give me added motivation and freedom, as well as resources to achieve more productive and creative work in the future,” said Zhu.

In 2005, Zhu worked with the LRC’s Solid-state Lighting (SSL) group to demonstrate a novel white light LED concept known as SPE™ (scattered photon extraction), which dramatically improved light output and luminous efficacy. Zhu says the “highly supportive atmosphere at the LRC” got her involved in this important research area.

More recently, Zhu has focused on understanding the behavior of both conventional phosphors and advanced nano-phosphors. She is helping to develop novel optical structures to improve luminous efficacy of white LEDs by minimizing packaging-induced light loss.

“This prestigious award is a reward to Zhu’s scholarly excellence and recognition of the importance of the research work to our society” said Nadarajah Narendran, the LRC’s director of research. “Zhu is great role model to other students in the program,” he added.

For more information:

Learn more about SPE^TM at www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/completedProjects.asp?ID=79.

Also, see the articles “Breakthrough technology accelerates solid-state lighting” in the April 2005 LRC newsletter (www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/news/enews/apr05/generalnews.html) and “Delving deep into solid-state lighting” in the October 2006 LRC newsletter at www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/newsroom/enews/Oct06/researchnews.html.

Learn more about YAG: Ce phosphor at www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/completedProjects.asp?ID=92.

Visit the LRC’s Solid-State Lighting Program Web site at www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/.

About the Link Foundation Energy Fellowship Program

The Link Foundation Energy Fellowship Program, established in 1984, is administered by the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Fellowship applicants are evaluated by a panel of experts in the energy field. Evaluation criteria include project innovation, technical feasibility, and the potential for significant impacts on societal energy supply and utilization. More information is at www.linkenergy.org.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N.Y., and is the leading university-based research center devoted to lighting. The LRC offers the world's premier graduate education in lighting, including one- and two-year master's programs and a Ph.D. program. Since 1988 the LRC has built an international reputation as a reliable source for objective information about lighting technologies, applications, and products. The LRC also provides training programs for government agencies, utilities, contractors, lighting designers, and other lighting professionals. Visit http://www.lrc.rpi.edu.