​​Cheap and user-friendly low-pressure mercury lamps, emitting at 254 nm, have played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of UV disinfection technology. However, these lamps present several drawbacks, including a short lifespan, slow switching, and the risk of toxic leaks. The replacement of these lamps with a semiconductor-based technology offers a safer alternative that aligns better with sustainability objectives. Nonetheless, the current performance of AlGaN LEDs, emitting at 270 nm, remains relatively modest, and it gets even worse at shorter wavelengths. In addition to the efficiency issue, LEDs and mercury lamps emitting at 254-270 nm are ​strongly carcinogenic and cataractogenic.

In response to these challenges, there has been a recent surge in research for the development of far UV-C sources emitting around 230 nm. This radiation does not penetrate human skin or eyes, making it a safer choice for disinfection in occupied spaces. In this spectral range, an alternative technology to LEDs is electron beam pumped lamps [1], where the electrical power is injected into the semiconductor dice through an electron beam emitted by a cathode. This technology has the advantage of not requiring p-type doping or contacts, making it a promising choice for UV-C lighting. Devices powered by electron beams and using AlGaN as the active material have achieved notable improvements in both efficiency and output power. The integration of AlGaN quantum dots holds great promise for further enhancing the performance of these lamps, thanks to the dots’ intrinsically high internal quantum efficiency. Researchers at IRIG, in collaboration with the Institut Lumière Matière (University of Lyon), CNRS-Institut Néel and CEA-LETI, have successfully demonstrated AlGaN quantum dot structures that can be fine-tuned to emit within the 230-270 nm range by adjusting the growth parameters by molecular beam epitaxy. These quantum dots consistently achieve an internal quantum efficiency of approximately 50% across the entire spectral range, and they exhibit power conversion efficiencies that outperform AlGaN LEDs in the 230 nm spectral window [2].

In summary, our research marks a milestone in the development of efficient and safe far UV-C sources for UV disinfection, and provides valuable insights into the potential use of AlGaN-based electron-pumped emitters for this critical application. Our current efforts are concentrated on narrowing the spectral linewidth [3] and improving light extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the scientists are actively working on new cathode designs to extend their lifespan and increase their capacity to deliver high current densities, all with the ultimate goal of enabling the production of safe milliwatt-power lamps for UV disinfection.