This is how the world’s first LED lights are developed from rice husks

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Transforming millions of waste into state-of-the-art technology allows us to take care of the environment in the long term.

There are more and more companies and the industries who bet on him material recycling for the manufacture of their products. The concern for the environment, whether for marketing reasons or to help their environment, is one of the maxims of the big technology companies and this is something that we can already see in most of the items we buy on a daily basis. A research recent has revealed to us how a rice husk It can also have ends that you had not imagined.

From flooded rice fields to more efficient screens that care for the planet

One of the most common processes in agriculture, especially in the processing of cereals, is the separation between fruit and shell. Every year, 100 million tons of rice husks are eliminated, which has served as the basis for starting a future industry around a product that was rarely used outside the field of agriculture. On this occasion, thanks to research carried out by members of the Hiroshima Universitybelonging to the Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, we have known the progress In the manufacture of sustainable LED technology.

Rice plantations could be used for more than just feeding the population.

If you thought that three Michelin star rice was the best this cereal could aspire to, think again. East commodity of food on our planet seems that it could also be involved in the quantum dot manufacturingtiny-sized particles that are used for their optical properties in the manufacture of, for example, monitors and screens. The advantages of rice hulls in its preparation, according to Ken-ichi Saitow, are extensive:

Since quantum dots often involve the use of toxic materials such as cadmium, lead and other heavy materials, environmental concerns have been debated when nanomaterials are used. Our goal and manufacturing process minimizes these concerns.

The porous silicon It is the fundamental element of this research. Discovered in the 1950s 50’s of the last century, the scientific branch has used it as the main element in lithium ion batteries, luminescent materials or in medical sensors, because it is found in abundant in nature as not result toxic. Now, thanks to the results of this research, we know that the rice hulls are rich in SiO2high purity silicon, obtained through grinding processes, heat and chemical treatments.

East silicon obtained from the rice hulls will be the centerpiece of a new industry, which will be responsible for the development of a new technology of quantum dots from nature. The Next steps will lead them to find a way optimize manufacturing of them and improve their efficiencyalways hand in hand with a more sustainable production, eliminating heavy and toxic materials for our environment.

Related topics: Science

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