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Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies operate on invisible radio waves, but using these wavelengths for data transmission might be not only more efficient, but also more secure. Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a nanocrystal that boosts data speeds transmitted through a visible light LED up to 2 Gbps, while efficiently and pleasingly lighting the room.

The human eye is only capable of seeing a fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. Making use of those few wavelengths could lead to more effiecient, faster and safer wireless data systems. Wireless signals are so frequently used that certain frequencies can become clogged. Radio waves can also interfere with sensitive hospital equipment with deadly consequences. Visible-light communication (VCL) systems may help alleviate some of these issues.

Using nanocrystals instead of phosphorus allows for the conversion of colored light into white light. These crysatls are made of cesium lead bromide emit a green light when hit by a blue laser. Red light is then emitted from an incorporated nitride phosphor. The blue, green and red colors combine to form a white light comparable to that of existing LEDs.

Data is transferred through a series of quick flashes, unnoticeable to the human eye yet precise to a receiving sensor. This happens because these nanocrystals the optical processes operate on a time-scale of roughly 7 nanoseconds. This means that the optical emission of the light operates at a frequency of 491 MHz, which in turn allows the data to be transmitted at 2 Gbps. Additional research indicates that VLC could go as fast as 10 Gbps in the future.

The research in this article was published in ACS Photonics.