Blue light-emitting diode


SRI created the world’s first blue light-emitting diode (LED) using gallium nitride in 1972. Although it was too feeble for practical use, this development pre-dated high-brightness blue LEDs by almost 20 years.

Blue LEDs formed the basis for the blue laser diodes used in today’s Blu-Ray DVD players.


Read our 75th anniversary blog feature

75 Years of Innovation: LED, first blue-light emitting diode


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