Pyramid Scheme for Brighter Organic LEDs Could Produce Better Light Bulbs

The most common kind of light bulb in the United States— the incandescent—is only about 5 percent efficient. The phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode, on the other hand, makes light out of 100 percent of the electricity that goes into it. They're good for smartphone screens and mood lighting, but they drop off in both efficiency and lifetime when they have to shine brightly. University of Michigan researchers have found an elegant way to get around this problem, however, by arranging the PHOLEDs into a pyramid.