Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which gallium compounds are used in LEDs and semiconductor lasers?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
boron group element
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
Gallium compounds are essential in the development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and semiconductor lasers due to their unique optoelectronic properties. These materials are typically "III-V" compounds, formed by combining elements from columns III and V of the periodic table.123
Key gallium compounds used in these technologies include:
- Gallium Arsenide (GaAs): One of the most common materials used in LEDs. While it is highly efficient at emitting radiation, its characteristic wavelength is in the infrared spectrum.31
- Gallium Phosphide (GaP): Used to produce visible green light, though it is less efficient than other compounds. Variations include nitrogen-doped GaP (GaP:N) for green emission and zinc- and oxygen-doped GaP (GaP:Zn,O) for red emission.13
- Gallium Nitride (GaN): A critical material used to create blue LEDs, which enabled the development of white light sources.4
- Gallium Arsenide Phosphide (GaAsP): Often doped with nitrogen (GaAsP:N) to produce orange and yellow light.3
- Complex Alloys: Materials such as aluminum gallium arsenide, aluminum gallium indium phosphide, and gallium indium arsenide phosphide are used to tune the wavelength and color of emitted light or to optimize performance for specific applications like long-range fiber optics.13