New nanoplastic enhances sustainability of street lighting

A new study from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) reveals a nanomaterial that could make street lighting more sustainable. This advancement could allow the United States to cut carbon dioxide emissions by over one million metric tons. The new nanomaterial, named nanoPE, improves the cooling of LED streetlights. LEDs often become hot, which can damage their electronics and shorten their lifespan. Currently, about 75% of the energy they use is lost as heat. By reducing the heat, nanoPE can help make LEDs even more efficient. Professor Qiaoqiang Gan, the study leader at KAUST, emphasized that small improvements in LED technology can lead to significant environmental benefits. He pointed out that lighting accounts for around 20% of global electricity use and nearly 6% of greenhouse gas emissions. Dr. Hussam Qasem from KACST noted that the new design enhances LED cooling while maintaining brightness. Traditional LED streetlights shine light downwards. However, streetlights using nanoPE are designed to reflect visible light down while allowing infrared light, which generates heat, to escape upwards. The creation of nanoPE involves modifying polyethylene, the most common plastic, to reflect visible light while passing infrared light through it. Scientists achieved this by making tiny pores in the material, much smaller than a human hair. Several researchers, including KAUST Professors Osman Bakr and Boon Ooi, contributed to this innovative work. The study is published in the journal Light: Science & Applications.