Imagine changing the color of your walls and ceilings to fit your mood. That's what researchers at the University of Surrey hope to achieve with solid state lighting devices using nano-composite materials.

"This will completely change the way we use lighting," said, project leader Professor Ravi Silva. "Ultra Low Energy High Brightness Light (ULEHB) lighting will produce the same quality light as the best 100 watt light bulb, but using only a fraction of the energy and last many times longer."

These new ultra low energy lighting devices will be fabricated using carbon nanotube-organic composites which will significantly reduce energy running costs, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions at power generating stations, says a report at Azonano.com.

ULEHB lighting may offer a cost efficient and clean replacement solution for mercury based fluorescent lamps and many other low efficiency 'heat producing' light sources.

Potential uses such as variable mood lighting over a whole wall or ceiling opens up a range of exciting applications. ULEHB is also expected to have wide uses in signage, displays, street lighting, commercial lighting, public buildings, offices and image projectors. The patented technology can also be used for low cost solar cell production and has the versatility to be tuned to produce eye pleasing coloured light. (photo halfass.com)