LED spotlights

An LED is basically made up of several layers of semiconductor connections. Semiconductors, such as silicon, for example, are materials which, by their electrical conductivity, lie between conductors - such as metals silver and copper - and non-conductors (insulators) - such as Teflon and quartz glass. The conductivity of semiconductors can be strongly influenced by the targeted assembly of electrically active foreign bodies (doping). The different semiconductor layers together form the LED chip. The way in which these layers (different semiconductors) are assembled greatly determines the luminous efficiency of LEDs and the color of the light.

When a current flows through the LED in the direction of flow (from the anode + to the cathode -), a light is produced (emitted).

Foreign atoms are added to the n-doped layer so as to create a surplus of electrons. Only a small number of these charge carriers are present in the p-doped layer. This produces what are known as electron holes. When an electrical voltage (+) is applied to the p-doped layer and the n-doped (-) layer, the charge carriers move towards each other. In passing, this results in recombination (reunification of particles of opposite charge to form a neutral entity). During this process, energy is released in the form of light.