Graphene to be next big thing for LED light bulbs?

The University of Manchester announces the creation of Graphene Lighting PLC, a spin-out based on a strategic partnership with the National Graphene Institute (NGI) to market a new type of light bulb that promises to outshine traditional LED bulbs in terms of performance and longevity.

This new product will be one of the first mass-market graphene-based products for the consumer market. There's not a lot of information about how it works but the bulb looks like a classic light bulb, it's dimmable and contains a filament-shaped LED with a graphene coating.

The application of graphene allows the bulb to conduct electricity and heat more efficiently. Prof Colin Bailey, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Manchester, told BBC that there are plenty of advantages versus traditional LED lights. The new technology is expected to cut energy use by 10 percent, it's expected to last longer and should also be cheaper to manufacture.

The first graphene-based light bulbs are expected to hit retails shelves within a couple of months and it's claimed they will be offered at a price competitive with traditional LED lights.

The UK-registered company will produce the lightbulb, which is expected to perform significantly better and last longer than traditional LED bulbs.

It is expected that the graphene lightbulbs will be on the shelves in a matter of months, at a competitive cost.

The University of Manchester has a stake in Graphene Lighting PLC to ensure that the University benefits from commercial applications coming out of the NGI.