The United States Department of Energy (DOE) held its seventh annual solid-state lighting (SSL) workshop in Raleigh, NC attracting more than 350 attendees. The DOE used the "Transformations in Lighting" event as a forum to honor nine R&D project teams for work on LED and OLED projects.

According to the DOE, the honorees were recognized for "significant breakthroughs and achievements in 2009." The recognition went to small and large companies, universities, and research institutions.

The DOE recognized the University of Florida for work on a blue phosphorescent OLED and achieving a record efficacy of 59 lm/W. Research institutions recognized included Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The DOE cited the formers spectroscopy work for improving the efficiency of green LEDs, and the latter for materials targeted at lower-cost OLED manufacturing.

The remainder of the honorees are for-profit companies. PhosphorTech Corp was cited for developing advanced phosphor materials that increase the efficiency of LED lamps. Two companies worked in the OLED area. Arkema won recognition for research on a lower-cost substitute for indium used in OLED anodes. Universal Display Corps OLED work is focused on a warm-white OLED panel that achieves 68 lm/W.

The final three honorees all focused on LED lighting projects. Cree has made significant improvements in a multichip LED prototype with an efficacy of 117 lm/W. Philips Lumileds Lighting achieved an efficacy of 83 lm/W with a warm-white LED. And Osram Sylvania Development was recognized for work on a warm-white LED light engine for downlights.

The full summary of the R&D achievements is on the DOE web site. Moreover the site promises that the organization will soon post highlights and presentations from the workshop.