Electronics Handbook/Components/Diodes/Light Emitting

A light emitting diode (LED) emits colored light when it conducts electricity.

Colored Light	Vd
Infrared	1.6 V
Red	1.8 V to 2.1 V
Orange	2.2 V
Yellow	2.4 V
Green	2.6 V
Blue	3.0 V to 3.5 V
White	3.0 V to 3.5 V
Ultraviolet	3.5 V

Construction	Symbol	I - V Curve

Colors and Materials

	Color	Wavelength [nm]	Voltage [V]	Semi-conductor Material
	Infrared	λ > 760	ΔV < 1.9	Gallium arsenide (GaAs) Aluminium gallium arsenide (AlGaAs)
	Red	610 < λ < 760	1.63 < ΔV < 2.03	Aluminium gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) Gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) Aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) Gallium(III) phosphide (GaP)
	Orange	590 < λ < 610	2.03 < ΔV < 2.10	Gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) Aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) Gallium(III) phosphide (GaP)
	Yellow	570 < λ < 590	2.10 < ΔV < 2.18	Gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) Aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) Gallium(III) phosphide (GaP)
	Green	500 < λ < 570	2.18 < ΔV < 4.0	Indium gallium nitride (InGaN) / Gallium(III) nitride (GaN) Gallium(III) phosphide (GaP) Aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) Aluminium gallium phosphide (AlGaP)
	Blue	450 < λ < 500	2.48 < ΔV < 3.7	Zinc selenide (ZnSe) Indium gallium nitride (InGaN) Silicon carbide (SiC) as substrate Silicon (Si) as substrate — (under development)
	Violet	400 < λ < 450	2.76 < ΔV < 4.0	Indium gallium nitride (InGaN)
	Purple	multiple types	2.48 < ΔV < 3.7	Dual blue/red LEDs, blue with red phosphor, or white with purple plastic
	Ultraviolet	λ < 400	3.1 < ΔV < 4.4	diamond (C) Aluminium nitride (AlN) Aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN) Aluminium gallium indium nitride (AlGaInN) — (down to 210 nm)
	White	Broad spectrum	ΔV = 3.5	Blue/UV diode with yellow phosphor