As UVC LEDs are seen as a future alternative to mercury-based ultraviolet lamps, the issues of reducing costs and improving efficiency have become even more pressing in the wake of the pandemic.
So, given the impact of the pandemic, will this really help to accelerate the pace of R&D within the industry? Will the UVC LED industry experience an early boom this year?
Leaving aside the context of the current pandemic, data from the Xingjia Shuo Industry Research Centre shows that the global UV LED market was worth US$269 million (approximately 1.9 billion RMB) in 2019, 2020 is expected to mark the beginning of a period of rapid growth for the UV LED sector, with the global market size projected to exceed US$1 billion by 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31% between 2019 and 2024. As a key component of the UV LED industry, UVC LEDs account for over 20% of the total output value and are primarily used in sterilisation and disinfection applications.
With the rapid development of the UV LED industry as a whole, coupled with the impetus provided by the pandemic, UVC LEDs may well be set to enter a phase of rapid growth this year. Why is this the case? Let us take a look at the two major challenges currently hindering the development of UVC LEDs.
In the general consumer market:
1) Disinfection and sterilisation are not essential needs for the mass market. Bacteria have existed on Earth for billions of years and, in many cases, coexist symbiotically with humans. In environments where human life and work are not affected, the mass market does not have a strong demand for disinfection and sterilisation. Furthermore, as UVC is invisible light—it cannot be seen or touched, and is both colourless and odourless—consumers are unable to perceive the effects of UVC LEDs. Consequently, market awareness of UVC LEDs remains limited, presenting companies with significant challenges when it comes to entering the market and promoting their products.
2) Even though the mass market is aware of the need for disinfection and sterilisation, there are numerous methods to choose from, including ozone sterilisation, high-temperature sterilisation and disinfection with antiseptic solutions, amongst others; indeed, even boiling water can achieve a sterilising effect in everyday use. UVC is merely one of many such methods. At present, UVC has not yet found an application that addresses a critical pain point or offers an absolute alternative; to stand out, it still needs to identify a key area of focus.
In the industrial or commercial sectors:
It is undeniable that, compared with ultraviolet mercury lamps, UVC LEDs are still far less efficient, and their photoconversion efficiency remains relatively low, presenting significant technical challenges; at present, ultraviolet mercury lamps continue to dominate the market.
Consequently, in light of the current outbreak of COVID-19, the only lighting products that can be donated at this stage are ultraviolet mercury lamps for disinfection; UVC LEDs have only made a mark in the fight against this pandemic in the area of surface disinfection for personal protection.
Once this pandemic is over, there will be an opportunity to resolve the two development challenges mentioned above:
1) It is clear that this has resolved the long-standing issue of cultivating the mass market and raising awareness of UV LEDs. Previously, considerable time had been spent educating the market with little to show for it; this time, however, an unfortunate incident has generated a great deal of positive publicity, deepening consumers’ understanding of UV LEDs and the disinfection and sterilisation capabilities of UV products.
2) Once public awareness of UV disinfection increases, and as the UVC LED industry chain places greater emphasis on research, development and promotion—leading to significant technological breakthroughs—mercury lamps will gradually be phased out, which will greatly facilitate the full-scale market penetration of UVC LEDs.
3) UVC LEDs are set to gain further traction in areas such as surface disinfection, household appliances and consumer-grade water treatment. For example, recent news reports of the coronavirus being detected on door handles have significantly heightened public awareness of the need to guard against the virus on door handles, in lifts and similar surfaces. Although human forgetfulness and inertia are hard to shake off, and the emphasis on disinfection will inevitably wane once the pandemic is over, some people will continue to prioritise it. In terms of product design, integrating UVC LED disinfection and sterilisation functions into existing household appliances or pairing them with everyday cleaning products will be a better approach. Examples include air conditioners, air purifiers, water dispensers and robot vacuum cleaners.
4) This is likely to attract strategic attention at national level; with ongoing technological breakthroughs, UVC LEDs are expected to gradually gain recognition and find applications in sectors such as healthcare and industrial water treatment. Although mercury-based UV lamps remain the predominant technology at present, the development trajectory of UVC LEDs may follow the path taken by LEDs in replacing conventional lighting: starting with supplementary applications, progressing to imitation and replacement, and eventually leading to the development of UVC LED products with distinctive features.
In summary, it is clear that UV products have all made a positive contribution to the fight against the novel coronavirus, and it is believed that the development of UVC LEDs will also accelerate to some extent once the pandemic is over.
