The light-emitting diode (LED) is a special type of semiconductor that converts electrical energy directly into visible light, and it's one of the most widely used components in almost any electronics project.
Construction and materials
Unlike ordinary diodes made from germanium or silicon, an LED relies on materials such as gallium, arsenic, and phosphorus, with a PN junction encased in transparent resin that acts as a lens focusing the emitted photons upward.
How it works: electroluminescence
Under forward bias, free electrons cross the PN junction and recombine with electron holes; as electrons drop to a lower energy level, the excess energy is released as photons (light) instead of heat — a phenomenon known as electroluminescence. A typical LED operates at a forward voltage between 1.2 and 3.6V and a current between 10 and 30mA, with exact values varying by color and semiconductor material.
A current-limiting resistor is not optional
An LED's brightness scales directly with the current through it: more current means more brightness, but exceeding the safe limit destroys it instantly.
You can find LEDs in every color along with their matching resistors at Juthour Tech.
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