Russian and Chinese scientists develop key component for high-power laser lighting systems

Researchers from Far Eastern Federal University, in collaboration with scientific partners from Russia and China, have created a composite ceramic phosphor capable of withstanding high loads under laser excitation while maintaining high-quality colour rendering, according to the university's website, TV BRICS reported on Thursday.

Laser-based lighting systems offer major advantages over conventional LED technologies, including higher brightness and stable efficiency at increased power levels. Such solutions are in demand in automotive lighting, aviation and underwater systems, as well as in search-and-rescue operations. However, widely used phosphors often face overheating challenges and limitations in achieving natural colour tones.

To address these constraints, the research team engineered a composite material combining heat-resistant aluminium oxide with a luminescent garnet structure based on gadolinium, aluminium and gallium, activated by cerium ions. The aluminium oxide component ensures efficient heat dissipation, while precise adjustment of the aluminium-to-gallium ratio enables fine control over the emitted light spectrum.

Experimental results demonstrated that the new ceramic exhibits significantly greater thermal resistance compared to conventional phosphors. Optimal colour rendering was achieved by substituting 10–20 per cent of aluminium atoms with gallium, improving the colour rendering index by approximately 15 per cent without reducing brightness. At higher substitution levels, researchers also observed phosphorescence lasting from one to six minutes, an effect relevant for specific technological applications.

Using the developed material, scientists produced a prototype light source with a spectrum closely resembling natural daylight, allowing objects to appear more accurately illuminated. The innovation is expected to find applications in next-generation vehicle headlights, surgical equipment, deep-sea observation systems and aerospace navigation technologies, where precision and reliability are critical.

Other BRICS countries and partner states are also advancing scientific innovation, developing new technologies in materials science, recycling and electronics aimed at improving industrial efficiency and environmental sustainability.

In Belarus, a researcher from the country's National Academy of Sciences, Maksim Sotnikov, has developed a welding technology that increases the strength and reliability of joints through high-speed electrothermal treatment of vanadium microalloyed steel. As reported by BelTA, a partner of TV BRICS, the method enables structural transformation and uniform microhardness across welded areas, resulting in a 30 per cent increase in tensile strength and endurance, as well as more than a fivefold rise in impact toughness, confirmed by mechanical testing. The method is already being implemented in industrial production and is reported to have no direct analogues.

Meanwhile, in Argentina, researcher Elangeni Gilbert has developed a chemical recycling technology that transforms plastic waste into high-value, biodegradable molecules using an environmentally friendly catalyst and biomass-derived agents, according to Ahora San Juan, a partner of TV BRICS. The method works at low temperatures and pressures, allowing different types of plastics in mixed waste to be processed selectively, recovering valuable chemical components for the production of new polymer materials while preventing the release of harmful substances.

In addition, researchers in India have identified a naturally occurring protein capable of functioning as a semiconductor, generating electrical current under ultraviolet light without the use of metals or external power sources, reports IANS, a partner of TV BRICS. The self-assembling material forms structured two-dimensional sheets and offers a flexible, biodegradable alternative to conventional semiconductors, with potential applications in wearable and implantable electronic devices.