Oak Ridge National Laboratory ORNL in the US has created new graphite foam technology which can be used to passively cool LEDs.
The new technology has been licensed to LED North America for utilisation in future lighting products, as use of the foam can help to further extend the lifespan of the lamps.
According to ORNL, the foam is lighter, more conductive and easier to work with than heat sink materials such as copper and aluminium, making it more cost effective to use.
This, in turn, will help to make the LEDs themselves more economically attractive, as decreasing the temperature of an LED by ten degrees can double its lifespan.
James Klett of ORNL's materials science and technology division said: While this technology will reduce temperatures and increase the life of the LED lighting systems, what it will really do is save municipalities millions of dollars every year in replacement fixture costs as well as maintenance.
Last week, carmaker Mercedes-Benz revealed that its new CLS coupe model will feature LED headlamps that are the first of their kind to offer a full range of dynamic light functions.
