Merging Biology and Solid-State Lighting: Recent Advances in Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Biological Materials

Solid-state lighting (SSL) is one of the biggest achievements of the 20th century. It has completely changed our modern life with respect to general illumination (light-emitting diodes), flat devices and displays (organic light-emitting diodes), and small labeling systems (light-emitting electrochemical cells). Nowadays, it is however mandatory to make a transition toward green, sustainable, and equally performing lighting systems. In this regard, several groups have realized that the actual SSL technologies can easily and efficiently be improved by getting inspiration from how natural systems that manipulate light have been optimized over millennia. In addition, various natural and biocompatible materials with suitable properties for lighting applications have been used to replace expensive and unsustainable components of current lighting devices. Finally, SSL has also started to revolutionize the biomedical field with the achievement of efficient implantable lighting systems. Herein, the-state-of-art of (i) biological materials for lighting devices, (ii) bioinspired concepts for device designs, and (iii) implantable SSL technologies is summarized, highlighting the perspectives of these emerging fields.