Isi iyi ọkụ LED mbụ, na-eji ọkụ{0}} na-ewepụta ụkpụrụ nke semiconductor P{1}N junction, bụ nke echepụtara na mbido 1960s. Ihe eji eme ihe n'oge ahụ bụ GaAsP, na-ebunye ọkụ uhie (λp=650nm). Site na ịnya ụgbọ ala nke 20 mA, mgbawa ọkụ ahụ bụ naanị puku kwuru puku ole na ole nke lumen, na-ebute nrụpụta ọkụ dị ihe dịka 0.1 lumen/watt.
N'etiti 1970s, iwebata In na N element nyeere LEDs nwee ike iwepụta akwụkwọ ndụ akwụkwọ ndụ (λp=555nm), odo (λp=590nm), na ọkụ oroma (λp=610nm), na ike na-enwu ọkụ ka emelitere ka ọ bụrụ 1 lumen/watt.
Na mbido 1980s, isi mmalite ọkụ GaAlAs LED pụtara, na-eme ka LEDs na-acha uhie uhie nweta nrụpụta ọkụ nke 10 lumens / watt.
Na mbido 1990s, mmepe nke ihe ọhụrụ abụọ na-aga nke ọma{1}}GaAlInP (na-ebunye ọkụ na-acha uhie uhie na odo) na GaInN (ọkụ ndụ ndụ na-acha anụnụ anụnụ){2} mere ka ọ dịkwuo mma nke ọma ọkụ ọkụ LED. N'afọ 2000, nke mbụ mepụtara LEDs nwere ọrụ na-egbuke egbuke nke 100 lumens kwa watt na mpaghara uhie na oroma (λp=615nm), ebe nke ikpeazụ mepụtara LEDs nwere ọrụ ọkụ nke 50 lumens kwa watt na mpaghara ndụ ndụ (λp=530nm).
