Nobel physics laureate Shuji Nakamura recently said importance of Ultraviolet LEDs will grow as the next generation LED technology can also help prevent the spread of deadly diseases, and possibly eradicate them, according to a Korea Times report.

UV LEDs would enable mankind to access clean, purified water, and even be used to eliminate diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or Ebola, said the inventor at a press conference organized by Seoul Semiconductor to promote the importance of intellectual property recently.

The UV lights have a shorter wavelength than visible lights, UVC lights in particular are efficient at killing bacteria and preventing microorganisms from reproducing and polluting the water.

"UVC is the most promising area in the LED industry," he said. "We believe it will resolve growing concerns over water and food shortages."

The Nobel Physics prize winner in 2014 has teamed up with Seoul Semiconductor to commercialize UV LED products. The Korean LED chip maker has sponsored Nakmura’s research projects since 2003.

Nakmura, who is also a professor in the Materials Department of University of California, Santa Barbara, also noted the importance of LEDs in energy efficiency.

More than 50 redundant nuclear power plants across the globe could be shut down by 2020 from the results of power savings, he said citing data from Mckinsey & Company.