microLEDs

MicroLEDs are an emerging display technology that uses arrays of microscopic light-emitting diodes as the fundamental picture elements. Each pixel consists of one or more micro-LEDs that emit light directly in red, green, or blue. Because the emitters are inorganic and self-emissive, microLED displays do not require a backlight or color filters in the same way as LCDs.

Advantages: high brightness, energy efficiency, fast switching, high contrast ratio, wide color gamut, long lifetime, resistance to burn-in, and thin, scalable form factors. They are well-suited for large displays and compact devices, including smartphones or wearables and AR/VR.

Challenges: manufacturing is complex. Aligning and transferring millions of micro-LEDs onto a backplane with high yield is difficult; blue micro-LED growth is technically demanding; high display area fosters yield loss; packaging and driving electronics; cost is a barrier; achieving uniform color and brightness across a panel remains active area of research.

Approaches: full RGB micro-LEDs with separate red, green, and blue emitters; or blue micro-LEDs with color conversion layers such as quantum dots or phosphors. Each approach has trade-offs in efficiency, gamut, and reliability; encapsulation and thermal management are also important.

Applications and status: MicroLEDs show strong potential for next-generation televisions, signage, and microdisplays for augmented reality and heads-up displays. While several companies have demonstrated prototypes, mass production has not yet reached wide consumer availability and continues to be the focus of ongoing research and investment.