Epiwafer

STRATACACHE announced that it is engaging customers to provide domestically produced GaN-on-Silicon microLED epiwafers, aimed at both display and photonics applications. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to scale North American microLED production at the companies Eugene Photonics Foundry and reduce dependence on Asian supply chains.

According to CEO Chris Riegel, the Eugene, Oregon fab is now accepting orders for Q3-Q4 200mm wafer production and is actively engaging with foundry customers in the photonics and display sectors. Riegel notes the growing demand for uLED-based photonic interconnects and highlights that “besides our Eugene Photonics Foundry, there is no scale domestic (U.S.) Gan-on-Silicon microLED manufacturing.”

ALLOS Semiconductors announced a strategic partnership with Ennostar Corporation, to bring bring 200 mm GaN-on-Si microLED epiwafers into volume production. 

This partnership will enable ALLOS to offer its customers GaN-on-Si epiwafers at mass volume. This basically means that Ennostar has become ALLOS manufacturing partner, while ALLOS operates in a "fabless" model. In addition to manufacturing, Ennostar will also contribute its advanced LED-related technologies to further enhance the product performance.

China-based San’an Optoelectronics announced that it is progressing with its microLED products for AR applications, and is moving from the technology verification state, tot he small-batch verification stage. 

San'an further says that it is working with both domestic and global device makers to optimize its microLED products.

We're happy to interview Pierre Tchoulfian, CTO of Aledia, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. France based Aledia, leading the next-generation displays with its 3D silicon nanowire–based microLED technology, designed to dramatically lower production costs. Backed by over €360 million in funding, Aledia is expanding production with its FlexiNOVA epiwafer platform and a planned €140 million fab. With more than 250 patent families, the company is advancing both large-display and next-generation AR microLED platforms.

Pierre is a recognized MicroLED innovator with 14+ years advancing technology and product development, shaping next-generation display solutions with over 10 patents and numerous publications.

Can you introduce your company and technology?

Aledia is a deep-tech company at the forefront of display innovation, focused on redefining what’s possible with microLED technology. We were founded in 2011 out of CEA-Leti research labs and are headquartered in Grenoble, in the heart of Europe’s “Display Valley.”

MicroLED-Connect is the microLED industry's top event series, offering a combination of exciting online webinars and a flagship annual on-site event. Our next meeting is on 23-25 September 2025, at the High Tech Campus, Eindhoven, Netherlands. MicroLED-Connect is co-organised by TechBlick and the MicroLED Industry Association and offers the best way to connect with the global MicroLED and AR/VR display industries and markets.

In this article, we will share a few short videos from past events. First up, we have Continental's Kai Hohmann that discusses how the company looks at the four competing display technologies, and the opportunities for microLED technology in the automotive industry.

Researchers from China's Tianjin University has developed a high throughput and non-destructive EL measurement method for microLED chips. The researchers say that this new method is not only non-destructive, it also extends the lifetime of the probe significantly (to over a million contact cycles) compared to other methods.

The new method is based on a flexible three-dimensional probe array that is capable of adapting to the microscopic contours of micro-LED wafers. The total pressure applied on the LEDs is only 0.9 megapascals (said to be comparable to a gentle breath). The probe head has 32 × 32 pairs of probes that can simultaneously measure 1,024 microscale LEDs using a passive-matrix driving approach in half a second. 

3D Nanowire MicroLED developer Aledia launched its new FlexiNOVA product-ready epiwafer platform, saying that first samples will be available for customers in the second half of 2025, in both 6V and 9V variants.

FlexiNOVA microLED wafers will be offered to display makers to be integrated into full displays, targeting applications such as wearables, automotive displays, TVs and monitors. The FlexiNOVA platform offers high flexibility in chip size, shape, and power usage. 

In August 2023, China-based BOE HC Semitek started building its $700 million microLED epiwafer production line in Jinwan District, Zhuhai, China. In October 2024, the company announced that it started producing sample wafers.

A few days ago the company held a ceremony as it is starting to mass produce 6-inch microLED wafers, as the project enters its commercial stage. BOE now has a full microLED industry chain, from epiwafers to modules and applications.

China-based San'an Optoelectronics is experiencing increased demand for its microLED wafers, and the company is expanding its production capacity. San'an currently has the capacity to produce 250 6" microLED wafers per month, and by the end of the quarter, it will be increase its capacity to 1,400 monthly wafers.

San'an also has passed Samsung's audit and microLED validation tests for its latest chips, and the company is now entering into Samsung's supply chain for the company's large-area tiled Wall microLED TVs. 

Veeco announced that PlayNitride has evaluated its Luina MOCVD systems for microLED growth, and has now qualified it for production. PlayNitride placed an order for two systems that will be delivered in 2025

PlayNitride is building a complete supply chain for microLED production, from epiwafer production through chip processing, transfer process and more. Last year AUO announced a $21.5 million agreement with PlayNitride to build a 6-inch microLED production line at AUO's Longtan factory. Earlier in 2023, PlayNitride said that it is increasing its production volume to 10,000 6" wafers per month.