Native red

Researchers from the University of Michigan, led by Prof. Zetian Mi, have developed a new 3D Nanowire red microLED emitter that achieves a very narrow emission spectrum - an FWHM of 5nm at 617 nm, about one order of magnitude narrower than previously reported values. A narrow emission spectrum helps to realize wide color gamuts.

To achieve this high performance, the researchers realized a nanowire photonic crystal (PhC) structure that reforms the radiation behavior of red-emitting InGaN micro-LEDs.

Researchers from Korea's KAIST, Inha University, QSI and Raontech have jointly developed a high-density high-efficiency red microLED microdisplay, achieving a pixel density of 1700 PPI.

The researchers used Aluminum Indium Phosphide/Gallium Indium Phosphide (AlInP/GaInP) quantum-well microLEDs, and applied a monolithic 3D integration process to stack the microLED array directly on top of the backplane.

Researchers from China's Xiamen University, Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, Xiamen University Malaysia , Birkenau University (Turkey), and Lattice Optoelectronics have developed a new red InGaN LED device that achieved high efficiency - 11.78% EQE, and 1.1% EQE at microLED sizes (10 micron).

To achieve this high efficiency, the researchers have optimized the device V-pit to promote the effectiveness of three-dimensional current pathways and facilitate localized electric field redistribution. The researchers explain that this improvement enhances hole injection while suppressing nonradiative recombination, this work contributes to the microstructure design in InGaN-based red LEDs.

The MicroLED Industry Association published a new white paper that provides a discussion on microLED full color architectures. The white paper is openly available to download here.

One of the key challenges still facing the microLED industry is the development of full color displays. As blue, green and red LEDs are based on different material structures, producing full-color displays is not straightforward. MicroLED display developers are looking at several full color architectures, including a native GaN red microLED, color-tunable LEDs, color conversion using phosphors/QDs, and alternative material platforms (such as 3D Nanowires) and processes.

The MicroLED Association Full Color Architectures white paper addresses the challenges associated with producing full color microLED displays, and details the different architectures and technologies being developed today. You can download the full white paper here!

MicroLED-Connect 2025 is set to be the industry’s premier event for 2025, with a world-class agenda, exhibition and networking opportunities. In this article we will introduce some of our speakers and themes in the event. You can explore the full agenda and event details here.

Mass transfer – lasers, fluids and chip-first processing

The first theme we will discuss is mass transfer. In most MicroLED production platforms, there is at least one transfer process – from epiwafer to final display, and usually at least two such processes are involved: from epiwafer to an interposer substrate (temporary holder)  and then from interposer to final display. Performing this transfer in a cost-efficient and reliable manner is still one of the major challenges the industry is facing.

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.

The MicroLED Industry Association will host an online meeting on June 16, 2025, with a focus on red microLED emission, one of the key challenges towards mass microLED adoption.

This first-of-its-kind panel meeting will take a deep look into red microLED emission. The several potential paths towards a commercial red microLED will be discussed: native GaN red, color conversion, color-tunable LEDs and 3D GaN Nanowires.

Plessey Semiconductors, together with Meta Platforms, announced that they have developed a native red microLED microdisplay that achieves up to 6 million nits with a chip size of 5 um. Plessey says that this is world's brightest microLED device at this size.

In March 2020, Meta signed a deal with Plessey to dedicate all of Plessey's microLED manufacturing operations to support Meta with its own product development. Facebook pretty much acquired Plessey's microLED operations with this exclusive deal. 

Researchers from France's CEA-Leti and CNRS institutes have succeeded in growing highly efficient red, green and blue InGaN submicron microLED nano-pyramids.

The researchers have deposited the nanopyramids by using an MOCVD-based technique, and using nanoselective area growth using an in-situ patterned graphene on SiC as a mask. The researchers report that these microLEDs offer high efficiency with the red microLED offering very regular quantum wells emitting at 620 nm with an In content up to 40%.

China-based MicroLED microdisplay developer Jade Bird Display have developed a full-color microLED microdisplay that achieves a brightness of 2 million nits (white-balanced).

JBD says that its Phoenix series RGB microdisplays offer a pixel pitch of 5 micron, an ultra-thin stack of less than 5 micron, native RGB emitters and high color fidelity. JBD hopes to commercialize its full color microdisplays in Q3 2025.