Full-color LEDs cut down to size

Micrometer-scale light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) are the ideal building block for next-generation microLED displays in head-mounted monitors, mobile phones and televisions because they are bright, respond quickly, offer longevity and consume little energy.

KAUST researchers have shown that these scaled-down devices can efficiently emit light across the entire visible-light spectrum.

Velazquez-Rizo, along with his colleagues Zhe Zhuang, Daisuke Iida and Kazuhiro Ohkawa, have developed bright red indium gallium nitride microlight-emitting diodes (µLEDs) of just 17 × 17 micrometers.

"The next step in our research is to further improve the efficiency of our μLEDs and decrease their lateral dimensions below 10 micrometers," says Velazquez-Rizo.