Breakthrough in Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality MicroLED Technology Unveiled by CEA-Leti at MicroLED Connect Event
The University of Stuttgart, under the leadership of Prof. Heinz Kalt, has made a significant stride in the development of RGB-based microdisplays using a single material system. This breakthrough, which addresses a key bottleneck in display miniaturization, was announced by the research team and could revolutionize the next-generation AR and VR technology.
The team, which includes Amélie Dussaigne of CEA-Leti as the lead author, has developed a technique for growing high-quality InGaN-based quantum wells on sub-micron nanopyramids. This innovation simplifies integration and improves performance in future microdisplays for AR/VR headsets, smart glasses, and other immersive devices.
Traditional color conversion methods face challenges in deposition precision and stability. However, this new technology, presented in a paper published in Nature Communications Materials, overcomes these hurdles by using metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) to grow InGaN nanopyramids. An epitaxial graphene layer on silicon carbide was used as a selective mask in the growth process, relieving internal strain and enabling record indium nitride mole fractions of 40% in the quantum wells.
The high indium nitride mole fractions allow for reliable red light generation without degrading crystal quality, enabling native emission of red, green, and blue (RGB) light from a single material system. This is a significant improvement over red-emitting phosphide micro-LEDs, which suffer from efficiency losses at small sizes.
The use of III-nitride materials promises high efficiency micro-light emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) compared to their organic counterparts. As a result, the new technology opens the door to manufacturing full-color microdisplays with unmatched brightness and resolution, crucial for next-generation AR and VR.
Beyond microdisplays, the potential applications of this technology extend to fast optical communications, photovoltaic applications, and renewable hydrogen production. The team, which also includes research scientist Adrien Michon from CRHEA, will present their research at the MicroLED Connect Conference on Sept. 24, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Microdisplays for immersive devices require bright R&D sub-pixels smaller than 10 × 10 microns. The nanopyramid structures, well suited for the sub-micron pixel pitch demanded by AR/VR devices, could pave the way for a new era of immersive technology. With this breakthrough, the CEA-Leti and CRHEA have cleared a path toward full-color microdisplays based on a single material system, promising a future where AR and VR experiences will be brighter, sharper, and more immersive than ever before.
