The glowing screens we use every day—from smartphones to televisions—are powered mostly by OLED technology, short for organic light-emitting diodes.
But another type of display, known as micro-LED, is emerging as a strong contender for the next generation of electronics.
If researchers can solve key manufacturing challenges, micro-LEDs could unlock brighter, more durable, and more flexible displays that change how we experience digital devices.
Micro-LEDs are different because each pixel is made from tiny inorganic light-emitting diodes.
Inorganic materials are tougher than the organic ones used in OLEDs, meaning micro-LEDs could last longer and better withstand everyday wear and tear.
They also have the potential to deliver sharper images, higher brightness, and lower power consumption.
Dr. Jiho Shin, a chemical engineering professor at Texas A&M University, has been working with international collaborators to map out the possibilities and challenges of this technology.
Their findings were recently published in Light: Science & Applications.
The review examines how micro-LEDs could be applied in cutting-edge devices, from virtual and augmented reality headsets that need ultra-bright displays packed into small glasses, to transparent, flexible, and even stretchable screens for the phones and gadgets of the future.
But shrinking LEDs to microscopic size comes with problems. As Shin explains, when you make these lights smaller, they don’t shine as brightly as you might expect.
“It’s like a flashlight getting dimmer the smaller you make it,” he said. The challenge is especially tough for red micro-LEDs, which are crucial for producing full-color displays.
To address this, researchers are testing new materials and fabrication techniques to make the micro-LEDs more efficient. Some approaches use lasers to precisely position each microscopic light, while others employ liquids to guide the LEDs into place.
Another promising solution involves building miniature assembly lines that can quickly and accurately install millions of micro-LEDs at once.
Shin believes these advances will make micro-LED displays more practical to manufacture and more affordable to bring to market.
Once the hurdles are cleared, the possibilities could be revolutionary. Imagine lightweight VR glasses that display vivid, lifelike worlds without eye strain, or smartphones with flexible, transparent screens that roll up or stretch without breaking.
“Displays are something we use every day, from phones and laptops to the simplest devices,” Shin said. “Understanding where this technology is heading helps us see the future of how we interact with electronics.”
Alongside Shin, collaborators include Dr. Jung-El Ryu and Jeehwan Kim of MIT, and Drs. Joonghoon Choi, Young Joon Hong, and Dong-Hwan Kim of Sungkyunkwan University.
Together, they are helping push micro-LEDs closer to becoming a reality—one that could redefine the look and feel of tomorrow’s devices.
