Nanoco and Plessey team up on project to shrink microLED pixels

The London-listed firm said that, using its existing monolithic process, Plessey would integrate the Nanoco CFQD quantum dots into selected regions of blue LED wafers, to add red and green light.

It said that would shrink the smallest practical pixel size from today's 30µm to 4µm - a reduction of 87%.

The process would enable the production of smaller, higher-resolution microLED displays in applications such as augmented reality and virtual reality devices, watches, and mobile devices, while enhancing both colour rendition and energy efficiency.

For pixels of 30µm or greater, colour conversion was currently performed by adding phosphors to the blue die.

However, since the smallest phosphor particle is around 30µm, the efficiency of colour conversion deteriorated as the pixel size shrank.

Nanoco's CFQD quantum dot technology would overcome that limitation, while facilitating efficient, compact device packaging, the companies explained.

“Quantum dots offer the best solution for today's emerging display requirements,” said Plessey president of corporate and business development Mike Lee.

“The nano-sized emitters with narrow band emission make them a suitable solution for Plessey's microLED display roadmap, which will see pixels being driven down to 4µm in size by 2019.

Dr Brian Gally, Nanoco's head of product, added that his company was “thrilled” to be working in close collaboration with Plessey, which he said led the global field in the development and production of microLED arrays.

“The combination of Plessey's blue microLEDs with Nanoco's red and green cadmium free quantum dots gives display customers the performance they require to rapidly commercialise products,” Dr Gally said.