Efficient Red Micro-LEDs with Pixel Size <5 Microns for Next-Generation Displays

Micro-LEDs have received considerable attention in the next generation displays for strategic and tactical battlefield applications. Advanced virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) systems require micro-LEDs with pixel size less than 5 microns for high resolution battlefield visualization. GaN-based blue and green micro-LEDs retain high external quantum efficiency (EQE typically ~ a few percent) when the LED chip size reduced to ~5 micros. However, most of the red micro-LEDs suffer more significant surface recombination loss, limiting the EQE as low as 0.1%. In this program, teaming with the UCSD group, 2Witech Solutions LLC proposes to exploit a new micro-LED architecture based on inelastic electron tunneling (IET) through engineered metal/insulator/metal junctions. The proposed micro-LED device leverages on the recently developed nanoplasmonic cavity design and optical antenna engineering to boost the EQE at red frequencies. The new red micro-LED device is intended to possess unmatched performance, including EQE >2%, pixel size <5 microns, cost effective, reasonable emitting power, and compatibility for large scale mass production. The feasibility of the proposed approach will be demonstrated in this Phase I program.