A new digital display screen integrates cutting-edge functionalities directed into the LEDs themselves
This marks a new era of versatile displays for smartphones, tablets, and computers.
LEDs processing sensors capabilities
Led by Professor Feng Gao, the team has demonstrated a new design principle where LEDs made from a crystalline material called perovskite not only emit light but also possess sensor capabilities.
These features include touch sensitivity, light responsiveness, fingerprint recognition, and the ability to monitor the user’s pulse.
The light absorption and emission properties enable additional functionalities such as solar energy harvesting, potentially changing how devices are powered and enhancing their energy efficiency.
“We’ve now shown that our design principle works. Our results show that there is great potential for a new generation of digital displays where new advanced features can be created. From now on, it’s about improving the technology into a commercially viable product,” explains Professor Gao.
“it’s about improving the technology into a commercially viable product”
Emitting variations in colour
The perovskite LEDs’ can emit light in various colours, enabling a full-color display spectrum. Traditional displays rely on separate red, green, and blue LEDs to produce colours, whereas this new technology achieves all colors within the visible light range using perovskite LEDs alone.
Dr. Chunxiong Bao, lead author of the study and an associate professor at Nanjing University, highlights a practical application: “Here’s an example, your smartwatch screen is off most of the time. During the off-time of the screen, instead of displaying information, it can harvest light to charge your watch, significantly extending how long you can go between charges.”
Despite these advancements, challenges remain before this technology becomes commercially viable for widespread adoption. Dr. Zhongcheng Yuan, a researcher at the University of Oxford and co-lead author of the research, emphasises the need to improve the longevity of perovskite LEDs. Currently, the screens have a limited operational lifespan, with LEDs becoming unstable after a few hours of use.
With enhanced energy efficiency and integrated functionalities, perovskite LED displays could find applications in medical devices, automotive displays, and beyond.
