Chinese photonics experts from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou have developed the world’s smallest LED display with virus-sized pixels — just 90 nm wide. The display’s density is 127,000 pixels per inch. It’s impossible to see even with a microscope. However, this was just a demonstration of the possibilities, proving the effectiveness of even such tiny LEDs — they continued to glow when exposed to current.
Image source: Nature 2025
Scientists from the University of Cambridge also took part in the work. An article about the research was published in the journal Nature. A special feature of the project was the use of perovskite as a base material. This type of semiconductor is already actively used in the production of photovoltaic panels and is beginning to show its best qualities in the creation of LEDs. The key advantages of perovskite remain its relative cheapness and the ability to be applied to a substrate using inkjet printing, which can significantly accelerate the commercialization of the technology.
A prototype display using nanoscale perovskite LEDs remained brighter longer than similar products based on traditional semiconductors. At the same time, reducing the pixel size to 90 nm did not degrade the LEDs’ performance.
«“Beyond our scientific curiosity, such experiments show that even at extremely small sizes, perovskite LEDs are capable of maintaining acceptable efficiency,” the scientists noted.
Display version with 100 µm pixel
The solution presented could be revolutionary for high-resolution displays. Once refined, the new ultra-small, ultra-bright and energy-efficient pixels could be ideal for ultra-high-resolution displays in augmented reality (AR) glasses, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and next-generation smartphone and wearable displays. The technology could also significantly increase the resolution of large screens such as TVs and computer monitors.
However, at the current stage, the development has one important limitation – all pixels are monochrome. In order to create color pixels of nanometer size, scientists still have to conduct a lot of research.