Chinese scientists develop virus-sized pixels for World’s SMALLEST LED DISPLAY

A team of researchers from Zhejiang University in China, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, has developed the world’s smallest light-emitting diode (LED) display using pixels as tiny as a virus. This breakthrough could revolutionize display technology by enabling ultra-high-resolution screens for smartphones, AR/VR headsets, and advanced wearables.

Modern display advancements focus on increasing pixel density to enhance image sharpness. The smallest pixels in use today rely on micro-LED technology, which is both expensive and inefficient when scaled down further. To overcome these challenges, lead researcher Baodan Zhao and her team turned to perovskite, a promising material already gaining traction in solar panels due to its efficiency in absorbing and emitting light.

Using perovskite crystals, the researchers created nano-scale LEDs (nano-PeLEDs) measuring just 90 nanometers wide—far smaller than conventional micro-LEDs. The perovskite-based LEDs proved exceptionally bright and efficient, maintaining their luminosity even at these minuscule sizes, unlike traditional materials that lose effectiveness when shrunk.

One of the most astonishing results was the unprecedented pixel density of 127,000 pixels per inch (PPI), significantly surpassing current industry standards. For reference, today’s highest-end smartphone displays typically reach 600–800 PPI. Such an advancement could lead to razor-sharp displays for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), high-end TVs, and next-gen mobile screens.

Despite its promise, the technology still faces major hurdles. Currently, perovskite LEDs can only emit a single colour (monochrome), meaning researchers must develop full-colour versions before they can compete with commercial display technology. Additionally, the long-term durability of these nano-LEDs in real-world applications remains uncertain.

However, if perfected, this innovation could reshape the future of displays, pushing resolution boundaries to near the limits of human vision. The findings of this groundbreaking study were recently published in the journal Nature.