Seoul Biosys has begun mass production of rare earth-free white micro LEDs using its proprietary WICOP technology. The new chips measure 25µm x 10µm and emit white light without phosphors or packaging, achieving 0.015 lumens and 100 lumens per watt. The company aims to reach 200 lm/W within two years.
By eliminating rare earth elements and traditional materials like silicone resin and lead frames, Seoul Biosys expects to halve production costs and reduce environmental impact. Market research firm Omdia projects the micro LED display market will grow from $10.54 million this year to $6.8 billion by 2032, driven by demand for smart glasses and ultra-small displays. The WICOP technology mounts LED chips directly onto substrates without separate wires or packaging.
Seoul Semiconductor and Seoul Biosys have developed UV, blue, green, red, and infrared micro LEDs, and now white. They plan to expand into augmented reality (AR) displays and AI data communication using densely arranged micro LEDs around 10µm. Starting in Q4, they will prioritize supplying third-generation WICOP products to major clients and explore new markets.
Lee Jeong-hoon, founder of Seoul Semiconductor, stated, "We began development out of curiosity about why rare earth elements were necessary to create white light. Based on WICOP 3 technology that achieves white light without rare earth elements, we aim to expand into new optical semiconductor markets such as AR and AI data communication.".
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing