Seoul Viosys has begun mass production of a rare-earth-free white light emitter using its WICOP 3 technology, with chips as small as 10µm. This innovation eliminates the need for yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) and synthetic packaging materials, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative. The global white LED market, currently valued at $10bn, could see significant disruption as this technology enables micro-LEDs under 100µm for the first time. The chips achieve 100lm/W efficacy, with plans to reach 200lm/W within two years. Applications include embedded lighting in walls and windows, as well as high-speed data transmission for AI infrastructure.
The WICOP architecture removes traditional packaging, reducing environmental impact and production costs by approximately half. By using only gallium nitride (GaN), the chips avoid plastics, silicone, and lead frames, promising decades of operational life. Seoul Viosys plans to prioritize customers who respect its intellectual property while seeking supply chain partners. Mass production is set for Q4 2026, with initial output at 0.015lm from a 25µm x 10µm chip.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing