Catenaa, Tuesday, October 28, 2025-Researchers at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg have developed the world’s smallest light-emitting pixel, a breakthrough that could enable ultra-compact displays for smart glasses and wearable devices.
The pixel, measuring just 300 by 300 nanometers, emits orange light with brightness comparable to a conventional 5 by 5 micrometer OLED pixel.
Using optical antennas and a metallic contact for current injection, the team overcame challenges in current distribution that previously caused short circuits and destroyed nano-scale pixels.
By introducing a specialized insulation layer with a 200-nanometer central opening, researchers prevented the formation of filaments that damaged earlier designs.
The first nanopixels remained stable for two weeks under ambient conditions, demonstrating the durability of the approach.
This technology allows for displays with resolutions of 1920 x 1080 pixels to fit on a single square millimeter, potentially integrating projections into eyeglass frames or other wearable optics.
OLED layers generate light without backlighting, enabling vivid colors, deep blacks, and energy-efficient operation suitable for AR and VR applications.
The team now aims to expand the color gamut to full RGB and increase efficiency beyond the current one percent. Success could pave the way for a new generation of miniature displays that are nearly invisible when embedded in body-worn devices, from smart glasses to contact lenses.
Physicists at Würzburg created a 300-nanometer light-emitting pixel, enabling ultra-compact, bright OLED displays for future wearable devices.
