What They Say
Porotech of the UK announced that it has raised £3 million ($4.2m) to find the next stage in the development of its technology (Porotech Offers Native Red LED Epiwafers for MicroLED Applications).
Porotech said that it has been generating revenue for 10 months – and is working with some of the biggest global names in display technology.
Porotech’s next step is to expand its novel approach to integrate InGaN-based red, green and blue (RGB) micro-LEDs for full-colour microdisplays – and ultimately create ‘smart’ pixels that can be controlled independently.
Porotech CEO and co-founder Dr Tongtong Zhu said:
“We are already seeing high levels of demand for our standard and customised porous GaN substrates and micro-LED epiwafers, which we can provide on sapphire and silicon platforms ranging from 100mm (4″) to 300mm (12″). Smart pixels will be our next development – monolithically generated and integrating native self-emissive RGB micro-LEDs on a single wafer to give smaller, lighter, thinner displays that use less energy and offer the greater accuracy required for things like AR gestures.”
Porotech’s latest funding round was led by Speedinvest, with participation from previous investors IQ Capital, Cambridge Enterprise, Martlet, and Cambridge Angels.
What We Think
Porotech seems to be moving fast. We reported on its red devices in December, but it sent an image of both red and green pixels this time. For those not involved with LEDs, the key significance of the development is that while blue LEDs are usually based on InGaN, other colours are not. That makes for a range of difficulties in driving and manufacturing RGB LEDs. Having all the colours from a single architecture makes things simpler (if not simple!). The alternative is to use just blue and then add colour conversion with QDs or phosphors etc. (BR)
