Seoul Viosys says rare-earth-free white LED enters production

Seoul Viosys said it has begun mass production of WICOP 3, a white LED chip that emits white light without rare earth materials.

The company, an affiliate of Seoul Semiconductor, said the chip can be as small as 10 micrometers. It said white LEDs have traditionally relied on rare earth materials such as yttrium aluminum garnet layered onto a blue LED chip.

Seoul Viosys said a first mass-production micro LED chip measuring 25 micrometers by 10 micrometers produced 0.015 lumens of white light, with luminous efficacy close to 100 lumens per watt. The company said it aims to reach 200 lumens per watt within two years.

The company said WICOP 3 uses gallium nitride and no package, rare earths, synthetic silicone resins, plastics or lead frames. It claimed the product costs about half as much to make as a conventional white LED.

Seoul Viosys said the technology could be used in lighting, augmented reality and AI communications, and said it is seeking micro LED supply-chain partners.