Revolutionary OLED-Metasurfaces Aim to Redefine 3D Visuals

New research has made a groundbreaking advancement in holographic image projection, with potential applications in entertainment, gaming, communication, and smart devices.

Holography has long been a staple of science fiction, with movies like Star Wars and Blade Runner 2049 utilizing holograms to convey advanced technology and futuristic elements. 

This technology for creating interactive 3D visuals has long intrigued engineers and scientists, but bringing it to life hasn’t been easy.

Holography allows a wavefront to be recorded and later reconstructed, providing a means to create a unique photographic 3D image without the use of a lens.

Conventional holographic projectors, however, need bulky optical setups and an external source of coherent light, which limits their usage. So, the researchers from the University of St Andrews have unveiled a revolutionary approach at the intersection of nanophotonics and display technology, where OLEDs are integrated directly with metasurfaces.

“Holographic metasurfaces are one of the most versatile material platforms to control light. With this work, we have removed one of the technological barriers that prevent the adoption of metamaterials in everyday applications. This breakthrough will enable a step change in the architecture of holographic displays for emerging applications, for example, in virtual and augmented reality.”

– Andrea Di Falco, professor in nano-photonics at the School of Physics and Astronomy

The study titled “OLED illuminated metasurfaces for holographic image projection¹,” detailing the tech, was published in Light: Science & Applications.

Organic light-emitting diodes or OLEDs are thin-film optoelectronic devices featuring broad tunability, light weight, and simple fabrication, which makes them widely used in today’s mobile phones and TV displays. 

The global OLED market size is actually projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.4% from 2024 to 2030 and reach 152.83 billion.

Being a surface light source, OLEDs are also being used in sensing, biophotonics, and wireless communications, where the ability to integrate them with other technologies makes OLEDs good candidates for miniaturized photonic platforms.

For both displays and emerging applications, control of the OLED far-field emission is very important, but as the latest research noted, the focus of current studies is primarily on adjusting the electroluminescence (EL) spectrum and emission directionality. 

The thing is, it’s particularly challenging to fine-tune the far-field emission and is limited by OLEDs’ low spatial coherence.

But the latest study has shown that it is actually possible for a single OLED to project a high-resolution image when combined with a holographic metasurface. This metasurface-OLED projector enables the researchers to directly manipulate the far-field emission, thus displaying holographic images on a screen. 

The new platform offers unmatched control over holographic displays, extending the limits of optical engineering and visual experience. The researchers believe their demonstration can provide a way to realize highly integrated and miniaturized metasurface displays.

OLEDs for Holographic Image Projection

An essential component of electronic devices, semiconductors have enabled advances in everything from communications, healthcare, and transportation to computing, clean energy, military systems, and countless other applications.

By allowing for the precise control of electrical current, semiconductors enable the functionality of modern electronic devices.

A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. And the properties of a semiconductor can be controlled through a process called doping. 

Now, there are different types of semiconductors, categorized based on their material composition, structure, and how they conduct electricity.

To begin with, intrinsic semiconductors are pure without any significant impurities such as silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), while extrinsic semiconductors are doped with impurities to control conductivity. N-types are doped with elements that add extra electrons, while p-types are doped with elements that create ‘holes’ or positive charge carriers.
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Based on structure, there are amorphous semiconductors with a disordered atomic arrangement, polycrystalline semiconductors made of multiple small crystals, and single-crystal semiconductors with a perfect crystalline structure.

In terms of material composition, semiconductors can be inorganic, typically crystalline solids like gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide, or organic, made from carbon-based molecules or polymers. Hybrid semiconductors combine organic and inorganic materials to enhance performance, as seen in perovskites used in next-generation solar cells and photodetectors.

The remarkable optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors make them highly suitable for displays, photovoltaics, and lasing. Their use in OLED displays is the most developed application.

OLEDs are known for their flexible form factor and superior image quality. Compared to lasers, though, the output power density of OLEDs is lower, and that results in a holographic image with low brightness. 

However, the advantages of flexibility, simple fabrication, and the ability to create large numbers of pixels in different colors side by side on the same substrate make OLEDs suitable for advanced holographic display applications.

OLED is an incoherent light source with a divergent emission profile. Manipulating this emission to generate detailed images is not only challenging but also largely unexplored.

One way to do that is by using a holographic metasurface (HM), which is an ultra-thin film structure called a meta-atom with the capability to manipulate the behavior of light in a precise manner. While used widely in applications like image sensing, data storage, augmented reality (AR), anticounterfeiting, and security encryption, most reported holographic metasurfaces are designed for coherent light sources (lasers) and are unsuitable for use with incoherent ones (OLEDs).

Only a handful of metasurfaces using incoherent light sources have been reported so far, and even then, the majority of them involve complicated setups, limiting their deployment in everyday applications.

So, the researchers in the latest study developed a new type of optoelectronic device that combines the best of OLEDs and metasurfaces.

“We are excited to demonstrate this new direction for OLEDs. By combining OLEDs with metasurfaces, we also open a new way of generating holograms and shaping light.”

– Professor Ifor Samuel from the School of Physics and Astronomy

The newly developed compact system is made up of an OLED, a bandpass filter, and a holographic metasurface (HM), which is especially designed for coherent light sources. 

By carefully shaping each meta-atom to modify the properties of the beam of light that passes through the HM, it became possible to create a pre-designed image on the other side of the screen. This potentially makes holographic displays more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and compatible with flexible substrates.

How OLED-Metasurface Displays Work (and Why They Matter)

Researchers from the SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, UK, developed the innovative method that seamlessly fuses OLEDs and metasurfaces into a monolithic structure. 

The fusion allows the OLED itself to act as the illumination source as well as the modulator for holographic wavefront shaping. This removes the need for external lasers or a device like a spatial light modulator, which controls the intensity of light.

The core of this new technology is in metasurfaces, which are planar arrays of nanostructures designed to shape electromagnetic waves in a selected manner, often by controlling polarization, amplitude, or phase with extraordinary spatial resolution.

While external lasers have been previously used to illuminate metasurfaces, merging them with OLEDs creates an intrinsic light source patterned at the microscale, offering an electrically driven platform that is stable and can be scaled across different wavelengths with the capability to project holographic images with high clarity.

This marks a major leap from conventional bulky systems.

While the incoherent, broadband emission of the OLED layer has long been a challenge for holography, the researchers engineered metasurfaces to match the OLED’s emission spectrum as well as its spatial coherence properties.

The team tailored nanostructures to utilize and adjust the partially coherent light to form high-resolution holographic images without having to depend on lasers.

In order to get precise nano-architecture, which is required for functional metasurfaces right on OLEDs, the team used advanced lithography methods.

Using a special Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) system, they patterned metallic and dielectric nanostructures over the OLED surface, ensuring effective phase modulation while maintaining the performance and longevity of the OLED. 

This successful integration emphasizes the compatibility of nanofabrication technologies with organic electronic devices, which opens the doors to multifunctional photonic platforms.

Upon testing the device, the team showcased clear holographic projections of simple as well as geometric shapes with intricate depth cues. The team was able to get high-quality holographic images at a distance of just 3 cm. 

The reconstructed images show both brightness levels and angular robustness that is usually not possible with incoherent illumination. 

The ability of the system to modulate the wavefront dynamically, which is achieved by controlling pixelated metasurface regions in sync with the OLED emission, indicates the possibility for real-time holographic videos.

“OLED displays normally need thousands of pixels to create a simple picture. This new approach allows a complete image to be projected from a single OLED pixel!”

– Professor Graham Turnbull, from the School of Physics and Astronomy

The OLED illuminated holographic projector, the study noted, could be used in applications like human-computer interactions and AR and VR headsets.

A big advantage of this OLED-metasurface platform is its versatility and scalability. 

With OLED fabrication already widely used in commercial display manufacturing, metasurfaces can be integrated into existing production lines, which can accelerate their development into wearable holograms and consumer electronics.

Moreover, the compactness, flexibility, and low power consumption of the technology position it for next-generation immersive displays.

The platform can further be used for adaptive lighting systems, biomedical imaging, and secure optical encryption.

With this proof of concept, the team used a bandpass optical filter to narrow the OLED’s emission spectrum—improving the spatial coherence that the metasurface needs to reconstruct sharp holograms. But the researchers noted that a polariton or thin film filter could also be used with the OLED or the metasurface to build a more compact system.

When it comes to the metasurface, the team noted that their system can also work with other types of metasurfaces, offering potential for the mass production of these devices, thus facilitating their deployment for image projection.

While commercial use of the device faces challenges in terms of minimizing losses, maximizing brightness, and optimizing the efficiency of the metasurface modulation, the team has demonstrated a technological advancement that takes a creative approach to designing holistic photonic systems.

In contrast to traditional designs, where modulators and emitters are considered independently, the team used an integrated approach with the simultaneous optimization of OLEDs’ emission properties and metasurfaces’ phase and amplitude response.

So, by combining the benefits of organic optoelectronics and nanophotonics, the team has created a new standard for holographic displays. It envisions a future where full-color holographic displays with ultrahigh resolution will be embedded directly into transparent windows, fabric wearables, or curved surfaces on vehicles and architectural elements.

Investing in Holographic OLEDs

Now, if we look at a company that is advancing this field, Corning Incorporated (GLW +0.61%) stands out for being heavily involved in advanced display technologies and materials critical for OLED panels and flexible screens, providing infrastructure for holographic integration.

It operates through a few key segments, including:

• Optical Communications
• Display Technologies
• Specialty Materials
• Environmental Technologies
• Life Sciences

Primarily a material sciences company, Corning specializes in optical fiber, which is a type of glass that transmits light and plays an integral role in modern telecommunications networks. It is also utilized in data centers. 

Corning also produces a wide range of other glass and ceramic products. Notably, the company manufactures Gorilla Glass, which is used in iPhone screens and other electronics. 

Earlier this year, Samsung Electronics announced that its Galaxy S25 Edge will feature Corning’s new glass ceramic offering called Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, which provides advanced protection in an extremely thin device form factor. The latest product has crystals implanted within the glass matrix to augment the display cover’s strength.

“Galaxy S25 Edge will set a new standard for craftsmanship and performance as our slimmest Galaxy S series device yet,” said Kwangjin Bae, EVP and Head of the Mechanical R&D Team of MX at Samsung Electronics. “To support this breakthrough design, it was essential to develop a display material that was both exceptionally thin and reliably strong – a challenge that brought Corning and Samsung together, united by a shared vision for purposeful engineering and user-centric innovation. That vision is embedded in every detail of Galaxy S25 Edge.”

With a market cap of $67.4 billion, GLW shares are currently trading at $78.67, up 65.6% year-to-date. This week, GLW hit a 52-week high of $78.81. The company has actually been enjoying a massive rally over the past two years.

It has an EPS (TTM) of 0.94 and a P/E (TTM) of 83.55. The company also offers its shareholders a dividend yield of 1.42%.

Now, for its most recent quarter, it reported GAAP sales of $3.86 billion. Core sales increased by 12% YoY to $4.05 billion. Meanwhile, GAAP EPS was $0.54 and core EPS, which grew 28%, was $0.60 in Q2 of 2025.

Talking about the “outstanding” quarter, CEO Wendell P. Weeks said they expect to see continued strong performance through its Springboard Plan, whose focus is on capturing $4 bln in sales opportunity, targeting 20% operating margin by next year-end, and rewarding shareholders with dividends and share buybacks.

“We’re seeing remarkable customer response to both our new Gen AI and U.S.-made solar products,” noted Week, adding, “We are positioned to deliver durable growth that will serve us well through 2026 and beyond.”

During this period, Corning posted GAAP operating cash flow of $708 million while its adjusted free cash flow came in at $451 million.

“For the third quarter, we expect continued strong performance on our Springboard plan and double-digit sales and earnings growth year over year,” said CFO Ed Schlesinger, with core sales expected to be $4.2 billion and core EPS in a range of $0.63 to $0.67. 

“Our guidance factors in about $0.01 to $0.02 for the impact of currently enacted tariffs, along with $0.02 to $0.03 of temporarily higher cost as we ramp to meet increased demand for our new Gen AI and U.S.-made solar products,” Schlesinger said.

Latest Corning Incorporated (GLW) Stock News and Developments

Conclusion

Advancements in OLEDs and holographic technologies are reshaping how we interact with visual content. 

OLEDs, with their lightweight, tunability, and fabrication simplicity, have long been key to modern displays but faced challenges when paired with holographic imaging due to their incoherent light emission. But the latest groundbreaking research has overcome that issue and is enabling holographic projections by fusing OLEDs with metasurfaces in a compact, efficient, and scalable design.

The integration offers exciting prospects for immersive entertainment, communication devices, healthcare, and secure optical systems. It can also pave the way for a future where high-resolution, adaptable, and energy-efficient holography becomes part of our daily life.

References:

1. Gong, J., Biabanifard, M., Yoshida, K., et al. (2025). OLED illuminated metasurfaces for holographic image projection. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 294. (Version of Record), published 27 August 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01912-z