HardwareNov 3, 2026, 6:36 AM UTC·1 min read

Researchers unveil 5-micrometer microLED for data centers

Scientists at Illinois and Notre Dame built a 5-micrometer microLED that draws 25 milliwatts and reaches 2.75 GHz of optical modulation bandwidth.

Close-up of a microscopic LED chip used for optical data transmission in data centers. — Image: Antyweb

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Researchers from the University of Illinois and Notre Dame have developed a microLED just 5 micrometers in diameter that consumes only 25 milliwatts of power and reaches an optical modulation bandwidth of 2.75 GHz.

The team says the device could significantly cut the energy needed to move data, with data centers as the main target.

Why it matters for server rooms

Data centers move enormous volumes of information between servers and chips, and that transfer consumes a large share of their power. Optical links based on small, efficient light sources are one way to reduce that burden. A diode that is tiny, draws little power and can be modulated at gigahertz speeds fits that role.

The figures reported for the new LED combine three properties that are usually hard to get together: very small size, low power draw and high modulation speed. The 2.75 GHz bandwidth indicates how fast the light can be switched to encode data.

What comes next

The available information describes the device's key parameters but does not detail commercialization plans or timelines. Whether the microLED can move from the lab into real server infrastructure will depend on further testing and integration work.