Dual-function floating-gate memory driver for energy-efficient integrated display–illumination system

H Haifeng Wu Y Yizhe Wang Q Qijun Zong J Jiali Yi H Huawei Liu X Xingxia Sun Q Qin Shuai J Jian Hu X Xiao Lin (School of Physical Sciences) Y Yazhou Wang (School of Medicine, Chongqing University) P Penghui Guo X Xudong Yang T Tanghao Xie X Xiaoqin Liao B Ben Wang (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China) X Xiaoming Zhao (Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) X Xiaoli Zhu (Key Laboratory for Micro-Nano Physics and Technology of Hunan Province, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometriscs and College of Materials Science and Engineering) B Bobo Tian X Xiao Wang D Dong Li A Anlian Pan (School of physics and electronics)

Abstract

Abstract The increasing demand for multifunctional micro-displays capable of both high-brightness illumination and low-power image display highlights a critical bottleneck in existing display technologies, which struggle to efficiently switching between large-area uniform light output and fine-grained pixel-level control. Here, we introduce the Integrated Nonvolatile Display–Illumination System (INDIS)—a monolithically integrated Micro-LED architecture based on transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) floating-gate memory (FGM) devices, achieving dual-mode operation. Pixel-level addressing is realized with only a single FGM per pixel and an independent gate controller, enabling the programmed image pattern to be retained without continuous refresh. To support lighting functionality, INDIS adopts a matrix circuit with shared drain electrodes acting as a common anode port, allowing the entire Micro-LED array to be simultaneously activated for large-area illumination. By unifying memory and emission functions within a compact architecture, INDIS achieves display–illumination fusion, offering a scalable and energy-efficient solution for next-generation multifunctional micro-display applications.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published August 03, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (21)

H

Haifeng Wu

Y

Yizhe Wang

Q

Qijun Zong

J

Jiali Yi

H

Huawei Liu

X

Xingxia Sun

Q

Qin Shuai

J

Jian Hu

X

Xiao Lin

School of Physical Sciences

Y

Yazhou Wang

School of Medicine, Chongqing University

P

Penghui Guo

X

Xudong Yang

T

Tanghao Xie

X

Xiaoqin Liao

B

Ben Wang

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China

X

Xiaoming Zhao

Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

X

Xiaoli Zhu

Key Laboratory for Micro-Nano Physics and Technology of Hunan Province, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometriscs and College of Materials Science and Engineering

B

Bobo Tian

X

Xiao Wang

D

Dong Li

A

Anlian Pan

School of physics and electronics