Waveguides are rapidly emerging as one of the most critical optical components in next-gen optoelectronics. As consumer expectations grow and the industry pushes toward sleeker, lighter, and more immersive form factors, the performance and reliability of waveguides will define the pace of innovation in augmented reality (AR) applications.
According to Allied Market Research, the global AR market is expected to reach $856.2 billion by 2031. To keep pace, manufacturers must rethink how optical components like waveguides are built, with precision, scale, and sustainability top of mind.
At Pixelligent, we believe there’s a better way to manufacture waveguides – one that pairs high performance nanocomposites with nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and inkjetting to optimize the desired properties while enabling more precise, reliable, and cost-effective fabrication. By finely tuning the material properties to enable high-resolution patterning, these methods provide high-performance waveguides, improve throughput, and deliver consistent quality at commercial scale.
In augmented reality, waveguides are key to reducing form factor and maximizing the field of view. Products like PixNIL®, with refractive indices greater than 1.9, help achieve this by enabling diffractive and holographic designs with minimal optical loss and superior transparency .
The Expanding Role of Waveguides in Next-Gen Electronics
Waveguides are becoming a critical enabling technology for numerous next-gen electronics, from light field displays and meta-optics with virtually flat lenses and optical sensors. What unites these emerging applications is their need for high-index, ultra-thin, optically clear layers with sub-wavelength control over light propagation.
Whether you’re building the next generation of augmented reality devices, display components, or optical sensors, Pixelligent provides the materials and process expertise to help you lead in a highly challenging and rapidly evolving market.
Explore how Pixelligent can help you achieve the device performance, consistent quality, and scalability demanded by the extreme requirements of your next-gen devices.