Heterostructured Semiconductor Nanorods for Display Technologies: From Structural Design to Device Integration

Colloidal semiconductor nanorods are anisotropic emitters that have attracted considerable attention for advanced display technologies. Owing to their elongated geometry and inherent optical anisotropy, they can address the light extraction limitations of isotropic emitters, offering unique opportunities for improvements in efficiency and functionality in displays. In this review, we first introduce the structural features and optical properties of heterostructured nanorods. We then describe recent progress in representative nanorod-based display platforms according to different device operation principles including light-emitting diodes and liquid-crystal displays. The influence of integration strategies, such as interface engineering, energy-level optimization, and nanorod alignment control, on device performance is analyzed, highlighting advances in efficiency, brightness, and polarization retention. Finally, we outline emerging research directions such as electrically driven polarized emission, pixel-level patterning and alignment, blue-emitting nanorods, and environmentally sustainable material systems. This work provides guidance for the future development of nanorod-based display technologies and can inspire the design of high-performance anisotropic nanocrystal-based optoelectronic systems.