Color-tunable OLED
12 June 2013 - 13 June 2013
Austria
Ultrathin light sources with high efficacy and very good color quality can be realized based on OLED technology on rigid as well as on flexible substrates. A variety of novel applications appear to be possible based on this existing technology. Target of the research and development work at Fraunhofer COMEDD is a further broadening of application fields. Recently, researchers at Fraunhofer COMEDD were able to realize a color-tunable OLED, which will be presented at the LOPE-C 2013 for the first time.
The technology is based on a vertical stacking of OLEDs where each OLED can be controlled separately. A lateral patterning is not required. By using this technology, the color of the emitted light can be tuned continuously. According to the application combinations of two or three colors are possible. Using different process technologies Fraunhofer COMEDD was able to achieve the right stack architecture including the optimized thickness of the individual OLEDs for an appropriate efficacy.
These results have been reached within a Fraunhofer internally funded project (600024). Project manager Dr. Tae-Hyun Gil expects that completely new market segments could be opened up by this technology: “The color-tunable OLED is desirable for various lighting applications. It will be possible to simulate e. g. the ambient lighting conditions of each time slot of the day: a highly blue light in the morning, white around noon, and comfortable warm reddish or yellowish light in the evening. It is expected that this technology can bring an extraordinary function into the entire OLED device. We are still trying to add more functions to OLED for niche markets. By that we’re able to integrate customer specific needs for the development and implementation of new technologies.”
The technology is based on a vertical stacking of OLEDs where each OLED can be controlled separately. A lateral patterning is not required. By using this technology, the color of the emitted light can be tuned continuously. According to the application combinations of two or three colors are possible. Using different process technologies Fraunhofer COMEDD was able to achieve the right stack architecture including the optimized thickness of the individual OLEDs for an appropriate efficacy.
These results have been reached within a Fraunhofer internally funded project (600024). Project manager Dr. Tae-Hyun Gil expects that completely new market segments could be opened up by this technology: “The color-tunable OLED is desirable for various lighting applications. It will be possible to simulate e. g. the ambient lighting conditions of each time slot of the day: a highly blue light in the morning, white around noon, and comfortable warm reddish or yellowish light in the evening. It is expected that this technology can bring an extraordinary function into the entire OLED device. We are still trying to add more functions to OLED for niche markets. By that we’re able to integrate customer specific needs for the development and implementation of new technologies.”