The need to reduce energy consumption has prompted a considerable research effort for developing new energy-efficient lighting systems to replace conventional light sources (i.e. incandescent and fluorescent lamps). At present, both inorganic, i.e. based on silicon semiconductor technology, or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), stand out as the best alternative lighting devices, in term of efficiency and duration.
White light production for general lighting applications requires the generation and the intensity control of the three fundamental (red, green and blue) or two complementary (blue and yellow) colors. Desirable properties for a candidate emitting material are high luminescence intensity, color purity, easy synthesis, good chemical and electrical stability, and low cost production.
The wider availability of white emitting materials will foster their utilization in the next generation of lighting solution, reinforcing the traditional leadership of the European industries in the field. Addressing and providing innovative solutions to the important scientific challenges surrounding the materials for lighting solutions is expected to impact on the everyday quality of life in the EU and beyond.
The main scientific objective of this project is the development of white light emissive materials that are highly efficient, thermally, photo- and electrochemically stable and possess electron and hole transport character. These properties make them suitable for the development of white OLEDs (WOLEDs), or other electroluminescent devices, such as Light Electrochemical Cells (LECs).
