The project “ROLEDS” was based on the discovery that coinage metal complexes of certain combinations of carbene and amide ligands are highly photo- and electro-luminescent and can be used as photo-emitters in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). These photoemitters have since become known in the field as "carbine-metal-amides", CMAs. While the chemistry of these compounds was developed within the ERC Advanced Grant GOCAT, the commercialization aspects of this discovery was explored by the Proof-of-Concept grant ROLEDS. The prime target area for the application of these new materials are electronic displays, most importantly in smart phones. The aim is to replace the current emitter materials which are base don iridium, one of the rarest elements on earth. In the longer term applications in flexible display screens, room lighting and as electronic skin are envisaged.
A World patent application had been filed (WO2017/046572 A1). This has now proceeded to the stage of filing national patents in most industrially advanced countries with relevant manufacturing facilities: China, Russia, US, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and Europe.
The work has so far attracted nearly €1M in industrial funding and is now being continued with industrial support from a major electronic display manufacturer. This will enable us to test our emitter materials under industry conditions and speed up the development of viable OLED displays. Currently the focus is on the development of pure blue emitters with high efficiency and narrow band width, i.e. good colour purity.
We have also been able to attract further long-term support for this work in form of a Royal Society University Research Fellowship to the postdoc who originally discovered these materials. This 5-year fellowship, plus additional support for a postdoctoral position, will enable him to launch his own independent academic career. The University has already committed a permanent staff position for this researcher at the end of the Royal Society fellowship.
