Universal Display Reports Advances in Its Solution-Processible Phosphorescent OLED Material Systems to Enable Potential Low-Cost OLED Manufacturing

Universal Display Corporation announced advances in the performanceof its UniversalP2OLED solution-processible, phosphorescent OLED material systems for use with solution-based manufacturing processes. OLED manufacturers are evaluating manufacturing techniques, like inkjet printing, as additional paths for the cost-effective production of large-area OLED displays and lighting panels. These developments were announced at the International Display Manufacturing Conference (IDMC 2011), held April 18-21, 2011 at the Taipei International Convention Center in Taipei, Taiwan.

Dr. Kwang Ohk Cheon, senior research scientist at Universal Display, reported in a paper titled “Progress in Solution Processible Phosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Devices (P2OLED)” that Universal Display has further enhanced the performance of its UniversalP2OLED red, green and light blue materials systems, as follows:

• The green P2OLED system, which offers a luminous efficiency of 68 candelas per Ampere (cd/A), has now achieved 175,000 hours of operating lifetime. This represents approximately a 1.3 times improvement in lifetime over results reported last fall.
• The red P2OLED system, with a luminous efficiency of 18 cd/A, now offers an operating lifetime of 125,000 hours for a two-times improvement in lifetime.
• The light blue P2OLED system now offers a luminous efficiency of 29 cd/A and 8,000 hours of operating lifetime for a 1.6 times improvement in luminous efficiency and lifetime.

Operating voltage reductions were also achieved. These recent advances – the result of continued improvements in materials, device design and fabrication techniques – drive P2OLED performance closer to the levels currently obtained using vacuum-based manufacturing today. The operating lifetime data is reported as the time to 50% of the initial luminance of 1,000 nits without burn-in.

“Universal Display’s P2OLED technology and materials have continued to progress over the past several years to the point where commercial viability is now in sight. Solution-based manufacturing techniques could become a cost-effective and attractive option for the production of OLED devices, especially at large sizes,” said Steven V. Abramson, president and CEO of Universal Display. “Combining the energy efficiency of our proprietary, phosphorescent OLED technology and materials with the potential cost-effectiveness of solution-based processing may help drive further growth and diversification of the OLED industry.”

Small-area OLED displays, manufactured using conventional vacuum thermal evaporation, have already entered the mainstream consumer market in display applications for smartphones and multi-media players.

Display and lighting manufacturers are evaluating other techniques for the manufacture of large-area OLEDs in an effort to further drive down costs for OLED TV panel and lighting panel production. Solution-processible techniques, such as ink jet printing, are candidates for the efficient and low-cost manufacturing of large-area OLEDs.