The UK's Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) posted some updates on their OLED program. They have recently produced defect free OLED lighting samples. They managed to produce panels that has large (over 250 cm2) emissive areas (they are producing these panels on 8" substrates and so could exceed 160x160 mm panels).
The CPI developed two kinds of panels - the first uses small molecule materials and the second uses full solution-processable PLED materials. They have also produced samples that use a hybrid structure with a PEDOT layer (deposited using a slot die process) with an evaporative emissive layer (that has better efficiency and performance compared to the PLEDs). The 154x154 mm example shown above is the hybrid structure.
The CPI also sent us some updates on two of their collaborative programmes that use their OLED prototype line facility. First up is FLEXIBILIS, which aims to investigate and develop low-cost flexible substrates with novel high quality barriers as well as TCOs (supported by metal grids), deposited by inline capable PVD or PECVD methods. As part of the project, they will demonstrate large-area OLED and OPV panels that employ the new substrate, barriers and TCOs.
Another program is called HiPBe, another collaborative R&D project that focuses on flexible high and ultra-barrier polymer based substrates and encapsulant materials (for flexible OLED lighting, displays and DSSC solar cells). The HiPBe aims to develop production processes which will be compatible with in-line, all vacuum based deposition processing.
