LG Display currently produces all its OLED TV panels using an evaporation (VTE) process. Market research company DSCC says that ink-jet printing is more efficient than current VTE processes as it will result in simpler displays (no need for color filters, for example, as used by LG's current WRGB displays). Ink-Jet printing will also enjoy lower depreciation costs and lower indirect expenses such as water and electricity.
DSCC estimates that an ink-jet printed 55" OLED TV panel will cost 17% less to produce compared to a VTE produced panel. An ink-jet printed panel will theoretically be significantly brighter (as the color filters absorb a large portion of the light), however solution-based OLED materials have traditionally lagged behind evaporation ones (Merck though says that the latest soluble materials are on-par with evaporation ones).
Comments
Ink-Jet currently cannot reach the high densities required for mobile devices, so it seems that at least in the near/medium future ink-jet will be limited to large-area (TV) OLEDs.
Would the move from evaporative to soluble printing lead to more versatility around panel sizes? Seems like it should be easier to just print a multitude of sizes through phone, notebook and the current 55/65+ panels.