Glass - Page 13

Saint-Gobain and Novaled have demonstrated the feasibility of large area OLEDs, based on a new high-performance metallic anode, with Saint-Gobain Recherche technology and Novaled OLED proprietary developments.

The goal of a two-year research cooperation programme between both partners has been to develop basic technologies for high-performance white OLEDs. Researchers at Saint-Gobain Recherche (SGR) have created a highly conductive transparent electrode Silverduct™, bringing up to 10 times better surface conductivity than traditional ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). Thanks to Novaled PIN OLED™ technology for high efficiency OLEDs, samples were successfully manufactured on large area surfaces. SGR and Novaled now see the possibility to produce homogeneous OLED devices up to 100 cm² which will ease the manufacturing of large OLED lighting products.

Traditional ITO coated glass impedes the race to large area OLED, due to its limited ability to carry current over distances longer than a couple of centimetres. Therefore, for large area OLEDs, the ITO layer must be topped with a thick metallic grid to prevent gradient of light emission caused by the sheet resistance of ITO alone (typically 30 Ohm/sq). The new anode Silverduct™ has a sheet resistance of less than 4 Ohm/sq, thus enabling large area OLEDs without additional metal grids. This is an important step especially for transparent and bottom emission OLEDs in which the metal grid is visible. Additionally, by eliminating the metal grid Silverduct™ offers significant potential for reducing manufacturing costs.

The project involves the development of a process to deposit high conductivity, very thin metal tracks onto glass and plastic substrates. The process, which is seen as an alternative to conventional inkjet printing methods, involves the use of lasers to expose selected material.

Flexible displays are expected to require a technology such as this for the formation of the TFT backplane, and the process under development would be applicable to plasma (PDP) and LCD displays and even organic photovoltaics as well as PLEDs.

The market for inks, substrates and other materials used in printable electronics is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2010 rising to $8.9 billion in 2013, according to a new report from NanoMarkets.

The report provides a thorough analysis of market opportunities available in printable electronics firms for a wide range of materials including nano metallic silver and polymer inks, as well other a wide variety of other inks made from metals, organic materials and standard semiconductors.

Universal Display Furthers 'Flexible OLED Initiative' and Expands Prototype Capacity with Full-Color OLED Deposition System for OLED Displays on Plastic, Metallic Foil, and Glass Substrates.

UDC today announced the successful installation and start-up of a novel full-color OLED deposition system at Universal Display's technology development center in Ewing, New Jersey. Designed and built by Tokki Corporation, a leading supplier of OLED manufacturing equipment, working with Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, a premier Japanese trading company, and using novel features designed by Tokki and Universal Display, the ELVES020C OLED Deposition System can produce OLED displays on both rigid glass and flexible substrates (e.g. metallic foil, and plastic).

This new system is the latest step in Universal Display's program to develop a broad array of technologies for conformable and flexible, full-color, high-resolution OLED displays. Universal Display was recently awarded a new $1.7 million Federal contract to develop flexible OLED display prototypes, bringing the Company's overall funded flexible OLED initiative to $6 million total.

Vitex Systems announced that it has been awarded an R&D contract from the U.S. Display Consortium (USDC) to scale up its flexible glass substrate technology to roll-type manufacturing for producing flexible OLED displays.

Vitex has developed a thin-film encapsulation solution, called Barix, to resolve moisture and oxygen sensitivity problems common in flexible substrates. Under this new USDC contract, Vitex will explore producing the flexible glass substrate on a high-volume, roll-to-roll manufacturing line with the improved barrier performance and lower defect levels needed to meet stringent quality requirements associated with producing OLED displays.