OLED displays could be far more energy efficient if they wasted less light, and researchers from the University of Michigan think they’ve found a way to do just that.
Scientists at the American university developed an electrode they say can free up 20% more
light from OLED by preventing light being trapped.
That’s a big deal when about 80% of
light produced by an OLED never makes it outside the device due to an effect
called waveguiding.
To combat that the research team replaced a transparent electrode, usually made from indium
tin oxide (ITO) with a layer of 5 nanometer thick silver, deposited on a seed layer
of copper.
The ITO layer is one of the biggest contributors to the waveguiding effect and
replacing it delivered positive results; electrode function was maintained, while waveguiding in the OLED layers
was eliminated.
Via University of Michigan
Photo shows Changyeong Jeong, PhD Candidate in Electrical and Computer
Engineering, handling an ultrathin Ag film based OLED inside Professor Jay Guo’s lab. Photo: Robert Coelius/Michigan Engineering