HyperOLED – What is it?
Merck KGaA (MRK) has launched a three year program funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 R&D program that is developing materials and device architectures using TADF[1] materials. Merck will coordinate the development project along with partners Microoled (pvt) (based in Grenoble, France), the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics & Precision Engineering (pvt), based in Jena, Germany, Durhan University (pvt) in the UK, and Intelligentsia Consultants (pvt), based in Luxembourg.
The program is working toward improving TADF characteristics, which to date, have yet to meet commercial specifications. TADFs are fluorescent materials that can be ‘tricked’ into performing in a similar manner to phosphorescent OLED materials, which have much higher light output levels than fluorescent materials. As TADF materials are based on materials that are not based on heavy metals such as platinum or iridium, they are expected to be less costly than the phosphorescent emitters materials used in OLED devices today. Further, the development of a blue phosphorescent emitter, the holy grail of organic material science, might be easier using TADF materials, at least according to companies such as Cynora (pvt) and Kylux (pvt), who are developing such materials independently.
While TADFs have been touted as ‘OLED killers’ by some (usually those with a serious stake in the technology) there continues to be developmental issues that currently limit their use to R&D projects, the primary being lifetimes. Just as OLED phosphorescent OLED materials went through a ‘lifetime extension timeline’ during their development, TADF materials will do the same. We do expect to see some TADF materials sampled late this year or early next year, but the adoption of these materials, even the more commonly used red or green emitters, will take time, both from the specification standpoint and from the manufacturing supply chain. While this could mean that we don’t see real commercial TADF material adoption until 2019 or 2020, they do represent a less expensive alternative to metal-organic phosphorescent materials. It is far too early to predict whether or when this will have an impact on the OLED supply chain, but new projects like the Merck/EU project above, will help to accelerate their development and bring them closer to commercial adoption, and panel producers are paying close attention, as Kyulux investors include Japan Display (6740.JP), JOLED (pvt), LG Display, and Samsung Display (pvt).
[1] Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence
The program is working toward improving TADF characteristics, which to date, have yet to meet commercial specifications. TADFs are fluorescent materials that can be ‘tricked’ into performing in a similar manner to phosphorescent OLED materials, which have much higher light output levels than fluorescent materials. As TADF materials are based on materials that are not based on heavy metals such as platinum or iridium, they are expected to be less costly than the phosphorescent emitters materials used in OLED devices today. Further, the development of a blue phosphorescent emitter, the holy grail of organic material science, might be easier using TADF materials, at least according to companies such as Cynora (pvt) and Kylux (pvt), who are developing such materials independently.
While TADFs have been touted as ‘OLED killers’ by some (usually those with a serious stake in the technology) there continues to be developmental issues that currently limit their use to R&D projects, the primary being lifetimes. Just as OLED phosphorescent OLED materials went through a ‘lifetime extension timeline’ during their development, TADF materials will do the same. We do expect to see some TADF materials sampled late this year or early next year, but the adoption of these materials, even the more commonly used red or green emitters, will take time, both from the specification standpoint and from the manufacturing supply chain. While this could mean that we don’t see real commercial TADF material adoption until 2019 or 2020, they do represent a less expensive alternative to metal-organic phosphorescent materials. It is far too early to predict whether or when this will have an impact on the OLED supply chain, but new projects like the Merck/EU project above, will help to accelerate their development and bring them closer to commercial adoption, and panel producers are paying close attention, as Kyulux investors include Japan Display (6740.JP), JOLED (pvt), LG Display, and Samsung Display (pvt).
[1] Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence
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