News • 28.05.2018

Self-luminous pixels for a new display generation

How does a display become flexible?

Quantum dots glowing; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP, Photographer: Till Budde...
Bright colors - a scientist demonstrates how brilliantly quantum dots shine.
Source: Fraunhofer IAP, Photographer: Till Budde

There are videos on the internet that can make one marvel at technology. For example, a smartphone is casually bent around the arm or a thin-film display is rolled in all directions and with almost every diameter. From the user's point of view, this looks fantastic. From a professional point of view, however, the question arises: Is that already possible?

At Display Week 2018, scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP will be demonstrating today’s technological possibilities and their next projects. Display Week is one of the world's leading display technology fairs and conventions, taking place from May 22 to 25 in Los Angeles.

How does a display become flexible?

A prerequisite for a display to be pliant is the flexible base: full flexibility is achieved using a foil. Curved displays use flexible glass material. However, on the path of transformation from flexible substrate to the finished display, there are various steps for the researchers to take. One step is the development of a light source that is also thin and flexible. The integration of self- illuminating pixels that can emit light, for example, by electrical stimulation, makes this possible. Organic light-emitting diodes, OLEDs for short, use such organic light emitters. A proven technology for displays based on organic light emitting diodes is the active matrix OLED technology, short AMOLED. Each pixel has its own power supply. A backlight is therefore not necessary. The display will be even thinner and more flexible.

Quantum dots (QD) are also a suitable material for self-luminous displays. Quantum dot LEDs, QD-LEDs for short, combine the advantages of organic light-emitting diodes with the outstanding luminous properties of the quantum dots. The emission spectra are very narrow band. As a result, the colors look extremely bright. In addition, the low cost manufacturing makes QD-LEDs very attractive for the display market.

So far, existing cadmium-based quantum dots are not future-proof, since the use of cadmium in display production is only possible to a very limited extent from 2020 on, according to the RoHS directive. Nevertheless, market researchers see great potential for the display industry in QD technology. Compared to OLEDs, QD-LEDs not only have a larger color gamut, they are also brighter.

„With every improvement in QD materials, we are moving one step closer to mass-market QD-LED displays”, says Dr. André Geßner, Head of Quantum Dot Development at the Fraunhofer IAP. “What others see as challenges are exciting questions for us that we want to solve with our research on cadmium-free quantum dots.

The Fraunhofer researchers present their promising results on the synthesis of cadmium-free quantum dots at Display Week 2018. The team led by Dr. André Geßner succeeded in producing unique multi-shell quantum dots based on indium phosphide. Integrated in QD-LED components, these cadmium-free quantum dots achieve a significantly higher luminance than cadmium-based systems. Also, indium phosphide-based QD-LEDs almost match the performance of conventional QD-LEDs in other parameters.

Printing pixels on foil or glass

The process of the application of OLEDs or QD-LEDs to the flexible substrate determines the flexibility of the finished display. Large layer thickness limits flexibility. Inkjet-printing has proven itself, but there are even better methods. For RGB AMOLED displays, Fraunhofer IAP and its partners are researching a new printing process for which they plan to achieve a minimum of 300 ppi in the intended demonstrator.

With the electrostatic printing (ESJET), the scientists led by Dr. Christine Boeffel are investigating a printing process with which much finer and more uniform structures can be printed than with inkjet printing. ESJET printing is a new technology of processing ink by applying an electrical voltage. This allows for a much wider range of printable inks and even pastes. The drop-on-demand system so far achieves droplet sizes of less than 20 microns.

„The size of 20 microns is already sufficient to print a display with 200 ppi. According to our knowledge, this is the highest resolution achieved by inkjet printing, yet. Our goal is to print a 300ppi RGB AMOLED display utilizing ESJET printing. We want to accomplish this with pixel sizes of 10 microns", explains Dr. Christine Boeffel. In her presentation, she will show the interim result of the ongoing research project Hi-Response.

Source: Fraunhofer IAP

related articles:

popular articles:

Thumbnail-Photo: Tiedt celebrates quarter century milestone with ITL...
05.07.2023   #Tech in Retail #cash handling systems

Tiedt celebrates quarter century milestone with ITL

Marcus Tiedt marks 25 years with the cash handling and biometrics solutions provider

Marcus Tiedt, Innovative Technology’s Sales & Marketing Director, marks 25 years with the cash handling and biometrics solutions provider. Based in ITL’s German office in Pinneberg just outside Hamburg, Marcus has been an integral ...

Thumbnail-Photo: With chatbots on the winning side?
02.08.2023   #online trading #e-commerce

With chatbots on the winning side?

How Google wants to promote productivity and creativity with Bard

Chatbots and other AI tools have been the talk of the town since the release of ChatGPT last year. In many industries, discussions are being held about the quality, reliability and actual usefulness of the programmes. With Bard, Google has thrown ...

Thumbnail-Photo: German drinks retailer utilising facial analysis for automatic age checks...
28.07.2023   #brick and mortar retail #Tech in Retail

German drinks retailer utilising facial analysis for automatic age checks

Stand-alone solution MyCheckr for age verification by using cameras

A German liquor store franchisee operating in Pinneberg and Tornesch near Hamburg, has installed Innovative Technology's age verification technology. Innovative Technology (ITL), a provider of AI-powered biometric solutions, works with several ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Senior Business Development Manager for ITL celebrates 20 year milestone...
01.08.2023   #Tech in Retail #cash management

Senior Business Development Manager for ITL celebrates 20 year milestone

Christian Czeskleba marks 20 years with the cash handling and biometrics solutions provider

Christian Czeskleba, Senior Business Development Manager (BDM) for Innovative Technology, marks 20 years with the cash handling and biometrics solutions provider this month. Based in ITL’s German office in Hamburg, Christian has seen the ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Nike launches Airphoria in Fortnite
26.06.2023   #digitization #omnichannel

Nike launches Airphoria in Fortnite

Access open from June 20 at 12 pm ET through June 27 at 8 pm ET

Nike is launching “Airphoria” in Fortnite, a first-of-its-kind gaming experience. Building on a multiyear partnership with Epic Games, Airphoria brings to life the future of sport experiences at the intersection of games and culture, ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Toshiba Launches New ELERA™ Security Suite to Address the Industry’s...
22.09.2023   #cashpoints #customer experience

Toshiba Launches New ELERA™ Security Suite to Address the Industry’s Challenges Around Shrink

Toshiba’s A.I.-powered solution empowers retailers across the globe to better manage loss prevention and protect profits

Security Suite from Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions empowers retailers to minimize shrink...

Thumbnail-Photo: Toshiba launches powerful and compact TCx® 900 point-of-sale system...
22.08.2023   #brick and mortar retail #epos systems

Toshiba launches powerful and compact TCx® 900 point-of-sale system

POS system TCx 900 is designed for retail requirements and equipped with 13th generation Intel Core processors

The TCx® 900 is the newest point-of-sale (POS) system from global retail technology leader Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. It provides advanced technology offerings through a powerful modular system in a compact design built to last and ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Nedap teams with Foot Locker to extend RFID project...
05.10.2023   #omnichannel #software applications

Nedap teams with Foot Locker to extend RFID project

Foot Locker successfully matches supply and demand in newly opened stores in Eastern Europe using RFID technology

Nedap the global leader in RFID solutions, announces that multi-brand sports fashion and apparel retailer Foot Locker has successfully extended Nedap iD Cloud to its new, Eastern European stores. The objective is to offer the best possible ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Toshiba opens new Retail Operations Center in Europe...
03.08.2023   #e-commerce #retail

Toshiba opens new Retail Operations Center in Europe

Facility equipped with innovative technology and a powerful inventory management system

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions has opened a state-of-the-art Retail Operations Center in Almere, Netherlands. The strategic move will enhance operational efficiency and provide superior service to the company's valued customers and partners ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Help yourself!: Are self-checkouts the next big thing in retail?...
14.06.2023   #brick and mortar retail #self-checkout systems

"Help yourself!": Are self-checkouts the next big thing in retail?

Efficient everyday business, efficient shopping

In the face of the digital age (and the rush just after the end of the workday or the day right before a holiday), retailers are looking for innovative technologies to continuously improve shopping experiences. Self-service checkouts (SCOs) allow ...

Supplier

Zebra Technologies Germany GmbH
Zebra Technologies Germany GmbH
Franz-Rennefeld-Weg 2-6
40472 Düsseldorf
Innovative Technology Ltd.
Innovative Technology Ltd.
Innovative Business Park
OL1 4EQ Oldham
Reflexis Systems GmbH
Reflexis Systems GmbH
Kokkolastr. 5-7
40882 Ratingen