Novel Plastic Substrates for Very High Efficiency OLED Lighting (Phase I)

Investigating Organization
Universal Display Corporation

Principal Investigator(s)
Brian W. D'Andrade

Subcontractor
None

Funding Source
Small Business Innovation R&D, Phase I

Award
DOE Share: $100,000

Contract Period
06/28/06 - 03/27/07

Of the three OLED characteristics that determine overall power efficacy (outcoupling efficiency, internal quantum efficiency, and drive voltage), outcoupling efficiency is the only parameter that has not achieved maximum efficiency.  Typically, 60% of the optical energy generated in an OLED is unavailable, because it cannot escape the device, so increasing the outcoupling efficiency is required to achieve an overall OLED efficacy of 150 lm/W.

During this Phase I program, Universal Display Corporation (UDC) will try to increase the total light outcoupling efficiency of phosphorescent light emitting devices from 40% to 50% by reducing the refractive index contrast between OLED active layers and the device substrate.  With 100% internal quantum efficiency from phosphorescence, 50% outcoupling efficiency, and 3.5 V operating voltage, white phosphorescent OLEDs should be capable of 150 lm/W efficacy.

Content dated 2/08