What They Say
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have made OLED displays using a 3D printer. The research is published in Science Advances.
The team combined two different modes of printing to print the six device layers that resulted in a fully 3D-printed, flexible organic light-emitting diode display. The electrodes, interconnects, insulation, and encapsulation were all extrusion printed, while the active layers were spray printed using the same 3D printer at room temperature. The display prototype was about 1.5 inches on each side and had 64 pixels. Every pixel worked and displayed light.
What We Think
This took me back to my first exposure to OLED making at Cambridge University a couple of decades ago. At the time, I remarked that ‘it’s more like a kitchen than an LCD fab’. What I didn’t take into account was that the group was just making large area passive OLEDs. The complexity of OLED is about the active matrix driving and the technology needed to create really good pixels at very low prices. Still, it’s good to see people still trying to find new ways to make displays. (BR)
