ROLLED project makes OLED flexible light sources a reality

The EU-funded project ROLLED has succeeded in developing a flexible OLED light source that could make packaging more attractive, among other applications.



ROLLED project was funded EUR 2.25 million under the 'Information society technologies' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). ROLLED's objective was to develop a cheaper, volume-scale, roll-to-roll manufacturing technology for the production of flexible OLEDs with pixels of arbitrary sizes and shapes. Project partners included the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology, the Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Germany, PolylC (a German company specialising in printed electronics) and UPM (a Finnish company involved in the forest industry). The Swiss group was responsible for developing various patterning technologies and the Leibniz Institute focused on establishing anode inks and barriers.

According to the project partners, the use of roll-to-roll printing technology makes it possible to mass produce the flexible OLED element. The project partners explained that this latest method is more economical when compared with the conventional production method. This is because the cost of purchasing the equipment to produce the OLEDs is lower, while the production speed is higher than that of the conventional method. Each OLED element costs only tens of cents to produce. Researchers are currently evaluating other applications to cut the price even further.

By using the element in a number of goods and in different locations, including supermarket shelves and posters, consumers will be drawn to the products, the researchers said. Added bonuses are that the elements can be used to thwart product copying efforts and be connected to sensors with the capacity to measure the freshness of packaged foods.

The innovative light sources are similar to LED lights. However, OLED elements consume little power and because they are manufactured with organic materials, they can be produced with printing methods on large, flexible surfaces. This type of production makes them especially suitable for packaging. The element is encapsulated in a moisture barrier film, and has a thickness of 200-250 micrometres, which is equivalent to 3 or 4 sheets of paper.

The researchers tried the production method in two demonstration tests. The first test was presented as a two-colour OLED element connected to a product package. A green tick is shown when the package is closed. Once the package is opened, the fuse is blown and the tick becomes a red cross.

The second test indicated that a near field communication (NFC) telephone could power up the OLED element. The researchers used a business card printed with the EU flag whose stars, which were equipped with the elements, lit up when an NFC phone was placed near the card.

It’s disclosed that the first OLED elements will be launched on the market within two years.

Disclaimers of Warranties
1. The website does not warrant the following:
1.1 The services from the website meets your requirement;
1.2 The accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the service;
1.3 The accuracy, reliability of conclusions drawn from using the service;
1.4 The accuracy, completeness, or timeliness, or security of any information that you download from the website
2. The services provided by the website is intended for your reference only. The website shall be not be responsible for investment decisions, damages, or other losses resulting from use of the website or the information contained therein<
Proprietary Rights
You may not reproduce, modify, create derivative works from, display, perform, publish, distribute, disseminate, broadcast or circulate to any third party, any materials contained on the services without the express prior written consent of the website or its legal owner.

For most of history, humans used flames to generate light. Eventually, they discovered that a super-heated metal element in a light bulb could produce useful illumination, only for this technology to be superseded by the LED. One common featur... READ MORE

Violumas, provider of high-power UV LED solutions and inventor of 3-PAD LED technology, is proud to launch the release of new 275nm and 265nm LEDs in mid-power, high-power, and high-density packages. The radiant flux of the new 275nm and 265nm... READ MORE