Roll-to-Roll Patterned Integrated Substrates for OLED Lighting

Lead Performer: Sinovia Technologies – San Carlos, CA
DOE Total Funding: $150,000
Project Term: April 9, 2018 – January 8, 2019
Funding Type: SBIR

Sinovia, in collaboration with Vitriflex Inc., has developed an integrated substrate for OLED lighting using a flexible plastic medium with exceedingly low water vapor transport (10-6 g/m²/day); variable sheet resistance, ranging from 1 to 10 ohms/sq; and greater than 75% transparency. With Ag nanowires embedded in the surface of a barrier-enhancing polymer layer, the transparent conductive film does not require ITO. These substrates have been shown to improve white OLED efficiency between 30% and 50%, with lifetimes approaching 80% of those typically achieved using ITO-coated glass. Sinovia proposes to use high-throughput flexographic printing to pattern this substrate roll-to-roll.

If successful, this enabling technology will accelerate OLED panel manufacture by reducing manufacturing costs for flexible OLEDs that have efficacy and lifetime comparable to those of conventional OLED architectures built on glass substrates. More importantly, the use of integrated flexible substrates allows OLED manufacturers to develop high–speed roll-to-roll processes that would dramatically reduce costs and waste. Furthermore, the availability of efficient, warm-white, flexible OLED panels would have a profound and lasting positive effect on market penetration of OLEDs into the general-illumination marketplace.

DOE Technology Manager: James Brodrick, [email protected]
Lead Performer: Whitney Gaynor, Sinovia Technologies