09.23.16
Holst Centre and ENrG Inc. have created the first ever ceramic-based, large-area flexible OLED. The device, manufactured on the 20-40 µm thick Thin E-Strate ceramic substrate, promises a lifetime in excess of 10 years without the formation of black spots. The ceramic carrier is also easy to handle and capable of withstanding the high temperatures used in display backplane manufacturing and standard sintering processes.
The ceramic substrate used for the 12 cm by 2.5 cm prototype OLED device combines many of the best properties of other flexible OLED carriers. It offers an intrinsic barrier to protect the sensitive OLED from the environment, as with metal foils or flexible glass, but it is much easier to handle than either. Like plastic films, the ceramic offers the potential for semi-transparent devices. Unlike plastic films, though, the ceramic can withstand temperatures up to 1000°C.
“Our Thin E-Strate ultra-thin ceramic has many plus points over other flexible OLED substrates. It is the only flexible substrate that has both intrinsic moisture barrier properties and high-temperature capabilities, in combination with being both robust and smooth enough to fabricate an OLED device on. The prototype device made by Holst Centre shows the benefits Thin E-Strate brings new flexible electronics applications,” said Kathy Olenick, technical marketing manager at ENrG Inc.
The materials used to make OLEDs are extremely sensitive to the environment, in particular moisture, and must be protected on both sides. With its intrinsic barrier properties, Thin E-Strate means OLEDs can be fully protected with just the addition of a top barrier – simplifying production compared to plastic-based OLEDs.
The ceramic substrate used for the 12 cm by 2.5 cm prototype OLED device combines many of the best properties of other flexible OLED carriers. It offers an intrinsic barrier to protect the sensitive OLED from the environment, as with metal foils or flexible glass, but it is much easier to handle than either. Like plastic films, the ceramic offers the potential for semi-transparent devices. Unlike plastic films, though, the ceramic can withstand temperatures up to 1000°C.
“Our Thin E-Strate ultra-thin ceramic has many plus points over other flexible OLED substrates. It is the only flexible substrate that has both intrinsic moisture barrier properties and high-temperature capabilities, in combination with being both robust and smooth enough to fabricate an OLED device on. The prototype device made by Holst Centre shows the benefits Thin E-Strate brings new flexible electronics applications,” said Kathy Olenick, technical marketing manager at ENrG Inc.
The materials used to make OLEDs are extremely sensitive to the environment, in particular moisture, and must be protected on both sides. With its intrinsic barrier properties, Thin E-Strate means OLEDs can be fully protected with just the addition of a top barrier – simplifying production compared to plastic-based OLEDs.