MIT Develops Quantum-Dot OLEDs

deglr6328 writes "Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of Organic Light emitting Diode (OLED) using Cadmium Selenium Quantum Dots as the electron-hole recombination layer. It is widely believed that the next generation of flexible flat panel display technologies will be self luminous (non-backlit) organic light emitting diodes. However, the efficiency and lifespan of both small molecule and polymer type OLEDs, to date, has been poor for small wavelength emitting compounds. Using quantum dots as the emissive layer in OLEDs potentially solves both of these problems since they are inorganic and won't degrade, and they have a theoretical maximum quantum efficiency of near 100%. Mmmmm ... can't wait to buy my first roll-up display!"

Comments

Right now..already

[hfastedge]

For some reasons the companies are just dumbass anal about it. They're have been flexible "e-paper" displays since 2000 as trials in federated department stores macys.

2 main companies currently lead the pack, BOTH have production facilities:

http://www.gyriconmedia.com/ Uses beads. berkeley->Xerox-parc->private. production fac. in michigan.

http://www.eink.com/ Uses organics but no where near as small as quantum dot-anything. MIT -> private. Manufacturing facility in Japan.

Re:Right now..already

[NoNeeeed]

Which part of "self luminous" is causing you problems? Or did you not actually read the submission, let alone the article.

The above links both point to "e-paper" type systems, which are monochrome, and require an external light source. These are great for a lot of applications, but I wouldn't want a laptop display built out of one.

OLEDs and their ilk will produce their own light, and opperate with many colours at high speeds.

Essentially it is horse-for-courses. E-ink is great for certain applications where power is critical (watches, cell-phones, even e-newspapers) and where update speeds are not critical (I beleive they are all 'mechanical' in some way), but OLEDs and similar will be necessary if you want full colour rapidly moving images. To equate the two technologies is to be somewhat disingenuous.

A random googled OLED link.

Paul

Re:Amazing technology

[deglr6328]

Sorry, I should have been more clear in my post I guess. The E-H (ie. light emitting) recombination layer will be inorganic CdSe quantum dots but the charge transport layers will be organic semiconductors.

Re:roll up displays

[Sycraft-fu]

Actually you'd probably be amazed how easy a good CRT is on the eyes. The problem is many people have cheap CRTs adn also often run their CRTs at 60Hz. A good CRT running at 85+Hz is really sharp, and at this point has superior colour to an LCD.

They use electricity, don't worry.

[akincisor]

In normal LCD panels, the LCD itself just blocks light in strategic areas, and the image is formed by a light source that is behind the panel. This technology claims that the electricity will be passed through each pixel, which will produce the light necessary itself.

Never in Europe that's for sure.

[jabuzz]

They are using cadmium, a nasty horrid posionous heavy metal that causes polution and soon to be banned from use in the European Union. Even lead in solder is to be banned shortly. Mercury another posionous heavy metal has already been banned.

Re:In the dark about permanent illumination

[dissy]

> I'm trying to get my head around the
> 'self-luminous' bit.

Your current VGA monitor is self-luminous.
You see the image because it is producing its own light.

LCDs are not, they *block* light from going through the display, and you see the light it does not block.
The light itself comes from a backlight, usually neon tubes that reflect off a reflective surface under the LCD panel itself.

Some LCDs simply have a mirror behind them and NO backlight (Think classic gameboy)
These work by having a mirror that external light goes in, bounces off, and hits your eye.. Only where the LCD isnt blocking light.

So these self-luminous displays will be monitor crisp/bright, better resolution, and flat.

Also, please dont confuse organic with alive.
The gas in your car is concidered organic, yet you dont need to feed it for power.