MIT Develops Quantum-Dot OLEDs

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MIT Develops Quantum-Dot OLEDs

Posted by timothy on Monday January 20, 2003 @12:40AM from the cool-wallpaper dept.

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!"

12 of 158 comments (clear)

Cool... but when? by httpamphibio.us · 2003-01-20 00:48 · Score: 5, Insightful

Haven't roll-up displays been "two years away" for about seven years now?

I love the concept... but really, shouldn't we have at least one low quality, high priced, first generation consumer product by now?

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sig.
Amazing technology by gazbo · 2003-01-20 00:51 · Score: 5, Funny

Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of Organic Light emitting Diode
OLEDs potentially solves both of these problems since they are inorganic
Given this is quantum physics, perhaps this is an example of the uncertainty principle? Inquiring minds want to know...
Re:Organic...... by theGreater · 2003-01-20 00:52 · Score: 5, Funny

I was curious as to which definition of organic this might entail...
* containing carbon
* back to nature
* obtained from living things
... but then it turned out I didn't care, as long as I get hi-resolution gaming. -theGreater.
Short lifespan by BESTouff · 2003-01-20 01:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

However, the efficiency and lifespan of both small molecule and polymer type OLEDs, to date, has been poor for small wavelength emitting compounds
Apparently these displays would have a short lifespan. We would then have disposable screens. That seems a perfect consumer target: cheap, glowing, quickly obsolete.
1. Re:Short lifespan by Emperor+Shaddam+IV · 2003-01-20 01:25 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  We would then have disposable screens
  
  With Cadium. Wonderful for the water supply and growing plants. My liver and kidneys can hardly wait. I could always use some more heavy metals in my diet.
For those miss the point by akincisor · 2003-01-20 01:18 · Score: 5, Insightful

The point of the article is that they have managed to use an inorganic layer in between just two organic layers and produce a magnitude of light equivalent to earlier efforts with 20 layers. These things have 25 times(!) the power efficiency. This might also be the first commercial application of quantum dots.
They use electricity, don't worry. by akincisor · 2003-01-20 01:34 · Score: 5, Informative

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. by jabuzz · 2003-01-20 01:37 · Score: 5, Informative

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.
1. Re:Never in Europe that's for sure. by farnsaw · 2003-01-20 03:08 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Common Research Cycle:
  First figure out how to do it with exotic materials that exhibit the behaviour you want, once you understand how this works, find more mundane (and less toxic) materials to create the consumer product.
  
  Many exotic materials have special behaviours that are great for research and creating devices that work in the lab environment but they often have drawbacks, not the least of which is their toxicity. These materials are also very expensive to produce, as well as dispose of, which will result in a consumer product that is too expensive for your average consumer.
  
  Manufacturers and consumers now look at the entire cost of a product from the initial manufacturing cost or purchase price, right through to the cost of disposing of it. Individual consumers usually don't pay much attention to the latter since they usually have one of an item (most /.ers excepted), however, corporations that often have thousands of each computer or display pay much more attention to things like lifespan and disposal costs. If this product is to come to market as more than a niche player, it needs to have a good ROI and low TCO.
  
  ROI = Return on Investment
  TCO = Total Cost of Ownership
  
  --
  "Computer Scientists can count to 1024 on their fingers" (non-mutant, non-mutilatated, human computer scientists)
Re:Right now..already by NoNeeeed · 2003-01-20 02:23 · Score: 5, Informative

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

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Paul Leader
tell me when this is available by mrtroy · 2003-01-20 02:27 · Score: 5, Funny

I have several ideas with what I would like to do with this technology.
FIRST: make an invisible suit...you know the old deal with the cameras displaying the stuff on you so you look like your background or at least enough like it to blend in
SECOND: make an invisible *james bond* car
THIRD: make an invisible *harry potter* cloak
FOURTH: make my ceiling display some high quality pron for those kinky nights.
*Bows*

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[I can picture a world without war, without hate. I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it]
Next generation?! by ediron2 · 2003-01-20 03:50 · Score: 5, Funny

... the next generation of flexible flat panel display technologies ...

I realize I've been on a bender since New Year's Eve, but ... where was the first generation of these?

The only flexible flat panel I've ever seen was this palmpilot my friend sat down on, 'tho I really doubt it qualified as a display technology after he crushed it.