33

Novel Light Extraction Enhancements for White Phosphorescent OLEDs--Universal Display Corporation, 375 Phillips Boulevard, Ewing, NJ  08618-1428; 609-671-0980, www.universaldisplay.com

Dr. Brian W. D'Andrade, Principal Investigator, bdandrade@universaldisplay.com

Ms. Janice K. Mahon, Business Official, jkmahon@universaldisplay.com

DOE Grant No.  DE-FG02-03ER83812

Amount:  $750,000  

Developing more power-efficient lighting sources is critical for national and global economic and environmental wellness.  For example, if the energy used for lighting in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors could be reduced by 50% in the U.S., over $25B per year could be saved.  Organic light emitting device (OLED) technology is now being developed as a new potential low cost, high efficiency source of solid state lighting.  However, considerable research and development is required to improve device efficiencies, lifetimes, and reduce costs.  This project will develop an innovative approach to low-cost, solid state white light sources by combining two novel outcoupling schemes:  microlens arrays and aperiodic gratings.  In Phase I, white PHOLED light sources, employing microlens arrays with microlenses having 24 lm/W at a luminance of 1,000 cd/m², were fabricated.  Phase II will:  (1) demonstrate the feasibility of aperiodic dielectric stacks at increasing the performance of white phosphorescent OLEDs; (2) fabricate microlens arrays that are permanently attached to the OLED substrate; and (3) design and fabricate a prototype 3” x 3” white lighting array pane with CRI greater than 75, and power efficiency greater than 1m/W at lighting luminance levels of 1,000 cd/m².

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee:  The new high power, white light sources would significantly reduce the size of the substrate necessary for devices to produce optical power (>800 lumens) for room lighting.  In addition, by combining other efficiency enhancing techniques (e.g. aperiodic gratings to further increase the outcoupling efficiency), efficiencies as high as 100 lm/W should become possible.  Benefits include energy, economic, and environmental savings, domestic energy independence, and the growth of a new industry and markets.