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3D-printed flexible organic light-emitting diode displays
Ruitao Su1,2, Sung Hyun Park3, Xia Ouyang1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Science Advances
|January 7, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a multimodal 3D printing method for flexible organic light-emitting diode displays. This technique improves layer uniformity and polymer-metal junctions, enabling fully printed active electronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Conventional microfabrication limits 3D printing of active electronic and optoelectronic devices.
- Challenges in 3D-printed optoelectronics include nonuniform active layers and unstable polymer-metal junctions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a multimodal printing methodology for fully 3D-printed flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.
- To overcome limitations in layer uniformity and electrode-semiconductor interfaces in 3D-printed optoelectronics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized extrusion printing for electrodes, interconnects, insulation, and encapsulation.
- Employed spray printing for active layers to enhance uniformity by suppressing directional mass transport.
- Exploited viscoelastic oxide surface of cathode droplets for mechanical reconfiguration and increased polymer-metal junction contact area.
Main Results:
- Achieved improved layer uniformity and stable polymer-metal junctions.
- Demonstrated a fully 3D-printed flexible 8x8 organic light-emitting diode display.
- All pixels in the 3D-printed display successfully turned on.
Conclusions:
- The multimodal printing approach enables the fabrication of complex, fully 3D-printed flexible optoelectronic devices.
- This method addresses key performance bottlenecks in 3D-printed OLEDs, paving the way for unique form factors.
- The successful demonstration of a functional 8x8 display highlights the potential of this technique for advanced additive manufacturing of electronics.
