A new breakthrough in quantum technology may significantly increase the brightness of OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens.
Researchers have developed a theoretical model that suggests OLEDs could become much brighter by using special quantum states called polaritons.
However, finding the right materials to make this idea work in real devices remains a challenge.
OLED screens are used in high-end devices such as smartphones, laptops, TVs, and smartwatches.
They offer flexibility and eco-friendliness, making them a popular choice for modern displays.
However, OLEDs are not very efficient at converting electricity into light. Right now, only about 25% of the energy turns into visible light, which limits their brightness compared to other display technologies.
Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland and Cornell University in the U.S. have come up with a solution.
Their study, published in Advanced Optical Materials, suggests that OLED efficiency can be greatly improved by creating hybrid states of light and matter known as polaritons.
To achieve this, OLED materials are placed between two semi-transparent mirrors. This setup allows organic molecules to interact with confined light, forming polaritons. By adjusting these polariton states, researchers believe they can convert dark energy states into bright light, drastically improving OLED brightness.
Associate Professor Konstantinos Daskalakis from the University of Turku explains that while the idea of using polaritons in OLEDs is not new, a detailed theory about their impact on performance has been missing until now.
“We carefully examined where the ‘sweet spot’ is for boosting OLED brightness. The key is to control the number of molecules involved. Interestingly, fewer molecules lead to a stronger polariton effect,” Daskalakis said.
Postdoctoral researcher Olli Siltanen added, “With the molecules we studied, using just one coupled molecule improved efficiency significantly. The dark-to-bright conversion rate increased by an astonishing factor of 10 million at best.”
However, increasing the number of molecules reduces the polariton effect, meaning that simply adding mirrors to existing OLEDs will not improve their brightness. The next step is to either develop OLED architectures that enable single-molecule strong coupling or create new molecules designed specifically for polariton OLEDs. Both options are difficult, but they could lead to major advancements in OLED efficiency and brightness.
Despite their popularity, OLEDs still lag behind traditional LEDs in terms of brightness and efficiency. This study provides a potential solution, opening up new possibilities for OLED displays that are both brighter and more energy-efficient.
If successful, this research could revolutionize display technology, making screens clearer and more vibrant than ever before.
