Researchers in South Korea are claiming a world first after successfully integrating electrodes made from graphene into OLED display panels. The development, that was four years in the making, is a huge breakthrough in the ongoing development of displays that are so flexible they can be rolled up when not in use.
South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) revealed the development on April 11, 2017 as it outlined work carried out with Hanwha Technwin.
It said it had used graphene electrodes, less than 5 nanometres in depth, in the largest OLED panel to date, which measured 370mm by 470mm.
The graphene replaces fragile indium tin oxide (ITO), which is commonly used to make transparent electrodes in OLED panels.
Future plans include the development of plastic OLED electrodes and commercialisation of flexible and foldable OLED panels in five years.