Lead Performer: OLEDWorks, LLC – Rochester, NY
Partners: University of Michigan, Luminit Government Services
DOE Total Funding: $1,440,000
Project Term: April 1, 2020 – September 30, 2023
Funding Type: SSL R&D Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (DE-FOA-0002090)
Project Objective
OLEDWorks, LLC, the sole U.S. manufacturer of OLED lighting panels, will develop flexible internal light-extraction technologies to enable high-efficacy and long-lifetime flexible white OLED lighting panels. The main objectives are to develop flexible, reliable, and scalable light-extraction solutions that are compatible with thin glass substrates, and to develop high-efficiency stacked white OLED architectures resulting in demonstration of a 120 lm/W high-efficacy bendable white OLED panel with 100,000-hour L70 lifetime. OLEDWorks will work with experienced partners to develop different variations of the internal light-extraction technology in parallel. The internal light extraction will be co-optimized with the stacked white OLED and external light extraction to deliver the highest performance.
Project Impact
Development of this innovative light extraction technology will enable high-efficacy flexible white OLED lighting panels that can improve the energy productivity in buildings without sacrificing occupant comfort. Flexible OLEDs can complement LEDs and deliver an alternate energy-efficient lighting solution where high quality and application efficiency are important. OLEDs are the only naturally diffuse area light source in an extremely thin and lightweight form factor, and produce no glare, no high-intensity blue light, and no photobiological risks that can be present in existing light sources. In addition, development of this innovative light-extraction technology will deliver future cost reductions by enabling an integrated substrate fabrication process that is compatible with roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing of OLED lighting panels. It has been predicted that the jump to R2R manufacturing of OLED lighting will result in an additional 30% reduction in the cost of OLED lighting panels. If successful, this project would be a significant stride toward the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2030 energy-efficiency and manufacturing cost goals for OLED solid-state lighting.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Wyatt Merrill
Lead Performer: Jeff Spindler, OLEDWorks, LLC