Lead Performer: Luminit, LLC – Torrence, CA
DOE Total Funding: $149,906
Project Term: June 12, 2017 – February 12, 2018
Funding Type: SBIR

This project will seek to develop a novel system to increase the light extraction in OLEDs by using surface patterning to reduce waveguide losses. The proposed light-extraction system for OLEDs (LESO) is an advanced surface structure that increases light extraction in OLEDs using surface patterning in the interface between high- and low-refractive-index resins, to reduce the waveguide losses. The proposed LESO addresses DOE’s major SSL requirements for high-efficiency materials for OLEDs with significant commercial applications, including sheets that can be applied by OLED manufacturers.

Increasing the light-extraction efficiency by a factor of two to four will increase overall efficiency from the current 20-40% up to 70%, enabling OLED lighting to achieve efficacies >190 lm/W. Luminit is ideally suited to develop this into a commercial product, since LESO will be compatible with the company’s current roll-to-roll and sheet-by-sheet production line of microstructured epoxy coatings. This manufacturing expertise will allow LESO to meet the DOE performance goals with an incremental cost of <$10/m2.

DOE Technology Manager: James Brodrick, James.Brodrick@ee.doe.gov
Lead Performer: Juan Russo, Luminit, LLC