Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's Breakthrough Barrier Materials Revolutionize OLED Devices with Unmatched Flexibility and Reliability
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Wins Display Component of The Year 2023 award from SID
TEMPE, Ariz., May 30, 2023 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - EMD Electronics, the U.S. and Canada Electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has unveiled cutting-edge barrier materials that offer unparalleled flexibility, enhanced reliability, and extended lifetime in flexible OLED (organic light-emitting diode) devices, surpassing existing solutions. The remarkable ALD material recently received the prestigious Display Component of the Year 2023 award from SID, the world's leading display society.
The demand for free-form devices featuring fully flexible OLED displays is rapidly increasing in the realm of data-driven electronics. These foldable, rollable, and stretchable devices require a significant reduction in the thickness of the display module compared to standard displays. However, the susceptibility of OLEDs to degradation by moisture and oxygen necessitates a conformable, flexible, and durable encapsulation or barrier.
Damien Tuleu, Executive Vice President and Head of the Display Solutions business unit at the Electronics business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, expressed their commitment to providing customers with solutions that unlock new form factors. "Our low-temperature ALD silicon materials, as the most advanced thin-film deposition technology, offer highly improved barrier characteristics that are 100 times more effective than current solutions. Additionally, they possess a remarkably thinner layer, 20 times thinner than existing alternatives. This ultimately results in superior conformability, flexibility, and durability," Tuleu stated.
Flexible OLEDs play a vital role in enabling groundbreaking applications beyond traditional displays, including wearable devices, rollable displays, and biomedical applications. However, the repeated bending and stretching of flexible devices can strain the display, leading to decreased performance and lifespan. To address this challenge, the Electronics business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany collaborated with partners in the display and equipment industry.
Leveraging their 30 years of expertise in developing encapsulation materials for the semiconductor industry, the company successfully created new barrier materials processed through low-temperature Plasma Enhanced ALD technology, enhancing thin film encapsulation. These innovative materials with improved barrier characteristics not only ensure a longer lifetime for OLED devices but also meet the rigorous requirements of the automotive industry. Originally introduced in 2022 for automotive OLEDs, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's low-temperature ALD silicon materials are poised to become a transformative encapsulation technology for upcoming flexible IT OLED displays.
With OLED technology driving the emergence of new form factors in the market, the Electronics business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany stands as a global leader in supplying materials for this technology. Backed by three decades of research and early investments in OLED manufacturing capacities, the company remains committed to meeting the escalating demand for high-purity OLED materials. In 2022, an investment of approximately €30 million enabled the expansion of OLED production capacity in Korea and China, solidifying the company's local OLED production capabilities. These expansions empower Asia-based customers with easier and faster access to OLED materials, ensuring a stable and flexible supply chain.
To learn more about Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's revolutionary barrier materials and their pioneering role in OLED technology, visit www.merckgroup.com.
Source: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany via Newswire