Universal Display awarded US DoE SBIR phase I contract to increase white phosphorescent OLED lighting efficacy

EWING, USA: Universal Display Corp., enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED technology and materials, announced that the Company has been awarded a $99,927 SBIR Phase I contract from the US Department of Energy (DOE).

Under this program, Universal Display intends to demonstrate a white phosphorescent OLED lighting panel that meets Energy Star criteria using an optical enhancement technique which improves outcoupling efficiency while preserving the thin, elegant form factor of the white OLED lighting panel.

“Through ongoing support of the US Department of Energy, we will focus on demonstrating the Energy Star performance criteria in a commercially-desirable product format. Designing a panel that offers excellent energy efficiency in a thin, attractive form factor is essential for broad market appeal.”

During the program, titled “Novel Optical Enhancement for Thin Phosphorescent OLED Lighting Panels,” Universal Display will employ a novel outcoupling technique that performs as well as thicker treatments, such as macro-extractors or outcoupling blocks, but is significantly thinner. Outcoupling enhancements are commonly used to increase the amount of light that is emitted as useful light.

In addition to maintaining its thin and light weight form factor, the resulting white PHOLED lighting panel, which UDC intends to deliver to the DOE, may improve the company’s previously reported lighting panel efficacy results by over 25 percent and demonstrate a desirable path to meet the Energy Star Category B criteria for solid state lighting.

“As energy efficiency and eco-friendliness continue to influence consumer purchasing patterns, white OLED lighting panels are moving toward commercial reality as a leading potential solution for power-efficient and environmentally-benign solid state lighting,” said Steven V. Abramson, President and CEO of Universal Display.

“Through ongoing support of the US Department of Energy, we will focus on demonstrating the Energy Star performance criteria in a commercially-desirable product format. Designing a panel that offers excellent energy efficiency in a thin, attractive form factor is essential for broad market appeal.”