The global chemicals giant Solvay is pumping $14.5 million into Plextronics, a Pittsburgh technology startup, to jump start development of printed electronics such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), specifically OLED displays and lighting, as well as organic photovoltaic cells (OPV).
"The adoption of OLED technology is a visible sign that organic and printed electronics are on the verge of becoming a major market for advanced materials. Plextronics is our partner of choice to succeed in this high-growth area, and we continue to work closely on developing joint business opportunities," says Léopold Demiddeleer, head of future businesses and corporate platforms, a section of Solvay's newly created Innovation Center.
Solvay has been a Plextronics technology partner since 2007, Sean Rollman, Plextronics' chief financial officer, told Design News in an interview. "The new financing provides a runway to get us to full commercialization." Some of the company's OLED applications are expected to go commercial by the end of this year.
Plextronics was founded in 2002 as a Carnegie Mellon University spinout based on conductive polymer technology developed by Dr. Richard McCullough. Since then, Plextronics scientists have further developed the technology to boost performance for printed electronics.
The company recently announced that its Plexcore ink has been integrated into Universal Display Corp.’s solution-processed, phosphorescent OLED technology to help lower operating voltage and extend the lifetime of test devices.
A type of Plexcore ink, designated OC NQ, was made available for limited sampling to key customers and partners in October. The ink, geared specifically for solution processible phosphorescent OLED emitters, is based on a nonaqueous technology called hole injection layer (HIL) that is said to complement the company’s aqueous-based HIL.
Dr. Kwang Ohk Cheon, senior research scientist at Universal Display, reported the following results:
The green P2OLED system, which offers a luminous efficiency of 68 candelas per Ampere (cd/A), has achieved an operating lifetime of 175,000 hours, or approximately 1.3 times better than results reported last fall.
The red P2OLED system, with a luminous efficiency of 18 cd/A, now offers an operating lifetime of 125,000 hours, or double its previous total.
The light blue P2OLED system offers a luminous efficiency of 29 cd/A and 8,000 hours of operating lifetime. Both figures are 1.6 times improvements.
Plextronics has a unique technology Alex. A Massachusetts company called Konarka (UMass Lowell spinoff) has also developed advanced conductive polymers but it is focusing on the organic photovoltaic market. Plextronics is developing inks at a separate R&D facility in Harmarville, PA. The market will decide which of the new technologies it most prefers. Plextronics is still operating in the red and needed the cash infuion from Solvay. Solvay's move is significant because it is a leader in innovative chemistries and could potentially become a manufacturing and marketing partner, as well as a technology and financial partner.
Plextronics in effect would become a Tier 3 or 4 supplier in the marekt, and would not compete directly against Sony or Samsung.
How do you expect Plextronics will fare in the market against OLED behemoths like Sony and Samsung? Also, the ink part of the story was really interesting. Does this mean that Plextronics could potentially be a supplier not just of displays, but of some of the materials to make the displays (i.e., the ink)? Seems like that would be huge, because then the Sonys and Samsungs would be potential customers and Plextronics would be positioned as an alternative supplier to Dupont, albeit a somewhat smaller one.
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
The 3D printing revolution seems to have a knack for quickly moving technology ahead by way of collaborative effort and even a little friendly competition -- all of course in the name of scientific advancement.
Advantech has launched a new series of motion-control I/O modules to meet the increased demands that come with more distributed industrial systems that require control of a growing number of axes and devices.
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
4 
