Small Molecule Organic Light Emitting Diodes

SUMMARY

Small Molecule Organic Light Emitting Diodes Make the Perfect Solution for Mobile Phone Sub-displays

Small molecule organic light emitting diodes (SMOLEDs) are being used in exciting applications in mobile phone sub-displays, which are just the right size for their utility. The clam-shell type of flip phones have two displays -- a small sub-display on the outside and the main one on the inside. Since constraints in manufacturing techniques make SMOLEDs unsuitable for large displays, they have been targeting the sub-display segment. This has resulted in about 90 percent of flip phones having sub-displays adopting SMOLEDs. Now, with the integration of cameras with phones, SMOLEDs are finding new use as the viewfinder, since they are more power efficient than liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

This Frost & Sullivan research service examines the world small molecule OLED technology and reviews advances in the OLED display market with specific focus on SMOLEDS. The research provides detailed information on organizations, companies, universities, and institutions involved in the research and development of OLED displays -- particularly SMOLEDs.

General Purpose Lighting Market Creates Opportunities for OLEDs

A lot of research is being conducted on solid-state lighting (SSL), which is being touted as a likely blockbuster product in the power market. LEDs with their point sources for incandescent lamps and OLEDs with replacement sources for fluorescent lamps are considered the most suitable light sources for SSL technology. "Certain feasibility demonstrations have revealed that both organic and inorganic light emitters can outperform conventional light sources, but commercial mass production will still take some more time," states the analyst.

Neither SMOLED nor polymer OLED, however, has a clear advantage in the market for general lighting panels. While SMOLED's material characteristics and manufacturing processes are likely to stand it in good stead, polymer OLEDs have the cost advantage, a vital purchase factor for lighting devices. Nevertheless, a greater operational lifetime of 10,000 hours gives SMOLEDs a slight edge over light-emitting polymers in the general lighting market, where most applications need lifetimes of more than 20,000 hours.

SMOLEDs Eat into LCD Market Share for Small-sized Displays

SMOLEDs are stealing the march over LCD technology in the mobile phones, personal digital assistant, and camera markets by being slimmer and more lightweight and power efficient. While SMOLEDs can be as thin as their circuitry, LCDs' requirement for backlighting adds to their thickness and heaviness. "SMOLEDs have a host of other advantages such as wide viewing angles, full color capability, and much higher contrast ratios," notes the analyst.

In motion pictures and video, SMOLEDs' faster response time of 200 frames per second ensures that the pictures do not jerk or blur, unlike LCDs. Current research activities are also focusing on improving the manufacturing process of OLEDs to make them as cost effective as LCDs. These obvious advantages are working to help OLEDs replace LCDs in the small-sized display segment.

Frost & Sullivan Growth Partnership Service

Based on extensive and in-depth research, real-world consulting work, and new theories tested in hundreds of companies across many industries, Frost & Sullivan has evolved its Growth Partnership Services (GPS) program that provides established and emerging firms with powerful growth visions. Moving beyond token mission statements, GPS provides an actionable vision to growth consulting partners by illustrating how key intelligence and strategic research based on defined goals can guide day-to-day behavior and overall company direction. The foundation of Frost & Sullivan's GPS includes:

• Assisting companies to reach their full potential in the core business
• Providing growth strategies to help companies expand into related businesses
• Preemptively redefining the core business during market turbulence
• Applying the Frost & Sullivan framework to identify and address common mistakes resulting from misaligned corporate strategies
• Recommending growth management strategies through continuous partnership

To maximize the potential for growth within a firm's internal and external environment, Frost & Sullivan consultants can facilitate the creation of strategic programs that deliver improved market success. Frost & Sullivan's strengths lie in combining strategic understanding with market expertise and applying these with absolute commitment to its clients' growth.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Introduction and Scope
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Study Scope
• Methodology and Highlights
  • 1. Methodology
  • 2. Highlights

2 ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (OLED) TECHNOLOGY

• Light Emitting Diodes
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Applications
• Electroluminescent Displays
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Electroluminescent Displays
• Small Molecule OLEDs
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Technology
  • 3. Advantages
  • 4. Shortcomings

3 TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP

• Introduction
  • 1. History
  • 2. OLED Device Requirements
• OLEDs Today and Tomorrow
  • 1. Current Standing
  • 2. Future Standing
• Emerging Trends - News
  • 1. OLED - Europe
  • 2. OLED - Asia
  • 3. Competing Technologies - North America
  • 4. Competing Technologies - Europe
  • 5. Competing Technologies - Asia and Rest of the World

4 ORGANIC MATERIALS

• Small Molecule OLED
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Emissive Materials - Kodak
  • 3. Doping the OLED - Princeton University
• Charge Transport Materials
  • 1. Electron Transport Materials - Sanyo
  • 2. Hole Transport Materials - Xerox

5 FABRICATION TECHNIQUES

• Vacuum Thermal Evaporation
  • 1. Device Preparation
  • 2. Thermal Evaporation in Vacuum
  • 3. Electron Beam Heating Evaporation
• Organic Vapor Phase Deposition
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Experimental Setup
  • 3. Micropatterning of Organic Thin Films
• Roll-to-Roll Processing
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Technology Overview
• Drive Mechanisms
  • 1. Passive Matrix OLEDs
  • 2. Active Matrix OLEDs

6 COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES

• Introduction
  • 1. Technology Overview & Assessment
  • 2. Evolution Over Time
  • 3. Supply Chain Impact
• Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. LCD Display - Working Principle
  • 3. Drive Schemes
  • 4. Potential Revenue
• Light Emitting Polymers (LEPs)
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Technology Overview
• Plasma Display Panels (PDPs)
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Technology Overview
• Field Emission Displays (FEDs)
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Technology Overview

7 SMALL MOLECULE OLED AGAINST OTHER TECHNOLOGIES

• Small Molecule OLEDs versus LCDs
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Parameters For Comparison
• Small Molecule OLED versus LEPs
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Comparison

8 APPLICATIONS

• Consumer and Industrial
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Mobile Phones
  • 3. Digital Cameras
  • 4. Near-Eye Applications
  • 5. Consumer Video Headsets
  • 6. General Purpose Lighting
  • 7. Telecommunications
• Military
  • 1. Night-Vision Equipment
  • 2. Avionic Displays

9 MARKET ANALYSIS

• Analysis
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Competition
  • 3. Choice of Technology
  • 4. Price-Performance Analysis
  • 5. Market Forecast for World Flat Panel Display
• Benefits; Challenges and Trends
  • 1. Benefits
  • 2. Challenges
  • 3. Trends
• Decision Support Databases
  • 1. North American Digital Camera Unit Sales
  • 2. North American Camcorder Unit Sales
  • 3. North American PDA Unit Sales
  • 4. Global Installed Base of Mobile Handsets by Region and Country

10 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

• Universities
  • 1. Arizona State University - Organic Display Devices and Hybrid Photovoltaics
  • 2. MIT - Organic Thin Film Research
  • 3. Cornell University - Organic Devices Research
  • 4. University of Alberta; Canada - Polymer OLED Research
  • 5. University of Hull; UK - Organophotonics
  • 6. Germany - OLED Materials Research
  • 7. Israel - OLED Research
  • 8. Penn State University - Integrated Light Emissive Pixels
  • 9. University of Southern California - New OLED Device Architectures
  • 10. University of Texas; Austin - Organic Research
• Research Labs
  • 1. Fraunhofer IPMS - Next Generation OLED Fabrication Techniques
  • 2. ISMN; Italy - Electronic Materials Research
  • 3. France - Molecular Materials Research for Optoelectronic Applications

11 PATENTS; FAQS; AND COMPANY LISTING

• Patents and FAQs
  • 1. Patents
  • 2. FAQs
• Participating Companies and Research
  • 1. Company Listing
  • 2. Contact Details

12 FROST & SULLIVAN'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2004 AWARDS

• Technology Leadership Award
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Award Recipient
• Excellence in Technology Award
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Award Recipient