Korean company makes new progress in blue phosphorescent OLED materials

On December 16th, South Korean OLED material company LORDIN announced that after six years of research and development, its self-developed ZETPLEX technology has solved the lifespan issue of blue phosphorescent OLED materials, and confirmed the commercial viability of the product.

 It is understood that the emissive layer (EML) in OLEDs is composed of organic materials and emits light when powered. In OLEDs, the EML typically consists of a combination of host materials and dopants (such as fluorescent or phosphorescent materials), which work together to produce light of different colors (red, green, and blue). The composition and design of the EML determine the efficiency and color purity of the OLED, making it a key component of high-performance OLED displays.

 LORDIN researchers aim to address the limitations of multi-component EML systems, such as the difficulty in controlling mixing ratios, high production costs, and the complexity of OLED photophysical properties. Although traditional three-component EML systems are effective, there are still challenges in achieving optimal energy transfer between host materials and dopant materials.

 To overcome these challenges, researchers at LORDIN designed and synthesized a fused pH-FD molecule that effectively combines the functions of a p-type host and a blue fluorescent dopant into a single molecule. This design enables seamless energy transfer between the excited-state complex (formed by pH and nH) and the FD unit, eliminating the need for traditional multi-component systems.

 In simple terms, the characteristic of ZETPLEX technology lies in its ability to achieve an efficient blue light-emitting layer required by traditional four-component structures with only a two-component structure. LORDIN stated that, upon verification, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the company's recently produced OLED devices has exceeded 20%, and the device lifespan has been improved to approximately 60% of existing phosphorescent blue light devices. By significantly reducing the deposition temperature of luminescent materials, improving driving voltage, and mitigating high-brightness efficiency roll-off, this technology is expected to assist panel manufacturers in simplifying processes and enhancing yield rates.

 In addition to technical aspects, LORDIN has also achieved results in building an "Indian supply chain" for material localization and stable mass production.

 Firstly, to ensure a stable supply of heavy water, the core raw material for OLED high-purity processes, the company has completed its first supply with an Indian partner. Currently, the company is negotiating its second heavy water supply contract, which will be the largest contract of its kind among private enterprises in South Korea. LORDIN hopes to solve the problem of unstable raw material supply and ensure price competitiveness through this move.