According to recent research, hyperfluorescent OLEDs promise more efficient displays

Researchers have discovered a new method to reduce the high power consumption of blue pixels in OLEDs.

A recent paper published in Nature shows that hyperfluorescent OLEDs can significantly reduce the energy needed to display blue. This method is based on the cooperation of two molecules and does not focus on one molecule that must fulfill all requirements. By reducing the power consumption for the blue pixels, the pixels would naturally burn less into the screen. The aim of this research is to find a commercially viable method that achieves better efficiency for the blue part of OLEDs. This technology is only in the research phase and will not come to market immediately.

Blue requires a lot of energy

OLED screens contain tiny pixels that separately emit light when current flows through them. So each individual pixel has its own light source, making black really black, which increases the contrast of the screen. To create different hues, three subpixels are added to each pixel, each containing one of the primary colors red, green and blue. It is the last color that consumes the most energy.

“Basically, after decades of effort, it was not possible to obtain a blue light-emitting molecule for OLEDs that meets all the desired properties at the same time (efficiency, stability and color purity),” explains Dr. Daniel Congrave, one of the article’s co-authors, told The Register.

Collaborating molecules

Researchers from various universities were looking for a way to reduce the power consumption of blue color. After continuing to search for the perfect molecule to emit blue light, the researchers took a different approach. Instead of expecting a single molecule to do all the work, the work is divided among multiple molecules, each individually doing a good job of its assigned part. This solution is called hyperfluorescence.

Hyperfluorescence consists of two main components: the sensitizing molecule, which is expected to efficiently transfer energy to the terminal transmitter, the emitter molecule, which then emits a pure color. “With hyperfluorescence, what’s really important is making sure the energy actually goes where you want it and in the right order,” Congrave told The Register.

In the past, a matrix was used for this to prevent incorrect distribution of energy. The researchers now circumvented the need for this matrix by isolating the terminal transmitter through covalent encapsulation.

Reduces burn-in problems

This new technique would also reduce pixel burn-in, but not eliminate it completely. This was not the design of the study, but a natural consequence of reducing energy consumption. This research highlights the potential of this hyperfluorescent method, but that doesn’t mean it will be on shelves anytime soon.