While light emitting diodes (LEDs) promise numerous advantages such as higher energy efficiency, longer life and reliability, as well as low temperature performance, customer requirements for innovative solutions that provide better control over the color, shape and intensity of light is driving the demand for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) as light sources, according to the report.
The energy savings provided by the use of LEDs has attracted lot of government-aided funding and initiated a race between countries to establish solid-state lighting, including America, Japan, China, South Korea and those in Europe.
However, despite LEDs having surpassed the efficiency of incandescent lamps, their biggest challenge lies in outperforming the efficiency of fluorescent lamps, which at present is greater than 90 lumens per watt, notes Research Analyst Ashwini Meena. Further, LEDs have to improve their color uniformity and surface brightness as well as increasing their efficiency while maintaining the quality of the white light produced.
In respect to OLEDs, one U.S.-based company’s approach is resulting in low costs and compatibility with standard LED packaging processes. The lamps also provide greater color flexibility than the current standard used by LED manufacturers.
Over in Europe, the race is on to establish the use of OLEDs for general illumination and the region is aiming to be the frontrunner in this field. Researchers from eight European countries, 10 corporations and seven universities and research institutes are aiming to develop a white light OLED tile of 15-by-15 centimeters by 2008. Additional targets set include high brightness and increased efficiency (50 lumens per watt) along with an extended lifespan (10,000 hours).
