Research project for quantum dot colour filters for microLEDs

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP and KETI have started working together on the development of printed QD colour filters microLEDs in the new research project ‘CoCoMe’.

Quantum dots are nanocrystals with optical, magnetic or electronic properties. These nanocrystals have a diameter of about one to ten nanometres. The small diameter causes so-called quantum effects to occur in the crystals. There is a whole class of materials, mostly semiconductor materials, that can be used to make quantum dots (QDs). By adjusting the size of a QD, its properties can be adjusted specifically for the desired application. As a result, the applications may vary widely.

Professor Dr Alexander Böker, Director of the Fraunhofer IAP, and Dr Youngsam Kim, President of KETI, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 5, 2019, to continue the successful collaboration between Fraunhofer IAP and KETI. At the same time, the partners are launching the joint project ‘Development of materials and process technology for highly luminance microdisplays’ for the development of printed QD-based colour filters for displays. The abbreviation ‘CoCoMe’ stands for Colour Converting microLEDs.

Quantum dots as colour filters

In this research project, scientists from Fraunhofer IAP and KETI will develop QD colour filters. Conventional colour filters suffer from high light loss and relatively low colour purity. Colour filters based on quantum dots are highly efficient because they do not filter light but absorb it with significantly lower losses and release it again in high purity. The aim of the project is to develop QD-based colour filters for microLEDs and, in addition, to realise a new technology of printing these colour filters.

“This project gives us the opportunity to work on the latest topics in display research, the microLEDs. In cooperation with the KETI, which has existed for more than ten years, we can thus play a leading role in the development of the next generation of displays,” said Dr Armin Wedel, Head of Research at the Fraunhofer IAP. He has been involved in all joint projects since the beginning of cooperation between the two institutes.

At the Fraunhofer IAP, the QD experts are working closely with the printing specialists for this project. The research team is developing the quantum dots for the red and green colour filters as well as the printing technologies for structured and precise plotting of the quantum dots on the microLEDs.

“At the Fraunhofer IAP, we combine many of the competencies of polymer research under one roof,” said Institute Director Professor Dr Alexander Böker. “We develop new functional materials for a wide variety of organic electronics applications, as well as technologies for efficient processing using printing technologies. We are delighted that we are able to continue our long-term cooperation with the KETI by signing the MoU and the new research project ‘CoCoMe’, and that we can profitably use our expertise for display development.”

The Fraunhofer IAP and the KETI have been working together for ten years - among other things, the partners are developing cadmium-free QDs, which have become indispensable in display manufacturing due to EU regulations (RoHS directive).

The project ‘CoCoMe’ has a term of five years. After three years, the project will be evaluated by both cooperation partners and the further course of the project will be determined.