Stretchable OLED from UCLA

The researchers at the Engineering and Applied Science of UCLA have, for the first time, demonstrated a stretchable OLED. As per Henry Samueli of UCLA, this display is a polymer and is metal free and can be stretched up to 45%.

The team used single walled carbon nanotube polymer composite electrodes to create a simple process that fabricates transparent devices.

The nanotubes and polymer matrix create an interpenetrating network on the surface of the composites and this means low sheet resistance, high compliance and transparency and low surface roughness.

The fabrication of the device is done through lamination of two composite electrodes. The composite electrodes sandwich an emissive polymer layer.

This unique combination allows mechanical robustness and large strain deformation. This happens due to the shape memory property of the composite electrodes.

This is supposed to be a major breakthrough in polymer electronics and display technology. This is a step toward wearable electronics.