News Release

A brighter, more colorful future for LEDs?

Technical Insights' Microelectronics Alert

Business Announcement

Technical Insights




San Jose, Calif.--January 31, 2003-- Two exciting new developments have emerged in the light-emitting diode (LED) arena. A single LED, with the facility to dramatically switch its emission spectrum, and a hybrid device based on an inorganic quantum dot/organic LED combination capable of enhanced luminescence have improved LEDs future potential.

Scientists have engineered a simple, electroluminescent LED device that can produce either red or green light, depending on the voltage applied to it. The device is based on the synthesis of organic semiconductor materials and an inorganic phosphorescent complex of ruthenium.

This development offers the tantalizing prospect of having only one pixel capable of emitting in multiple colors within a display device, instead of the three individually colored LEDs currently required for full-color displays.

"Research is ongoing to create similar devices with potential use in light-emitting displays, solid-state light sources, and color switches," says Technical Insights' Analyst Charles Bergquist. "Efforts to improve the efficiency and brightness of current LED device designs are gaining momentum."

A conjunction of two technologies – the inorganic quantum-dot and organic light-emitting diode – has resulted in a hybrid device capable of high levels of efficiency in luminescence. This device merges the narrow-band, effective luminescence of colloidal quantum dots with organic materials' ability to be effortlessly processed. It contains a single monolayer of CdSe quantum dots inserted between thin films of organic materials utilized in OLED applications. Indications are that it is 25 times more efficient in luminescence than former quantum dot/LED combinations.

As academic and commercial arenas strive to boost LED device performance, research activity is likely to focus attention on enhancing quantum efficiency and color saturation.

New analysis by Technical Insights, a business unit of Frost & Sullivan (www.Technical-Insights.frost.com), in Microelectronics Alert, defines key markets and applications of LED technology; provides a detailed overview of technological advances in development laboratories; and identifies key companies and developers.

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Frost & Sullivan is a global leader in strategic growth consulting. Acquired by Frost & Sullivan, Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and reports. An analysis of growth opportunities in sensors, microelectromechanical systems, and applications of nanotechnology is available in Microelectronics Alert, a Technical Insights subscription service, and in Optical MEMS, a Frost & Sullivan Technical Insights technology report. Technical Insights and Frost & Sullivan also offer custom growth consulting to a variety of national and international companies.

Executive summaries and interviews are available to the press.

Microelectronics Alert

Contact: USA
Julia Rowell
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E: jrowell@frost.com

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Pramila Gurtoo
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E: pgurtoo@frost.com

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