Cambridge University
LC-EL hybrid project, Pelikon and Cambridge University, Centre of Molecular Materials for Photonics and Electronics
Project
Study of the process of combining encapsulated Liquid Crystal and Electro-Luminescent components into a single printable bulk material
Project goals
The team is investigating the possibility of combining LC and EL to make a single printable ink, which can be deposited using Pelikon’s standard silk-screen deposition line. The project objective also covers the practicality of driving the resultant printed layer, in order to create a new type of hybrid display which is both emissive and reflective, and therefore visible in all ambient lighting conditions. The new hybrid display will be considerably more efficient than existing purely emissive displays, and have benefits over existing standard Liquid Crystal reflective displays, with the new display having all the benefits of flexibility, plastic substrate and robustness of Pelikon’s existing SEL.
The project is expected to deliver real production products ready for full commercialisation within one year to 18 months. The team already has demonstrated the principle and is working towards the first full prototype product.
Funding
The project is co-funded by Pelikon and a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) development grant, as part of the LINK ISD programme. Total project cost is £470,000.
