Revolution in OLED? New Discovery by Scientists: Brighter and Cheaper Operating Screens

A British-Dutch team of researchers has announced a breakthrough that could extend battery life in smartphones and make OLED televisions shine up to 2x brighter with less energy consumption. According to reports from hdtvtest.co.uk and flatpanelshd.com, the key is in so-called “chiral semiconductors” – materials inspired by… human DNA.

Today's OLED Problem: Half of the Light Goes to Waste

Modern OLED screens (e.g., in Samsung or LG TVs) use polarizing layers that block unwanted light to achieve such perfect contrast. Unfortunately, these same filters absorb over 50% of the energy generated by the diodes. – It's like covering half of a light bulb so it doesn't shine too bright.

Chiral Semiconductors: Light that “Twists” Like a Screwdriver

The solution turned out to be chiral semiconductors – materials in which light moves in a spiral (either left or right). As a result, they do not require traditional polarizing layers.

DNA, screws, and… Lego bricks

The inspiration was nature, including the double helix of DNA. Scientists from the University of Cambridge and TU Eindhoven created synthetic molecules that self-assemble into spiral structures. – It’s like building with perfectly matched Lego bricks – compares Prof. Richard Friend.

How does the new technology work?

The key material turned out to be TAT (triazatruxene). Its molecules form “screws” along which electrons move without energy loss.

Tests show: Less power, more light

– In prototype chiral diodes, almost all the light reaches the screen instead of being absorbed – explains Prof. Bert Meijer from TU Eindhoven. This means:

• Higher brightness – even with lower power consumption,

• Longer battery life in smartwatches or phones.

Not just televisions: Quantum computers will benefit too

Chiral semiconductors may accelerate the development of:

• Spintronics – a field where data is stored in the "spin" of electrons (already being tested by companies like IBM),

• Next-generation fiber optics – faster and more secure.

Although we will have to wait for the effects, this discovery is a milestone for OLED technology. Thanks to it, our favorite series may soon look lifelike – and electricity bills... will decrease.

Source: tue.nl, flatpanelshd.com, hdtvtest.co.uk