Mass produced OLED displays measuring up to seven inches are already being used in smartphones. And OLEDs have also been used in a prototype 30-inch TV screen, although these displays are not yet suitable for series production. That’s because keeping the quality of the layers at a uniformly high level becomes more and more difficult with increasing size. “Our task is therefore to improve the tolerances in the production process and develop OLED materials with stable optical and electrical properties over a wide range of temperatures,” says Heider.
 
Simple solutions are not yet in sight. After all, OLEDs are complex systems whose technical properties change as soon as the chemistry of individual layers changes. There are currently no computer programs capable of precisely calculating variations. In fact, the physical reactions within the components are mostly not even known in detail. In response to this situation, the researchers at the MRC primarily use two of their key skills: tests and teamwork.

In doing so, they benefit from the move to the company premises in Darmstadt, which enables them to share technological infrastructure and staff with other business units. “The move has increased our resources and made processes more flexible,” says Heider. “And now we have access to state-of-the-art equipment.” Heider also benefits from the new situation when serving customers. “We can simulate all of the production steps in the clean room technical center,” he says. “In other words, we can assist our customers not only when it comes to developing products, but also with regard to new processes.”

So it’s very likely that new innovations will soon be emerging from Building F 61. For example, the researchers may come up with OLED displays that no longer have to be vapor deposited on hard glass plates, but can instead be printed like ink onto very light sheets of film that can be rolled together. The displays could then be replaced by luminous wallpaper that would create an even greater cinematic effect.