Recently, LORDIN, a South Korean OLED materials company, announced that after six years of dedicated research, its independently developed ZETPLEX technology has solved the lifespan problem of blue phosphorescent OLED materials and confirmed the commercial viability of the product.
It is understood that the emissive layer (EML) in an OLED is composed of organic materials and emits light when electricity is applied. In OLEDs, the EML typically contains a combination of host materials and dopants (such as fluorescent or phosphorescent materials), which work together to produce different colors of light (red, green, and blue). The composition and design of the EML determine the efficiency and color purity of the OLED and are a key component of high-performance OLED displays.
LORDIN researchers aimed to address the limitations of multi-component EML systems, such as the difficulty in controlling the mixing ratio, high production costs, and the complexity of the photophysical properties of OLEDs. While traditional three-component EML systems are effective, achieving optimal energy transfer between the host and dopant materials remains challenging.
To overcome these challenges, LORDIN researchers designed and synthesized a fused pH-FD molecule that effectively combines the functionality of a p-type host and a blue fluorescent dopant into a single molecule. This design enables seamless energy transfer between the excited-state complex (formed from pH and nH) and the FD unit, eliminating the need for traditional multi-component systems.
Simply put, the ZETPLEX technology is characterized by achieving the high-efficiency blue light-emitting layer required by traditional four-component structures with only a two-component structure. LORDIN states that its recently produced OLED devices have demonstrated an external quantum efficiency (EQE) exceeding 20%, and a device lifetime approximately 60% of existing phosphorescent blue light-emitting devices. This technology, by significantly reducing the deposition temperature of the light-emitting material and improving driving voltage and high-brightness efficiency roll-off, is expected to help panel manufacturers simplify processes and improve yields.
Beyond the technological aspects, LORDIN has also made progress in building an "Indian supply chain" for the localization of materials and stable mass production.
Firstly, to ensure a stable supply of heavy water—a core raw material for high-purity OLED processes—the company has completed its first supply with an Indian partner. Currently, the company is negotiating a second heavy water supply contract, which will be the largest such contract among private companies in South Korea. LORDIN hopes to resolve the issue of unstable raw material supply and ensure price competitiveness through this move.