Want to light a wall or a piece of furniture without any special fuss or unnecessary effort? Be patient: in about a year, technology will give you the solution, and it is none other than OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes).
The descendants of today’s LEDs promise to light surfaces that until now we considered impossible to light, such as walls, ceilings, wardrobes and even curtains!
And Let There Be… OLED!
OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes, are the result of an ambitious project known as OLLA, involving 24 partners from 8 countries. Dr. Karl Leo, head of applied photophysics at the Technical University of Dresden and chairman of Novaled, the company developing this technology, explained that OLEDs are made of organic materials such as carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Dr. Leo clarified that the researchers’ main goal is to create a flat light source that is highly efficient and also very flexible.
OLED vs. LED: Point to OLED, 1–0!
Because LEDs are made of inorganic materials, they do not produce enough light to be used in large spaces and cover broader surfaces.
OLEDs, on the other hand, produce powerful light thanks to their organic materials, which means they can light large surfaces, and at minimal cost.
OLEDs are estimated to be 50% more efficient than existing energy-saving lamps and, besides being economical, they are also particularly environmentally friendly. OLEDs seem to be breaking every record, but perhaps the most impressive is their lifespan. According to an announcement by Novaled, the red OLED has been shown to operate for up to 1,000,000 hours, a figure that translates into 100 years of life!
Finally, we should not overlook the excellent moving-image performance of OLEDs, which makes them ideal for television and computer screens. Sony has already announced the launch of the world’s first OLED television, the XEL-1, with an 11-inch screen, a thickness of 3 millimetres (about that of a coin) and a price of 1,200 euros.
Light and Design
It is not only consumer electronics companies that are showing keen interest in OLED technology, but also contemporary designers. With the promise that OLEDs will be able to “bring to life” any surface with their light (furniture, a wall, a curtain and so on), designers everywhere are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first OLEDs on the market so they can create new forms based on light.
As scientists point out, the arrival of OLEDs in our everyday lives is expected to turn things upside down, opening up hundreds of new avenues in architecture as well as in design more generally.
The researchers promise that in 2009 they will bring to market new OLEDs that will also let consumers change their colour, pattern or intensity, turning the wallpaper or curtains in their homes into a “living” exhibit with light in the starring role!
