Europe joins forces in the form of a new integrated R&D project that aims to research and develop light emitting foils based on OLED technology. A group of 14 companies, research institutes and universities, leading in the fields of printing and electronics has formed the consortium of Fast2Light and will align efforts to demonstrate that high quality and cost-efficient lighting foils are the future for lighting and signage applications.
"The steady progress of light-emitting materials in recent years, identify OLED technology as the next solid-state, large-area light source. Within this project consortium we are able to combine European leading partners in the fields of printing, electronics and roll-to-roll processing and to create critical mass for the development of OLED lighting foils. Fast2light aims to set in place the manufacturing platforms so as to accelerate the introduction of lighting foils into the market when the light-emitting polymers meet the product specs" said Mary Kilitziraki of Holst Centre, project manager of Fast2Light.
The project, partially funded under European Union’s 7th Framework program as part of the ICT (Organic and large area electronics, visualisation and display systems) priority, will address all layers that are part of a lighting foil. It will start with the plastic substrate, and introduce high-throughput deposition and patterning methods for all of the materials necessary to fabricate the final lighting foil. Ultimately, the project will demonstrate a 30cm x 30cm, high quality lighting foil, manufactured with new optimised, disruptive R2R processes. While the project will focus on polymers, the platforms developed will be fully compatible with SMOLEDs.
