Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) is a LED that uses emissive electroluminescent layers of organic compounds which omit light in response to an electric current.

The technology is used in TVs, mobile devices, watches and other display related devices, Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are seen as a promising replacement for the liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) used in many flat-screen televisions because they are cheaper to mass-produce. Wolfe Engineering, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of advanced semiconductor capital equipment, can support you with your OLED fabrication.

What is the OLED technology all about?
OLEDs are made from organic (carbon based) materials that emit light when electricity is applied. Because OLEDs do not require a backlight and filters (unlike LCD displays), they are more efficient, simpler to make, and much thinner. OLEDs have a great picture quality - brilliant colors, fast response rate and a wide viewing angle.

How do OLEDs work?
The basic structure of an OLED is a cathode (which injects electrons), an emissive layer and an anode (which removes electrons). Modern OLED devices use many more layers in order to make them more efficient, but the basic functionality remains the same.

How an OLED panel is made
Making an OLED involves several steps: taking a substrate, cleaning it, making the backplane (the switching and driving circuitry), depositing and patterning the organic layers and finally encapsulation the whole thing to prevent dust, oxygen and moisture damage.

There are several ways to deposit and pattern the organic layers. Currently all OLED displays are made using vacuum evaporation, using a Shadow Mask (FMM, Fine Metal Mask) to pattern. This is a relatively simple method but it is inefficient and very difficult to scale up to large substrates. There are several alternatives for next-gen deposition techniques, including laser annealing and inkjet printing. These methods will be scalable and more efficient than vacuum deposition.

OLED technology today
Today OLED displays are used mainly in small (2" to 5") displays for mobile devices such as phones, cameras and MP3 players. OLED displays carry a price premium over LCDs, but offer brighter pictures and better power efficiency - making it ideal for battery powered gadgets.