3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / AM Flexible OLEDS Revealed
qidi

AM Flexible OLEDS Revealed

January 13, 2022

OLEDs are traditionally manufactured using multiple substrates of various materials. The light comes from the emissive layer, which exchanges electrons for photons to produce light.

The color of the light depends on the type of organic molecule in the emissive layer.

Typically they are manufactured by various deposition processes and use inkjet printing to add the organic layers between the anode and the cathode before a final piece of glass or plastic is applied to complete the OLED display.

If that sounds like a bit of a chore, then you are absolutely correct. That is why OLEDs are expensive devices. But a team of researchers from University of Minnesota Twin Cities have recently published a means to 3D print OLED panels, which could open the way for OLED panels to be manufactured in the home.

You can see the 64 pixel (hand for scale) printed OLED panel in the image below.

3d-p-oled-display
3D-printed OLED display (Image credit: University of Minessota Twin Cities)

To print the OLEDs the researchers had a custom printer manufactured, featuring a robotic gantry system (AGS1000, Aerotech Inc, seen below)) onto which precision pressure dispensers and printing nozzles were mounted.

Aerotech
You will need one of these… (Image credit: Aerotech)

The OLED is made from 6 layers which are deposited by 2 different means from the same printer.

The anode/cathode, interconnects, insulation, and encapsulation were all extrusion printed, while the active layers were spray printed using a different tool on the same printer’s toolhead. The four materials the printer used for the organic layers were AgNPs, PEDOT:PSS, MDMO-PPV, and EGaIn.

As you can guess, these materials are specialist stuff: you probably can’t buy this from your local printer store. In fact, this printer is not generally meant for the home consumer, as it cost the team several tens of thousands of dollars.

You can see the printing process and resulting illuminated flexible panel in the video below.

The diagram below shows the different layers of printed materials sandwiched between the PET film substrate and the PDMS top polymer layer. The use of PDMS rather than glass gives the part its flexibility, which means that there are potential applications in wearable technologies.

Schematic of the fully 3D-printed OLED display and printing methodology. (Image credit: University of Minessota Twin Cities)

The ability to do this with just two tools means the process is simplified compared to traditional methods of manufacture, and means that the means to produce OLEDs in the home may not be too far away.

“The nice part about our research is that the manufacturing is all built in, so we’re not talking 20 years out with some ‘pie in the sky’ vision,” said Michael McAlpine, senior author of the study.

“This is something that we actually manufactured in the lab, and it is not hard to imagine that you could translate this to printing all kinds of displays ourselves at home or on the go within just a few years on a small portable printer.”

You can read the paper (open access) over at this link.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

QuesTek Partners with Niobium Producer to Develop High-Temperature 3D Printing Alloy

QuesTek Innovations has partnered with a global niobium producer to develop a high-temperature alloy designed for additive manufacturing. The project targets aerospace and... read more »

3D Printing Metal
QuesTek Partners with Niobium Producer to Develop High-Temperature 3D Printing Alloy

Autodesk Research and Additive Tectonics Develop 3D Printed Floor System with Alternative Materials

Autodesk Research has partnered with Additive Tectonics to develop a new approach to concrete floor construction using 3D printing technology. The collaboration combines... read more »

Construction

NREL Acquires Large-Scale Metal 3D Printer to Advance Marine Energy Research

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has installed a new laser-powered metal 3D printer at its Flatirons Campus to support marine energy device... read more »

3D Printing Metal
NREL Acquires Large-Scale Metal 3D Printer to Advance Marine Energy Research

Apple Adopts 3D Printing for Titanium USB-C Ports in New iPhone Air

Apple’s latest smartphone release marks a quiet but notable step in consumer electronics manufacturing: the company has confirmed that its new iPhone Air... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Apple Iphone 17 air

GKN Aerospace Expands Connecticut Facility for 3D Printed Engine Components

GKN Aerospace announced the expansion of its Newington, Connecticut facility to include a new production line for additively manufactured Fan Case Mount Ring... read more »

Aerospace
GKN Aerospace Expands Connecticut Facility for 3D Printed Engine Components

UltiMaker Launches Secure 3D Printing Line for Defense Applications

UltiMaker has introduced its Secure Line of 3D printing products specifically designed for defense and high-security environments. The initial lineup includes the UltiMaker... read more »

News
UltiMaker Launches Secure 3D Printing Line for Defense Applications

Digital Manufacturing Centre Delivers 90kg 3D Printed Military Vehicle Component

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) has completed production of its largest additive manufacturing metal component to date - a 90kg suspension and differential... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Digital Manufacturing Centre Delivers 90kg 3D Printed Military Vehicle Component

Designer Creates Modular Sneakers with 3D Printed Soles and Climbing Rope Laces

Daniyar Uderbekov, a designer based in Kazakhstan, has developed UDRB, a pair of modular sneakers designed to address environmental concerns in the footwear... read more »

Fashion

Nestlé Expands 3D Printing Operations for Manufacturing Parts Across UK Sites

Nestlé has implemented standardized 3D printing processes across its UK manufacturing facilities over the past year. The company uses a team of three... read more »

News
Nestlé Expands 3D Printing Operations for Manufacturing Parts Across UK Sites

Cornell Researchers Develop 3D Printing Method for Enhanced Superconductors

Cornell University researchers have developed a one-step 3D printing method that produces superconductors with improved properties. The research, published August 19 in Nature... read more »

News
Cornell Researchers Develop 3D Printing Method for Enhanced Superconductors

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing