- 30 August 2006 -

CDT UK DTI-Supported OLED project for flexible displays on track

Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) is underway with new collaborative work on a metal deposition project which is expected to be important in the field of flexible displays. This is one of a number of projects which CDT expects to be able to announce in the near future which together will make a major contribution to the development of flexible displays.

The project is part-funded by the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and is an example of the support now being given to UK innovation in key technology areas which have been identified as strategically important - in this case 'plastic electronics'. CDT is involved in a number of calls for participation in advanced display related projects.

This particular project involves the development of a process to deposit high conductivity, very thin metal tracks onto glass and plastic substrates. The process, which is seen as an alternative to conventional inkjet printing methods, involves the use of lasers to expose selected material, and is capable of resolutions of less than 5µm.

Flexible displays are expected to require a technology such as this for the formation of the TFT backplane, and the process under development would be applicable to plasma (PDP) and LCD displays and even organic photovoltaics as well as P-OLEDs.

CDT partners in the project are Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT), a subsidiary of Carclo plc [FTSE: CAR], a specialist in technical plastic products, and Exitech, supplier of laser processing equipment.

"This interesting project could have important implications for the development of next generation displays", comments Dr David Fyfe, CEO of CDT, "We look forward to being able to announce further activity in the field of flexible displays."

CDT expects to be able to report the outcome of this work by mid 2007.

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