SBIR Phase II: Photopatternable Quantum Dot Downconverters for Microdisplays

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目旨在展示可光图案化量子点（QD）墨水的产品规模特性。这些包括：1）可扩展性，2）在设备操作下的长寿命，以及3）与显示器制造商协议和设施的兼容性。在这些参数的演示之后，可以与大型化学品制造商合作将油墨商业化，用于全球分销。可光图案化的QD油墨是一种新颖的产品，其将使显示器制造商能够生产用于消费电子产品（例如，电视、监视器、笔记本电脑屏幕、智能手机、可穿戴设备以及虚拟现实和增强现实耳机）的下一代高色域、三倍能效和高刷新率显示器。到2024年，这种墨水可以通过简化制造和提高苹果、LG、京东方和三星等公司最近宣布的有机发光二极管（OLED）和微型发光二极管（microLED）显示器的性能，广泛影响84亿美元的市场。此外，该项目的成功提高了显示器的效率，可以减少多达1.1亿吨二氧化碳当量（MTCO 2 e）的碳排放，从而对更广泛的环境影响做出贡献。该项目的智力价值集中在通过展示生产规模的性能将配体化学转化为油墨产品。预期产品是可光图案化的QD油墨，其能够实现红色和绿色QD下变频器的高分辨率图案化，以实现具有优异色域、能量效率和刷新率的三色显示器。到目前为止，满足客户要求的分辨率和转换效率已被证明为在薄膜级的油墨。在这个项目中，重点将放在最终产品上-一个由这种墨水技术实现的功能显示器。为了实现这一目标，该项目的目标是：1）开发寿命计量工具和技术; 2）开发一个协议，并演示薄膜寿命模拟设备条件; 3）将油墨配方扩展到20 L/y，以实现足够数量的测试;以及4）与行业合作者一起生产生产规模的原型。这些目标的成功完成将产生由QD墨水产品实现的工作显示装置。设备演示是吸引客户并说服他们相信墨水与其产品兼容的关键证据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to demonstrate product-scale properties of photo-patternable quantum dot (QD) inks. These include: 1) scalability, 2) long lifetime under device operation, and 3) compatibility with display manufacturer protocols and facilities. Following the demonstration of these parameters, the ink can be commercialized in partnership with a large chemical manufacturer for global distribution. The photo-patternable QD ink is a novel product that will enable display manufacturers to produce the next generation of high color gamut, triple energy efficiency, and high refresh rate displays for consumer electronics (e.g. TVs, monitors, laptop screens, smartphones, wearables, and virtual reality and augmented reality headsets). Such an ink can broadly impact an $8.4 billion market by 2024 by simplifying the manufacturing and improving the performance of organic light emitting diode (OLED) and micro light emitting diode (microLED) displays recently announced by companies such as Apple, LG, BOE, and Samsung. Furthermore, the efficiency improvement in displays made by the project’s success could reduce carbon emissions by as much as 110 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), contributing to broader environmental impacts. The intellectual merit of this project focuses on converting a ligand chemistry into an ink product by demonstrating performance at production scale. The intended product is a photo-patternable QD ink that enables high resolution patterning of red and green QD downconverters to enable a tri-color display with excellent color gamut, energy efficiency, and refresh rate. To date, resolution and conversion efficiencies meeting customer requirements have been demonstrated for the ink at the film level. In this project, the focus will be on the end product - a functioning display enabled by this ink technology. To accomplish this, the project objectives are: 1) to develop lifetime metrology tools and techniques; 2) to develop a protocol and demonstrate the film lifetime simulating device conditions; 3) to scale the ink formulation to 20 L/y to enable a sufficient number of tests; and 4) to produce a prototype at production scale with an industry collaborator. The successful completion of these objectives will yield a working display device that is enabled by the QD ink product. A demonstration of a device is critical evidence to engage customers and convince them of the compatibility of the ink with their product.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.