LG Chem, the chemical branch of the South-Korean tech conglomerate, has just made two major breakthroughs in OLED technology: They’ve begun mass-producing the world’s largest super-slim OLED panel, .88 millimeters (.03 inches) thick with a surface of 320-by-320 millimeters (12.5-by-12.5 inches), and selling engineering samples of a new super-flexible plastic OLED panel, perhaps the bendiest light ever.
LG Chem’s new plastic OLED panels. Images via LG Chem
The unique advantage of an OLED is in its form. While LEDs typically come in bulb form with requisite hardware — heat sinks, module frames, diffusers, etc. — OLEDs are made of layers of thin semiconductor materials, making them inherently sheet-like. With an output of 60 lumens per watt, they’re also energy-efficient. They’re lightweight, glare-free, and possess a spectral distribution similar to that of natural light. Through LG Chem’s encapsulation technology, they can function while submerged in water, and the new extra-large sheets have roughly the same brightness as a 60- to 75-watt incandescent bulb.
Its potential uses are myriad. In addition to high-def curved TV screens, Vampire protection, and some groovy lamps (including the unfortunately named SMALP smart lamp), the architectural applications seem to be endless. Late last year, Grimshaw came up with a variety of uses through a company-wide design competition, including a sliding panel of window louvers that provided shade during the day and a source of light at night; an illuminated rain canopy; and a safety strip for the edges of train platforms.
“I can see manufacturers absolutely rushing to get products out using it,” said competition judge Sir Nicolas Grimshaw himself, and the possibilities only increase with these new developments. The new plastic version’s resilience picks up where its ultra-thin glass substrate predecessor left off. Its bending radius — that is, how small a curve you can curl it into before changing its composition, i.e. snapping it in half — went from 75 millimeters to 30, and it’s even more shatterproof than before.
The technology is still pricey, just as now-affordable LEDs have been in the past. The extra-large glass OLEDs are available for $680 each, while the plastic versions are available as engineering samples for $250. Mass production isn’t slated to begin until July, but it seems that architects to be delighted at the opportunity to play around with it. “This competition was our cup of tea,” according to Sir Grimshaw. And you know how Brits love their tea.