Flexible organic light-emitting diodes for solid-state lighting

Flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are candidates for next-generation solid-state lighting because they have merits such as low driving voltage, various color tuning, designable form, and large-area light emission. Although OLEDs' efficiency, luminance, and lifetime have been improved enough to be commercialized, they are still inflexible despite being based on organic materials. To achieve efficient and reliable flexible OLEDs for solid-state lighting, flexible substrates for OLEDs should be developed. For this purpose, progress must be made in developing good flexible substrates, electrode materials, and encapsulation techniques compatible with these flexible substrates. Here, we review and discuss progress made in these three technologies for solid-state lighting using flexible OLEDs. Addressing the technical challenges associated with the development of high performing flexible substrates, electrode materials compatible with these substrates and good encapsulation techniques would lead to efficient and reliable flexible OLEDs and make flexible solid-state lighting commercially feasible. (C) 2015 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).