A Brief History of OLEDs-Emitter Development and Industry Milestones

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have come a long way ever since their first introduction in 1987 at Eastman Kodak. Today, OLEDs are especially valued in the display and lighting industry for their promising features. As one of the research fields that equally inspires and drives development in academia and industry, OLED device technology has continuously evolved over more than 30 years. OLED devices have come forward based on three generations of emitter materials relying on fluorescence (first generation), phosphorescence (second generation), and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (third generation). Furthermore, research in academia and industry toward the fourth generation of OLEDs is in progress. Excerpts from the history of green, orange-red, and blue OLED emitter development on the side of academia and milestones achieved by key players in the industry are included in this report.

Automated summary

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have undergone significant development over the past 30 years, with advancements in emitter materials leading to three generations of OLED devices. Research is now focused on the fourth generation of OLEDs, with academia and industry achieving milestones in the development of green, orange-red, and blue OLED emitters.