QLEDs Meet Wearable Devices

-         Koreanscientists develop ultra-thin deformable QLEDs in the wearable platform.

The scientific team, fromthe Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Seoul National University, has developedan ultra-thin wearable quantum dot lightemitting diodes (QLEDs). The electronic tattoo is based on current quantum dot lightemitting diode (QLED) technology. Colloidal quantumdot (QLED’s) have attracted great attention as next generation displays. Thequantum dots (QDs) have unique properties such as the color tunability,photo/air stability, and are printability on various substrates. The device is paper thin and can be applied to human skin like asticker.

The team developed the highperformance red, green, and blue QLED array, whose resolutions approach 2,500pixels per inch. This resolution is far superior to other light emitting devicesand displays on the market today including ones used in the latest smartphones.The technique is readily scalable over large area. Devices are adaptable todeformed states and thereby built on the unconventional curvilinear substratesincluding surfaces of various objects. Further mechanical deformations, such asstretching or wrinkling, are also adopted in this technology, which enablesQLEDs on the human skin. This breakthrough highlights new possibilities for integrating high-definition fullcolor displays in wearable electronics.

The article was published in Nature Communications in May, 2015. Thelink for the publication is as follows (http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150514/ncomms8149/full/ncomms8149.html).

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Notes for editors

-         References

9* Title of Paper: Wearable red–green–blue quantum dot light-emittingdiode array using high-resolution intaglio transfer printing, NATURECOMMUNICATIONS, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8149

9* Authors: Moon Kee Choi, Jiwoong Yang, Kwanghun Kang, Dong ChanKim, Changsoon Choi, Chaneui Park, Seok Joo Kim, Sue In Chae, Tae-Ho Kim, JiHoon Kim, Taeghwan Hyeon & Dae-Hyeong Kim

-         For further information or torequest media assistance, please contact: Mr. Shi Bo Shim, Head of Departmentof Communications, Institute for Basic Science (+82-42-878-8189;sibo@ibs.re.kr) or Ms. Sunny Kim, Department of Communications, Institute forBasic Science (+82-42-878-8135; Sunnykim@ibs.re.kr)

-         About Institute for Basic Science(IBS)
The IBS was founded in 2011 by the government of the Republic of Korea. Withthe sole purpose of driving forward the development of basic science in Korea,IBS will be comprised of a total of 50 research centers in all fields of basicscience, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, life science, earth scienceand interdisciplinary science. IBS has launched 24 research centers as ofJanuary 2015. There are one mathematics, eight physics, six chemistry, sevenlife science, and two interdisciplinary research centers.