CDT, Thorn and Durham University are working on white lighting project.
A £1.6m grant has been awarded by the UK government to Cambridge Display Technology, Thorn Lighting and the University of Durham for development work on polymer light emitting diode (P-OLED) technology.
The grant, made through the DTI’s Technology Programme, will part fund a three year project to develop solution processable organic materials and device architectures suitable for large area white lighting applications. The total project cost is £3.3m.
The Sumation joint venture between CDT and Sumitomo Chemical will provide materials, device architecture and testing, modelling, and technical input.
“Successful completion of this project will offer novel lighting products with environmental benefits,” said CDT.
CDT's patented P-OLED technology, on which the project is based, have the potential of low cost manufacturing for large lighting panels, according to the company.
Science and innovation minister, Malcolm Wicks, said the government was supporting the project because of this potential. “We believe that we must work with industry to develop the marketable products and services of tomorrow, so that we can maintain our position as a leading global economy,” he said.
Chief executive of CDT, David Fyfe, said the grant “will allow us to make fast progress in improving our ability to develop inks and device technology, as well as expand the application of our P-OLED technology into the lighting market”.
