A group of South Korean researchers has developed a process that would replace electrode materials, a key substance in panel manufacturing that has been heavily relied on Japan for supply.

A research team led by Yun Chang-hoon of nano-convergence display-lighting technology group at Korea Institute of Industrial Technology said on Wednesday that it has implemented world’s first technology that raises electrical conductivity based on physical method of basking in laser to conducting polymer.

According to the team, a thin layer of transparent electrode is inserted in electronics displays such as of smartphones. Indium tin oxides (ITO) are mainly used as its material. ITOs have high electrical conductivity but can easily break when bended. Also, more than 70 percent of the material supply relies on Japan.

The research team led by Yun discovered a physical phenomenon that electrical conductivity (PEDOT:PSS) increases a thousand times when 1,064 nanometer wavelength range infrared ray laser is basked in transparent electrode of conducting polymer. The electrical conductivity of conducting polymer was very low – a thousandth compared to ITO. A laser process, however, would enable improved performance as of ITO.

The research team, in fact, has successfully implemented similar conductivity to that of existing thin ITO film by flashing laser after spreading conducting polymer solution to the board. The team’s solution for conductivity of pristine PEDOT:PSS films and laser equipment of 1,064 nanometer range have already been commercialized.

Industry analysts noted that conductive PEDOT:PSS solution can now be supplied domestically, raising hopes for self-supply of materials in transparent electrode sector. The latest technology developed by the research team is expected to be applied to a wide range of industries – not only flexible displays but also foldable solar panel.

“We came across a phenomenon that electric resistance falls when laser is discharged to conducting polymer while studying that light emission level falls when laser is basked in to organic light emitting diode,” Yun said.

The research, meanwhile, has been published online in the September issue of Materials Horizons, a leading journal of Royal Society of Chemistry.

By Pulse (translation)

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