New technology will save manufacturing steps in flexible displays

The University of Texas at Austin and Research and Development company Verstilis have developed a time-saving technology for electronics manufacturing.

 

The technology, a dual-tone photoresist that saves steps in the manufacturing process and aids a unique method of photolithography used in electronics, combines two photoresist layers into one that can capture such images.

 

Costly masking steps and problems encountered in attempting photolithography on flexible substrates are eliminated. It uses multiple wavelengths of light to capture multiple patterns in photoresist layers simultaneously rather than through a repetitive, sequential process as is conventionally done.

 

Dr. Grant Willson, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering who developed the process said, "We are delighted to have participated in this innovative development. The novel process not only has a broad range of applications, but it can also reduce the costs of photolithography in electronics."

 

Applications for the technology span several markets, but the original idea was to lower the cost of manufacturing high performing electronics on large area, flexible substrates. This is a field DARPA refers to as "macroelectronics," which could lead to applications such as phased array antennas that could be rolled up or folded for easy transportation, or unfurled in space or carried on high altitude aircraft.

 

More immediately, the company is involved in aiding the manufacturing of flexible displays and has several running projects with DARPA and Army Research Labs for enabling such displays for future soldiers.

 

"We believe this technology can save manufacturing steps and improve yields in a number of current display applications such as LCDs, but where it will really shine is in next generation OLED (organic light emitting diode) and flexible display manufacturing," said George Powch, Versatilis president and chief executive. "The technology enables roll-to-roll manufacturing of flexible electronics."

 

Versatilis LLC is a five-year-old venture focused on developing semiconductor materials and processes for flexible electronics, solar cells and solid-state lighting panels.

 

To learn more attend Printed Electronics Asia 2009  or Printed Electronics USA 2009 .

 

Also read Displays and Lighting: OLED, e-paper, electroluminescent and beyond .