Taiwanese scientists promise first sunlight OLED

Lack of proper lighting creates many more health concerns than mere eyestrain. Studies show that those who spend much of their lives indoors surrounded only by fake lighting and little exposure to sunlight often battle depression, mood swings, fatigue and even increased illnesses and ailments.

 

A new lighting technology that provides lighting very similar to the sun could drastically change how our offices and homes are lit in the future. Taiwanese researchers claim to have developed the world's first sunlight OLED device which can change its color temperature throughout the day, matching the natural daylight chromaticities produced by the sun. With just a slight change in voltage, different types of "sunlight" can be created - 3000K for the light at sunrise, 2500K at sunset, 5500K at high noon on a sunny day, and with 8000K you even get sun as seen in the blue skies of northern Europe.

 

This chart shows the color temperature of sunlight at different times of day, along with the color temperatures of various lighting devices: candles, incandescent bulbs, mercury lamps, fluorescent tubes, LEDs, and the new sunlight-style OLEDs. Source: National Tsing-Hua University

 

Current lighting devices can only produce one color temperature and at times the color can be quite unnatural. NTHU Materials Science Professor Jwo-Huei Jou pointed out that these devices cannot meet the human need for natural sunlight and are certainly inadequate to produce light colors covering sunrise to sunset.

 

The new invention will provide different colors of sunlight imitating sunrise to sunset and cloudy day to sunny day - dramatically improving the quality of life particularly for people in Northern Europe where they have long winter nights and inadequate sun exposure.

 

OLED's are expected to replace LED dominated indoor lighting as they are thinner, flexible and consume less electricity making them more environmentally friendly.

 

The researchers are currently applying for patents in Taiwan, the United States, Europe, Japan and Korea.

 

For more attend Printed Electronics Europe 2010 .

 

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