Electroluminescent Materials
Summary:
Quantum Energy Technologies Corp. is developing electroluminescent materials that may one day be used in light sources such as low-powered battery displays, computer displays, and eventually even as light sources. The company predicts that electroluminescent materials will be the future of lighting and visual displays, replacing everything from light bulbs to computer screens. The company hopes to have a prototype in place by the fall of 2000 to rival the efficiency of other battery-powered displays, such as liquid crystal displays.
Technology Description:
Quantum Energy Technologies Corp. (Woburn, MA) is developing electroluminescent materials that may one day be used as light sources in low-powered battery displays, computer displays, and eventually even for room lighting.
John Erdman, president and CEO of Quantum likens the process that the company is working on to that of a firefly’s glow. A firefly glows when the enzyme luciferase reacts with oxygen to produce energy. Unlike most energy-producing reactions, though, almost all of the energy is emitted as light, not heat—about 98 percent of it. The key to this incredible efficiency is the nonlinear chemical bonds in luciferase.
Quantum Energy is trying to mimic this process with inorganic nanocrystals and organic materials, such as luciferase, that have highly nonlinear bonds. “Nanotextured materials with nonlinear bonding dynamics develop energy localization phenomena that allow for selective excitation of vibrational modes that relax via the emission of visible light,” the BMDO SBIR Phase II proposal reads. “Highly efficient and bright, hybrid semiconductor-organic electroluminescent (HSOE) devices can be fabricated in any given color by optimizing both properties.” The company has found that electroluminescence will emanate from distributed emissive dots under three to five volts dc, and it is now working on improving the luminosity and color range of these materials.
The key advantage to this approach is energy efficiency. The company hopes to develop a material that will have an energy efficiency level of two to three percent by the end of the year—the level liquid crystal displays in flat-panel screens currently enjoy. Eventually the company hopes to surpass the 20 percent level of efficiency of flourescent light bulbs.
MDA Origins:
BMDO SBIR Phase I and Phase II contracts were awarded to Quantum Energy to develop nanocrystalline electroluminescent display technology. BMDO was interested in developing high-efficiency, high-brightness, low-voltage displays that would be easy to manufacture.
Spinoff Applications:
The company predicts that, because of its superior energy efficiency, electroluminescent materials will be the future of lighting and visual displays, replacing everything from light bulbs to computer screens. This type of light emitter will also have a flexibility of form unmatched by traditional light sources. Because of the simplicity of processing and low cost of materials and durability, electroluminescent material-based displays will be much easier to manufacture than today’s displays and light sources, so they promise to cost less. And their durability promises to be a competitive factor in the light bulb market.
Low-power displays for battery-operated devices is the first market Quantum plans to enter. Improved efficiency should lead to longer battery life for cell phones, personal digital assistants, and handheld computers. Production costs should be lower than today’s active matrix LCD displays, making the electroluminescent materials a commercially viable alternative.
Far-term goals include producing nanocrystalline emitters with efficiencies in the 20 percent range, which could be used as more-durable yet less energy-hungry replacements for the venerable light bulb.
Commercialization:
The company is looking for partners interested in entering the battery-powered display market. The company hopes to have a prototype in place by the fall of 2000 that will rival the efficiency of other battery-powered displays, such as LCDs.
Company Profile:
Quantum Energy Technologies Corp. is in the field of electroluminescent materials research and development. The company, incorporated in 1995 is based in Woburn, Massachusetts and employs 20 people.
Contact Information:
John Erdman, president and CEO
Quantum Energy Technologies Corp.
10-K Gill Street
Woburn MA 01801
Tel:781-376-0500
Fax:781-376-0505
email: jerdman@qetc.com
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