Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology

Overview Electronic devices assembled by organic materials are getting more attention in various applications such as a light emitting or extinction, and energy transition. Organic materials in those devices play an important role in managing and improving the performance of the device. Moreover, there is more need for organic electronic materials suited for applications which require new form factors, such as flexibility and transparency. Another attractiveness is a significantly reduced cost by a printing process. Electronics products using organic materials includes the display, represented by organic light emission display (OLED), transistors, sensors, and semiconductors like a memory chip.

Technology Trend ① Display material: OLED material
OLED, one of the most attractive next-generation display technology, has almost similar device structure with liquid crystal display (LCD). LCD constructs the image by the light from the backlight unit which passed by color filter, whereas OLED using organic materials sandwiched between two electrodes is self-emitting and driven by a current. In result, OLED does not require the backlight unit and thus thin, flexible and transparent display can be realized. Further cost reduction and small form factors with larger display screen are anticipated with advances in smart manufacturing process. The OLED market is expected to grow faster if the most attractive features, such as flexibility and transparency of display, are fully realized at a reasonable price.

② Semiconductor materials: organic thin film transistor (OTFT), organic sensor
Organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and organic sensors are representative organic semiconductor materials. OTFT, the alternative to the current thin film transistor, composed by silicon and metals, is expected to be commercialized in the use of curved display or dashboard display in autonomous vehicles, which have curved spaces to be displayed. On the other hand, organic sensors are getting more attention in healthcare and wearable industry to promote human health. For example, it can be attached to a patient’s body to manage blood pressure or blood sugar level constantly. It is also expected to grow rapidly in various healthcare products, thanks to flexibility of organic sensors.

SAIT Technology SAIT is researching on novel materials used for OLED, OCIS and OTFT. Especially, we are developing OLED materials with higher efficiency and longer device lifetime as well as lower power consumption and better color purity. Our future plan is to invent soluble organic materials in order to reduce manufacturing cost in the end. Current research for OCIS materials has focused on biometric sensor using distinctive extinct characteristics of organic materials. In OTFT research, we are currently working on materials that are highly flexible with a high mobility. SAIT devotes itself to expand electronics market by introducing more applications using organic electronic materials.