U.S. DOE awards two SBIR grants for OLED technology

Washington, DC--The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science has awarded two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants targeting advances in solid-state lighting (SSL) technology -- in this case, both for advances in organic LEDs (OLEDs). The intent of the FY14 Phase I Release 1 awards to explore the technical merit or feasibility of an innovative concept or technology.

The SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs seek to increase the participation of small businesses in federal R&D. The two SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 1 awards related to SSL are:

1. SBIR Recipient: MicroContinuum, Inc. (Cambridge, MA)

Title: R2R Production of Low-Cost Integrated OLED Substrate with Improved Transparent Conductor & Enhanced Light Outcoupling

Summary: This project will demonstrate the incorporation of nanoscale features inside and outside OLED devices to allow higher output; the improvement of transparent conductor characteristics for higher OLED electrical efficiency and light uniformity; the use of substrates with improved barrier properties to prevent OLED degradation; and the development of innovative, low-cost roll-to-roll manufacturing technology for the production of OLED lighting panels.

2. SBIR Recipient: Pixelligent Technologies LLC (Baltimore, MD)

Title: Advanced Light Extraction Material for OLED Lighting

Summary: This team, including OLEDWorks, will demonstrate a cost-effective, high-refractive-index nanocomposite formulation to function as a key part of an internal light-extraction structure that will be fully compatible with OLED device manufacturing process and operation conditions and can expedite the commercialization of white OLED lighting.

Source: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/sbir_ssl-grants_fy14-1-1.html

To learn more about SBIR/STTR, see http://science.energy.gov/sbir/.