Santa Clara, Calif. – Coherent, a provider of laser-based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets, and Holst Centre, an open-innovation initiative by IMEC (Belgium) and TNO (Netherlands), have announced their cooperation in the field of flexible electronics. Coherent's expertise in advanced laser equipment supports the strategy of Holst Centre to expand the current focus in its program on integration technologies for flexible systems.
Selective removal and deposition of thin layers is an important research challenge for future flexible-electronics applications such as organic photovoltaics (OPV) or for lighting and signage based on organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). OPV and OLED devices are composed of multilayer stacks that are often less than 100 nm thick. The smallest amount of debris can therefore generate defects, resulting in non-functioning devices.
The cooperation between Holst Centre and Coherent encompasses the installation of a short-pulse (picosecond) laser source in the electronic foils processing equipment to be used for high-precision and low-defect laser ablation in sheet-to-sheet production of OLED and OPV devices. The potential of the laser to comply with short processing times allows the transition toward roll-to-roll at a later stage in the collaboration, which is important for low cost production. Coherent intends to take the results of the application and use it to expand its knowledge in flexible electronics manufacturing.
Holst Centre has a considerable amount of expertise in integration technologies for applications in flexible foils. Investments in state-of-the art equipment support the Holst Centre’s ambition of becoming a leading player in this field. The current cooperation with Coherent is another step forward in the growth of the program and will allow Holst Centre to make significant progress in laser-based technologies.
Holst Centre is an independent open-innovation R&D centre that develops generic technologies for wireless autonomous transducer solutions and for systems-in-foil. Holst Centre was set up in 2005 by IMEC and TNO with support from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the government of Flanders. It is named after Gilles Holst, a Dutch pioneer in research and development and first director of Philips Research. Located on High Tech Campus Eindhoven, Holst Centre benefits from the state-of-the-art on-site facilities. Holst Centre has over 150 employees from around 25 nationalities and a commitment from around 30 industrial partners.