Minnesota researchers say they’ve created the first fully 3D-printed OLED display

The University of Minnesota team created a fully 3D-printed flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display prototype that was about 1.5 in. on each side. [Image courtesy of the McAlpine Group, University of Minnesota]

University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers used a customized printer to fully 3D print a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

The research team members — based at U of M mechanical engineering professor Michael McAlpine’s lab — think their work could result in relatively low-cost OLED displays. The advance could potentially aid the creation of medtech wearables and a host of other devices that rely on digital displays.

OLED display technology converts electricity into light using an organic material layer. They’re popular because they are lightweight, power-efficient, thin and flexible, with a wide viewing angle and high contrast ratio.

“OLED d…

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