Osram Opto Semiconductors has announced the launch of the FLINGO project to develop new materials particularly layers and processes to improve the durability and efficiency of LEDs. The company will serve as project coordinator working with four partners from research and industry.
Osram Opto Semiconductors says that it is collaborating with renowned companies, universities and research institutes to sustain and enhance EU market leadership in innovative LED products.
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is sponsoring the project as part of the M-ERA.NET EU initiative. The M-ERA.NET EU initiative, an EU-financed network, supports the coordination of European research projects. The FLINGO project will run through January 2020.
For the project, researchers plan to investigate and combine various deposition methods for thin films such as atomic layer deposition, the sol gel process and spray pyrolysis for production of high-quality LED light sources.
Dr. David O’Brien of Osram Opto will lead the project partners in their effort to extend LED lifetimes, reduce electrical layer resistance and increase light extraction and efficiency. According to Osram Opto, these developments require new materials and innovation or adaptation of deposition processes. “The project objectives can only be achieved with the assistance of a broad-based consortium because they call for improvements, new developments and especially expert know-how across the entire value-added chain,” explained O’Brien.
Expertise from Five Project Partners
In addition to Osram Opto Semiconductors, collaborators on the FLINGO project include Vilnius University; the Finnish thin film technology company Picosun Oy; Uninova from the New University of Lisbon; and the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg.
Fraunhofer ISC will support the project with its proficiency in developing new inorganic layer systems that can be used as the matrix for sensitive converter materials. Uninova adds its expertise in the production of highly conductive and highly transparent layers that the project will use for the p-contact of the LEDs. Picosun Oy will develop atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes and create new materials to ensure conformal coating of even highly structured surfaces.
Vilnius University’s Institute for Applied Research will offer expertise in developing and characterizing non-destructive material properties and will analyze the project’s newly created layers and layer systems.
Osram Opto will operate as an end user of the technologies produced in FLINGO and ultimately intends to transfer the new thin layers and layer systems to its LEDs to test them and their suitability for the mass market.
“The results of the project should lead to highly efficient and durable white light LEDs with possible applications in general lighting for example,” added O’Brien. “Our intention here is to improve our competitiveness and that of European industry in this field.”
