OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is the collective name of light-emitting diodes based on organic compounds. We recently reported about how Sony presented OLED-based monitors with a fantastic contrast ratio and researches at Cornell University have now presented the world’s smallest OLED. It measures only 200nm in diameter, which is about the same size as a bacteria. The light device consists of a ruthenium–tris–bipyridine and polyethylene oxide complex that is spun like wool through a method called “electrospinning.” You simply spin spin these fibers on to a gold electrode with microtraces which results in a spiral-shaped pattern. Then you simply apply voltage over the diode and it will emit light. Simply a miniature light bulb.
The researches considers these organic light-emitters as a solid foundation for both microscopic lights, but also small and very flexible displays. The great advantage with these is that electrospinning is a simpler manufacturing process than photolitography, which is regularly used. The focus is still on making light-fibers and investigating the durability of these.
