The Fraunhofer Institute FEP and other partners at EU GLADIATOR project developed a functional flexible OLED lighting device based on graphene electrodes. This device is 2 x 1 cm in size - much larger the previous prototype developed as part of that project last year.
The graphene electrodes were produced in a CVD-based process. The graphene was deposited on a copper film, covered with a flexible polymer carrier and then the copper was etched away.
The GLADIATOR project will conclude in April 2017. In the following months, the researchers aim to improve the graphene electrode by minimizing the impurities and defects that occur during the transfer of the graphene sheet. The project's leader, Beatrice Beyer, estimate that such OLEDs with graphene electrodes could be commercialization within 2-3 years. In September 2015 we posted an interview with Beatrice, discussing the technology behind this project.
The GLADIATOR project was launched in November 2013 and partners in the project besides the Fruanhofer include Aixtron, Graphenea, Amcor flexibles, Organic Electronic Technologies, and CEA. The EU awarded the project with â¬12.4 million in funding.