Display technology has established itself as an essential technology for devices, implementing information as light as a communication medium between data and users. Merck's material solutions that lead innovation in this light technology have attracted attention as they have been unveiled in large numbers.

Merck Korea, the Korean subsidiary of Merck, participated in K-Display, the largest display exhibition in Korea, held at COEX for three days from the 14th, and introduced Merck's display innovation Materials Intelligence TM.

Under the slogan, “We implement light,” Merck has been developing materials to meet the technological demands of displays in the TV, IT, automotive, and AR/VR fields. At this exhibition, materials with high brightness, high transmittance, fast response speed, high reliability, low power, improved device lifespan, and optimized optical properties were unveiled.

This year in particular, we were able to hear explanations from Merck experts in a total of five zones: △Inkjet printable low-k materials △Flexible display zone introducing flexible hard coating materials and OLED materials △Premium display zone introducing LC & PR △Zone for sustainable materials △Digital optics zone introducing optical materials used in AR/VR.

■ Optimized OLED material solution

“Customers have recently been focusing on tablet applications, and OLEDs for tablets have adopted a two-stack tandem structure, which has advantages over single-stack devices, such as a longer lifespan, more than twice the efficiency, and brighter brightness,” said Na Su-hwan, senior OLED researcher at Merck, who is proud to say that most OLED products launched at this exhibition and in the market contain Merck materials.

In addition, it was reported that multi-structures with three or more stacks are being developed for monitors, TVs, transparent displays, and gaming applications.

Merck also offers OLED test cell solutions. Merck, which invested more than 25 billion won in OLED materials and LCD test cells in Pyeongtaek in 2020, said that it provides optimized hole transport layer materials, electron transport layer materials, and light-emitting layer cost materials to customers in order to optimize the trade-off relationship in the three criteria of △voltage △efficiency △lifespan, which it set as the 'Master Triangle'.

“Merck has been focusing on developing deuteration technology that can improve the lifespan,” said Na. “We are applying the technology to replace light hydrogen with deuterium to host materials and primary transport layer materials used in EML.”

Deuterium is less reactive to external stimuli than light hydrogen, and is known to provide advantages such as increased lifespan, improved energy efficiency, and increased brightness when applied to blue phosphorescent host materials. Due to these advantages, deuterium is attracting attention as a next-generation OLED material.

■ VR·AR·IT display material solution collection

Merck unveiled a PB lens exhibit for VR. Park Hye-ryeong, a senior researcher, explained, “It has the advantage of having the effect of applying two concave and convex lenses on one piece of film.” She continued, “If this technology is applied to VR, it can provide realistic three-dimensionality and lightness based on plastic coating.”

AR Solutions showcased a demo product based on PHV Grating material. Park said, “It is a material that can control diffraction by coating RM (reactive mesogen) on a patterned thin film.” He continued, “As a film that acts as a wave guide, it can control various optical characteristics such as color characteristics, viewing angle, and light efficiency.”

Merck, a company with over 30 years of RM development experience and know-how, appears to be accelerating development to respond to the next-generation display application environment.

“For our latest developments, we are developing high-transmittance liquid crystal materials for high visibility and high-elasticity liquid crystals for high contrast ratios,” said Research Team Leader Kwon Ki-seon. He also said that they are focusing on providing low-power, low-frequency drive products and developing flicker-free products to resolve the flicker phenomenon.

Through continuous investment in the liquid crystal and OLED fields for the past 35 years, Korea Merck has provided Material Intelligence TM that enables future technology trends in the display industry in the domestic display industry, and has localized research and development of various products, including OLED.

Meanwhile, Dr. Richard Harding, Head of AR/VR Business at Merck, will share insights on the topic of 'Recent Advances in Optical Materials Towards Small Form Factor, Fully Immersive AR Headsets' and will hold a lecture titled 'Merck Science Connect' from the 20th to the 22nd at the Jeju International Convention Center to share trends and insights.

Presenters include Omdia's Senior Vice President Heo Moo-yeol, Hyundai Mobis' HUD Optical Cell Director Yoon Chan-young, Merck's Korea OLED Research Institute Director Kim Jun-ho, and Hanyang University's Professor Park Jin-seong.