Flexible OLED displays operate through organic light-emitting diodes layered on bendable substrates like polyimide. When voltage is applied, electrons and holes recombine in organic emissive layers, emitting photons without needing backlighting. This self-emissive property combined with ultrathin encapsulation (~10–30 μm thickness) and flexible TFT arrays enables screens to bend repeatedly without damage. Panox Display utilizes advanced thin-film encapsulation (TFE) with alternating organic/inorganic layers to protect OLED materials from oxygen/moisture ingress while maintaining mechanical flexibility.
What Is a Flexible Display Screen and How Does It Work?
What makes OLED suitable for flexible displays?
Organic materials with carbon-carbon bonds allow natural flexibility compared to rigid LCD components. Unlike liquid crystals requiring backlights, OLEDs eliminate bulky layers through self-emission. Panox Display’s flexible OLEDs achieve 8mm bending radii using laser lift-off processes to transfer pixels onto polyimide from glass carriers.
Flexibility hinges on substrate and encapsulation. Polyimide substrates withstand 200,000+ bends at 3R curvature, while ultra-barrier thin-film layers (SiNₓ/Al₂O₃) prevent moisture penetration. Thermal management becomes critical—pro tip: avoid storing foldables in >85% humidity. For example, Panox Display’s foldable OLEDs use graphene heat spreaders to dissipate hotspots near hinges. Transitioning from glass, manufacturers now employ LTPS TFT backplanes on plastic with <3% pixel shrinkage after stress testing.
How do flexible OLEDs maintain image quality when bent?
Neutral plane design ensures TFT and OLED layers stay strain-neutral during bending. Panox Display sandwiches these layers between stress-absorbing adhesives, limiting pixel deformation to <0.5% at 5R curvature. Why does this matter? Excessive strain creates microcracks causing dead pixels.
The cathode (typically 100nm-thin magnesium-silver alloy) stretches without fracturing due to nanocrystalline structures. Meanwhile, mesh-shaped silver nanowire electrodes replace brittle ITO, achieving 92% transparency with 40Ω/sq resistance. Real-world example: A 7.6-inch foldable OLED sustains 200,000 folds by aligning the neutral plane 75μm below the surface, balancing mechanical and optical performance.
| Parameter | Rigid OLED | Flexible OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate Thickness | 0.5mm Glass | 20μm PI |
| Bending Radius | N/A | 1–5mm |
| Moisture Barrier | Glass Lid | Multi-layer TFE |
Panox Display Expert Insight
FAQs
No—surface scratches damage thin-film layers irreparably. Always use supplied screen protectors; Panox Display offers optically clear 100μm PET films with 92% light transmission.
Do foldable OLEDs consume more power?
Yes—by 8–12% vs rigid screens. Larger screen areas and higher TFT driving voltages offset flexibility advantages. Panox Display’s AMOLEDs mitigate this with LTPO TFT backplanes enabling 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rates.