Ignacy Giżyński
LG Display has announced a breakthrough in OLED technology, presenting the world's first panel using blue phosphorescent PHOLED material. This achievement has realised full phosphorescence for all three primary colours: red, green, and blue, significantly increasing the energy efficiency of OLED displays.
OLEDs finally without a weak link!
The blue pixel – small but stubborn. For years it has been the Achilles' heel of OLED screens. While the red and green have long switched to more efficient phosphorescence, the blue has remained stuck in technological past, eating up energy and shortening the screen’s lifespan. But LG says: enough of that.
The Korean giant has announced that it has created the world’s first working blue PHOLED – a pixel that finally combines the power of phosphorescence with durability. What does this mean? Less power, brighter colours, and screens that will last more than just a few seasons of Netflix. This isn’t a small step for pixels – it’s a huge leap for the entire OLED market.
When will we see this technology in devices?
LG does not intend to hide this innovation away – the first panels with blue PHOLED will be showcased on May 11 at SID Display Week 2025 in San Jose. To start, the technology will be found in smartphones, tablets, and laptops – where every percent of battery saving makes a difference. But this is just the beginning.
Ultimately, PHOLED is also set to reach large displays, like televisions. The issue with blue pixels was that they wore out faster, causing the image quality to diminish over time. Thanks to the use of phosphorescence instead of fluorescence, the new panels could simply be more durable and stable over time.
Collaboration with Universal Display Corporation
Behind all this commotion is a duo: LG Display and Universal Display Corporation. If UDC doesn't ring a bell – they have been tinkering with phosphorescent materials for OLEDs for years. Back in 2022, they mentioned having a stable blue material... but as often happens with "we've got it!" in the tech world, a bit of time passed from theory to real-world implementation.
Now, however, it seems they've nailed the topic. LG took this material and built a functioning panel out of it, combining phosphorescence with a fluorescent layer in a so-called tandem structure. The result? A blue pixel that finally isn’t a one-hit wonder.
