TADF: the technology beyond the display industry
Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is a process where a molecule in a non-emissive excited state absorbs surrounding thermal energy, allowing it to change states and subsequently emit light[1]. While TADF is widely recognized for its role in producing more efficient and vibrant displays, its applications extend far beyond this field. Not everyone knows that TADF is making a significant impact outside the display industry. From advancing lighting systems and medical diagnostics to enhancing solar energy capture, TADF materials are set to revolutionize multiple industries.
1. Advanced lighting solutions
TADF materials are playing an important role in the development of next-generation, more efficient and environmentally friendly OLED lighting offering longer lifespans compared to traditional lighting sources. These materials can produce high-efficiency white light with excellent color rendering, making them ideal for indoor and outdoor lighting solutions.
It is not only the parameters that are an advantage of lighting using TADF materials. Other advantage is the versatility of the shapes – a flat and flexible panel made using TADF can be bent into almost any shape, and this means huge application possibilities, from marketing applications to cars, consumer electronics and much more.
2. Biomedicine and nanomedicine
Another promising application of TADF is in the field of biomedicine, including bioimaging, sensing and nanomedicine[2]. In the case of those types of applications, not only a small singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST) but also exceptional photophysical properties, structural flexibility, and absence of metal in the emitter structure, which reduces the health risks, are reasons why TADF compounds are under great scrutiny in those areas.3
In bioimaging, TADF can provide high-resolution, real-time imaging, which is crucial for medical diagnostics and research. The long-lived fluorescence of TADF materials also allows for longer observation times, providing more detailed data.
3. Photovoltaics and energy harvesting
TADF materials are being explored for their potential in photovoltaic devices. In one of the studies[3], researchers developed a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) device using TADF dyes for the first time to enhance sunlight harvesting efficiency. Photovoltaic testing revealed that the leading device achieved an optical conversion efficiency (ηopt) of 10.4% and a power conversion efficiency (ηPCE) of 2.2%. Furthermore, the TADF dyes exhibited exceptional resistance to photodegradation, indicating their potential for long-term application in LSCs. The findings suggest that TADF dye-based LSCs could be a promising approach for efficient and cost-effective solar energy generation.
Noctiluca & TADF development
Also Noctiluca develops TADF technology. Our R&D efforts are not only focused on enhancing display technologies but also on expanding the use of TADF into new and exciting applications, from advanced lighting solutions to medical technologies.
SOURCE
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermally_activated_delayed_fluorescence
[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202102970
[3] https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/ta/c9ta13312