We discuss graphene as transparent OLED electrodes with the Fraunhofer FEP

A few days ago we reported that the Fraunhofer Institute FEP will demonstrate an OLED device with a graphene-based electrode, as part of project GLADIATOR. The researchers hope that the graphene will enable devices that are highly flexible and stable. The CVD-produced monolayer graphene was produced by Graphenea, and the project that will run until April 2017 aims to produce larger demonstrators.

We had the good chance of talking to Beatrice Beyer, the project’s coordinator at the Fraunhofer Institute, and she was kind enough to answer a few questions we had regarding the project and the technology they develop.

Q: Beatrice, thanks for your time. Can you explain to us how the graphene compares to ITO as an OLED electrode?

For the time being, the optoelectronic performance of graphene as a transparent electrode is still not as good as for the mature ‘industry standard’ ITO, but the performance and production technologies are continuously improving and we are optimistic that soon graphene based devices will reliably compete with ITO based on performance.