High performance color filters improve the brilliancy of liquid crystal ...

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High performance color filters improve the brilliancy of liquid crystal displays Dr. Hans Reichert Head of Colorants Research, BASF Schweiz AG, Basel BASF Research Press Conference on May 27, 2014 A closer look at a full color liquid crystal display 2

Transcript of High performance color filters improve the brilliancy of liquid crystal ...

Page 1: High performance color filters improve the brilliancy of liquid crystal ...

High performance color filters improve the brilliancy of liquid crystal displaysDr. Hans Reichert Head of Colorants Research, BASF Schweiz AG, Basel

BASF Research Press Conference on May 27, 2014

A closer look at a full color liquid crystal display

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Cross-section of a display

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Color filtersProtective layer

PhotospacerAlignment layer

Thin film transistorsGlass substrate

Polarizer

Backlight

Reflective film

Polarizer

Diffusion film

Liquid crystalsAlignment layer

Glass substrate

Liquid crystals as a light switchIlluminated state

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Liquid crystals align with a helicaltwist between predefinedalignment layers

Non-polarized backlight ispolarized by first polarization filter

Polarization plane of the lightis twisted while passing throughthe liquid crystals

Light with twisted polarizationplane can pass throughsecond polarizer

Display is illuminated

Alignment layer

Alignment layer

Liquid crystals

Polarizer

Polarizer

Non-polarized white backlight

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Liquid crystals as a light switch Dark state

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V

Alignment layer

Alignment layer

Liquid crystals

Polarizer

Polarizer

Non-polarized white backlight

Applying a voltage betweenthe alignment layers causesthe liquid crystals to stand upright

Polarized light passesthrough liquid crystal cellwithout being twisted

Light cannot passsecond polarizer

Display is dark

Backlight

Close-up of a pixel

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Each pixel is made of subpixels withred, green and blue color filters

Each color filter is connectedto a cell of liquid crystals to control theamount of light that can pass through

Polarizer

Thin film transistor

Color filter

PolarizerGlass

Transparent electrode

GlassLiquid crystals

Crystals can scatter and depolarizethe light and cause light leakage

The smaller the crystals the lower the scattering and the better the display

Scattered light

Light leakage

Higher brightness Higher brilliancy Higher contrast ratio

Minimizing scattering leads to

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Development of red color filter grades

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paint grade not usable for color filter applications due to low contrast ratio

first color filter grade launched in 1997

launched in 2005, used in mobile, monitor and TV applications

since 2013 state of the art color filter red, used in high end TVs and tablet PCs

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1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Irgazin®

Red BOIrgaphor®

Red BT-CF Irgaphor®

Red BK-CF Irgaphor®

Red S 3621 CF

Contrast ratio

Electron microscope pictures of red color filter grades

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200 nm

Irgaphor®

Red BT-CFIrgaphor®

Red BK-CFIrgaphor®

Red S 3621 CF

[ca. 80nm]Contrast ratio: 1000

[ca. 40nm] Contrast ratio: 2500

[< 40nm]Contrast ratio > 5500

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Crystal morphology – platelet-like structures

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200 nm

NH

O

O

NH

NH

O

O

NH

NH

O

O

NH

NR

O

O

NH

Growth rate:

Hydrogen bonding

van der Waals

nonpolar

polarnonpolar

hydrogenbonds

interactions

van der Waalsinteractions

> >

From raw materials to color filters

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Dispersant, Binder

Surface treatment Photoinitiator, Monomer

Rawmaterials

Crudecolorant

Micronizedparticles

Color filter grade

Synthesis Micronization

Dispersion Resistformulation

Color filter productionby photolithography

Our contribution to LCD performanceHigher image quality (color purity, contrast, brightness) and higher productivity

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BASF Research Press Conference on May 27, 2014

NanotechnologySmall dimensions – great opportunities