Field-emitting polymers promise better flat-panel displays

17 Jun 2002

Researchers at the UK's University of Liverpool have forged links with Akhter Computer Ltd, a UK-based computer assembler, to develop polymer-based field-emitters for flat-panel displays.

The research team, led by Bill Eccleston of the electronic engineering department, has demonstrated that conjugated polymers give a high level of field-emission at low voltages and so promise low-cost flat-panel displays.

In addition to emitting electrons, the researchers are also developing transistors based on the same semiconducting polymers, polyalkylthiophenes, by modifying the simple fabrication process slightly. They hope that the transistors will be embedded within the layer of field-emitting polymers.

Akhter's chief executive, Humayun Mughal, is a former student of Eccleston and the company has been interested in the polymer research for about two years. The university recently licensed its patented field-emission technology to Akhter and is in the process of negotiating a licence for the circuitry.

Eccleston explained that the Liverpool researchers have focused on field-emitting polymers rather than light-emitting polymers because he believes that this could produce better-quality displays.

The next stage for this research is to develop masks so that displays can be fabricated. The displays will be demonstrated at Liverpool prior to manufacture and the group plans to have a full working display in two years time.

SH