Developing printable droplet laser displays

Tsukuba, Japan (SPX) Jan 10, 2025
Displays for televisions, computers, and smartphones continue to evolve with advancements in picture quality, clarity, and energy efficiency. Laser displays are anticipated to lead the next wave of innovation, particularly due to their superior brightness and color reproducibility. These attributes enable laser displays to overcome the inherent limitations of current technologies such as OLEDs and liquid crystals. To realize this potential, however, the components must be significantly miniaturized and arranged in high density.

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a novel approach by utilizing droplets of a specific organic liquid that emit laser light when ejected via an inkjet printer. These droplets, measuring a mere 30 micrometers in diameter, can be densely arranged across areas as large as several centimeters. By applying an electric field to a droplet positioned between electrodes, the spherical shape of the droplet deforms into an ellipsoidal configuration, causing the laser light emission to halt. This effect demonstrates that the droplet operates as an electrically switchable "laser pixel."

Moreover, the team successfully controlled the laser emission of individual droplets within a 2+ 3 array, showcasing the feasibility of independently managing laser pixels. This development represents a key step toward integrating these droplet-based microlasers into future commercial display technologies. Continued refinement of the electrical configuration and laser performance is expected to further accelerate the practical application of these innovations in the consumer electronics market.

Research Report:Optically Pumped and Electrically Switchable Microlaser Array Based on Elliptic Deformation and Q-attenuation of Organic Droplet Oscillators