The FLINGO project: an international team of experts is improving the properties of LEDs

Osram Opto Semiconductors is coordinating the project with four partners from industry and research

In view of the growing demands placed on the electrical, optical and thermal functionality of LEDs, more and more attention is being paid to research into new material properties. The purpose of the FLINGO project is therefore to develop new materials (layers in particular) and processes to improve the characteristics of LEDs, such as efficiency and durability. The intention is to maintain and improve market leadership in innovative LED products. As the project coordinator, Osram Opto Semiconductors is working since February 2017 with renowned universities, research institutes and companies. The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research is sponsoring the FLINGO project (Functional Inorganic Layers for Next Generation Optical Devices) as part of the M-ERA.NET EU initiative.

In the course of the FLINGO project different deposition methods for thin films such as atomic layer deposition, spray pyrolysis and the sol gel process for manufacturing high-quality LED light sources are to be investigated and combined. Under the leadership of Dr. David O’Brien from Osram Opto Semiconductors, the project partners will be working on the entire bandwidth of new component properties – including extended lifetime, smaller electrical layer resistance and improved light extraction. These require new materials and innovative or adapted deposition processes. “The project objectives can only be achieved with the assistance of a broad-based consortium because they call for improvements, new developments and especially expert know-how across the entire value added chain”, explained O’Brien.

Interdisciplinary expertise from five project partners

The members of the FLINGO project in addition to Osram Opto Semiconductors as the coordinator are Uninova from the New University of Lisbon, the Finnish thin film technology company Picosun Oy, the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg and Vilnius University. Fraunhofer ISC provides support with its know-how in the development of new inorganic layer systems which are to be used as the matrix for sensitive converter materials. Uninova adds its expertise in the manufacture of highly transparent and highly conductive layers which are needed for the p-contact in the LEDs. Picosun Oy is developing atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes and new materials to ensure conformal coating of even heavily structured surfaces. The Institute for Applied Research at Vilnius University provides specialist knowledge in the development and characterization of non-destructive material properties and will analyze the new layers and layer systems developed in the FLINGO project. As an end user of the technologies developed in FLINGO, Osram Opto Semiconductors will ultimately transfer the new thin layers and layer systems to its LEDs to test them for their suitability for the mass market. “The results of the project should lead to highly efficient and durable white light LEDs with possible applications in general lighting for example”, added O’Brien. “Our intention here is to improve our competitiveness and that of European industry in this field.”

FLINGO will be sponsored throughout its intended duration until January 2020 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the M-ERA.NET EU program. M.ERA.NET is an EU-financed network set up to support the coordination of European research projects. You can find more information on M.ERA.NET here: ttps://m-era.net/