Toward a better screen
Harvard University researchers have designed more than 1,000 new blue-light-emitting molecules for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that could dramatically improve displays for televisions, phones, tablets, and more. OLED screens use organic molecules that emit light when an electric current is applied. Unlike the ubiquitous liquid crystal displays (LCDs), OLED screens don’t require a backlight, meaning the display can be as thin and flexible as a sheet of plastic. Individual pixels can be switched on or off, dramatically improving the screen’s color contrast and energy consumption. OLEDs are already replacing LCDs in high-end consumer devices, but a lack of stable and efficient blue materials has made them less competitive in large displays such as televisions. The interdisciplinary team of Harvard researchers, in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Samsung, developed a large-scale, computer-driven screening process called the Molecular Space Shuttle that incorporates theoretical and experimental chemistry, machine learning, and cheminformatics to...