Researchers from Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University have developed an AI-based platform capable of designing chemical materials that increase the lifespan of QLED displays by more than 40 times.
The researchers pointed out that QLED screens are among the most promising display technologies thanks to their bright colors and energy efficiency. Their manufacturing method is based on "liquid deposition" technology, where a thin layer of quantum dots is applied to the substrate surface. The image quality depends largely on the uniformity of the distribution of these dots in the thin layer.
The researchers explained that the search for the ideal solvent for the manufacturing process was done through trial and error, which required expensive costs and numerous laboratory experiments, given the inability to predict the effect of the liquid properties on the final structure of the layer. To overcome this obstacle, they trained an intelligent system to recognize the relationship between the properties of solvents (such as vapor pressure, viscosity, and density) and the structure of the resulting film, relying on atomic microscopy data that measure the surface roughness after the mixture evaporates. Thus, the algorithms worked in reverse, so instead of predicting the result based on the components, they determined the precise physical specifications that the optimal solvent must have to obtain a perfectly smooth surface.
Since no single standard solvent had these integrated specifications, the team blended several components according to AI guidance. When this complex mix was applied in the actual production line, the efficiency of the devices improved by about double, while their lifespan increased by more than 40 times.
Researchers are currently planning to adapt this method to other electronic materials, which will help accelerate the development of new technologies and eliminate the need for thousands of costly physics experiments.
