Chromium-Iron Display Substrate Surface Composition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display substrates face challenges with stress reduction, crack prevention, and pattern formation due to over-etching and corrosion issues during the photolithography process.

Innovation Solution

A display substrate with a base material containing chromium and iron, where the surface portion has a higher chromium-to-iron ratio than the central portion, is used to prevent over-etching and corrosion, thereby ensuring precise pattern formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a surface oxide layer is formed on the substrate through natural oxidation, then the substrate gains initial corrosion protection, but the surface oxide layer is over-etched during photolithography, causing adhesion deterioration and crevice corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidpattern formation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a dual-layer oxide structure where the lower layer (first oxide layer) provides corrosion protection and the upper layer (second oxide layer) serves as a photosensitive layer for precise pattern formation. Each layer has different thickness and composition characteristics optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between corrosion resistance and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by forming a composite oxide structure with two distinct layers having different properties. The first oxide layer contains higher metal content for corrosion resistance, while the second oxide layer has lower metal content and higher oxygen content for photosensitivity. This composite structure allows simultaneous achievement of both corrosion protection and precise pattern formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If pattern grooves or pattern holes are formed in the substrate to reduce stress, then stress is minimized and crack occurrence is suppressed, but the substrate structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress resistanceVSAvoidsubstrate structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the substrate into multiple functional layers including the base substrate, first oxide layer, and second oxide layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the base substrate provides mechanical strength while the oxide layers provide corrosion protection and pattern formation capability, thereby managing complexity through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the dual-layer oxide structure on the substrate before the photolithography process. This preliminary preparation ensures that when patterns are later formed, the substrate already has optimized stress distribution and corrosion protection, preventing cracks and deformations during subsequent processing and use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the surface oxide layer is etched during photolithography to form patterns, then patterns are created on the substrate, but adhesion between the photosensitive material and surface oxide layer deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern formation capabilityVSAvoidadhesion strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions with different oxide layer characteristics. The lower oxide layer maintains high metal content for strong adhesion and corrosion resistance, while the upper oxide layer has reduced metal content and increased oxygen content to enhance photosensitivity and etchability, thereby enabling pattern formation without compromising adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the optimized dual-layer oxide structure before photolithography. The second oxide layer is specifically designed with lower metal content to facilitate controlled etching and pattern formation, while the first oxide layer remains intact to maintain adhesion, thus preparing the substrate in advance for successful patterning without adhesion deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The controlled composition of the surface portion enhances corrosion resistance, prevents adhesion deterioration, and allows for smooth etching processes, resulting in improved reliability and durability of the display substrate.

Implementation Method 1

the surface portion has a higher chromium-to-iron ratio than the central portion, is used to prevent over-etching and corrosion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorrosion resistance: Crevice Corrosion

Data Source

PatentUS20250078690A1Substrate for display
Publication Date: 2025.03.06 LG INNOTEK CO LTD
  • US20250078690A1 patent drawing
  • US20250078690A1 patent drawing
  • US20250078690A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A display substrate according to the embodiment includes a base material containing chromium and iron, wherein the base material includes a surface portion and a central portion, the surface portion is defined as a depth region from a surface of the base material to a depth of 5 nm in a thickness direction of the base material, and a ratio of chromium atoms to iron atoms (Cr/Fe) of the surface portion is greater than that of the central portion.