Quantum Dot Color Film Substrate Fabrication via Inkjet Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TFT-LCDs face challenges in achieving high brightness and color saturation due to complex processes and material limitations, particularly with indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, which are scarce and expensive, and cannot accommodate curved surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method of fabricating a quantum dot color film substrate using inkjet printing to form a color filter layer with quantum dots and an epoxy resin system, followed by a graphene conductive layer to enhance adhesion and replace ITO, allowing for improved brightness, color saturation, and flexibility in display design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional yellow light lithography is used to form RGB color layer, then color filter can be formed, but the process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the color filter formation process from the conventional yellow light lithography process. By using quantum dot inkjet printing, the complex multi-step lithography process is replaced with a direct printing approach, removing unnecessary process steps while maintaining color filter formation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical lithography system with an inkjet printing system. Instead of using photomasks, aligners, and chemical development processes, the color filter is formed by directly printing quantum dot ink, substituting a complex mechanical-chemical process with a simpler deposition process
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional photoresist layer is used, then color filter can be formed, but backlight utilization is lower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of color filter material from conventional photoresist to quantum dot ink. Quantum dots have superior optical properties with higher quantum efficiency and narrower emission bandwidth, enabling better backlight utilization while maintaining ease of manufacture through inkjet printing
3Reliability
If ITO electrode material is used, then conductivity can be achieved, but resource scarcity and high cost occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and scarce ITO material with graphene, which is abundant, inexpensive, and can be produced through scalable methods. Graphene maintains the required electrical conductivity while eliminating the resource scarcity and high cost associated with ITO
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses graphene as a composite material to replace ITO. Graphene's unique two-dimensional structure provides both electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility, offering a superior alternative to conventional ITO while addressing resource availability concerns
4Adaptability or versatility
If ITO electrode is used, then conductivity is provided, but flexure intolerance prevents curved surface design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs graphene as a flexible thin film to replace rigid ITO electrodes. Graphene's inherent flexibility allows it to conform to curved surfaces and withstand bending without cracking or losing conductivity, enabling curved display designs while maintaining electrode performance
5Weight of moving object
If conventional materials are used, then panel can be manufactured, but thickness and weight cannot be further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses graphene as an ultra-thin conductive film to replace thicker ITO layers. Graphene's two-dimensional nature enables significant thinning of the panel structure while maintaining electrical performance, contributing to lighter and thinner displays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts inkjet printing technology to deposit quantum dot and graphene materials directly onto the substrate. This additive manufacturing approach eliminates the need for thick protective layers and complex processing steps, enabling thinner panel construction with reduced weight
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
This approach increases brightness and color saturation, addresses the scarcity and cost of ITO, and enables the production of thinner, lighter, and curved TFT-LCD panels with enhanced conductivity and transmittance.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the less diameter of QDs, less than or close to exciton Bohr radius of corresponding bulk material produces quantum confinement effect, continuous band structure of the bulk material will be converted into discrete energy level structure, and electrons transition and fluorescence emission will occur in excitation of external light
Implementation Method 2
the quantum ink at least has an ink of epoxy resin system, when the ink of epoxy resin system is yet cured, a graphene conductive layer is formed thereon to act as an electrode, so that a greatly improved adhesion of the graphene conductive layer and the color filter layer can be obtained
Implementation Method 3
Graphene is a novel carbon nanomaterial, which is a monolayer network structure composed of carbon molecules, and has characteristics of good electron conductivity, low impedance, high transmittance
Implementation Method 4
performing formation of the ink by inkjet printing, to obtain a color filter layer
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a method of fabricating a quantum dot color film substrate, red and green quantum dots are respectively formulating into red and green quantum dot inks, then formation is performed by an inkjet printing, and a color filter layer is obtained, thereby brightness and color saturation of displays can be increased; simultaneously, the red quantum dot ink and the green quantum dot ink at least have an ink of epoxy resin system therein, when the ink of epoxy resin system is yet cured, a graphene conductive layer is formed thereon to act as an electrode, so that a greatly improved adhesion of the graphene conductive layer and the color filter layer can be obtained. Additionally, to replace ITO by utilizing graphene as a conductive layer can alleviate current issues of few ITO sources and increasing price, and the graphene has conductivity and high transmittance that make display quality of TFT-LCD screen be guaranteed, and an overall thinned and lightened panel be achieved. Such design helps increasing conductivity and integrating benefits, and also has very great application prospect in curved panel market.