USDC Awards Plextronics Phase II of $1.8 Million Contract to Expand Plexcore™ HIL Development for OLED Displays

SAN JOSE, CA and PITTSBURGH, PA – February 7, 2007 – The U.S. Display Consortium (USDC), an industry-led public/private partnership providing a common forum for flat panel display manufacturers and developers, FPD users and the supplier base , and Plextronics SM a world leader in developing and delivering active layer technology for printed electronic devices, announced today that Plextronics has received Phase II funding of a $1.8 million contract.  This contract supports the continued development of Plexcore™ technology to increase the lifetime and efficiency of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays. The USDC and Plextronics will continue to share the costs associated with the project. The objective of Phase II is to expand Plexcore HIL development to enable commercial performance of small molecule organic light emitting diode (SMOLED) displays. 

During Phase I, Plextronics increased the lifetime and efficiency of OLEDs utilizing commercial polymeric emitters (PLED) with Plexcore HIL. This resulted in Plexcore HIL devices exhibiting greater than 4X the operating lifetime compared to devices made with current commercial hole injection layer (HIL) materials. As a result of this project, Plexcore HIL for OLEDs is currently in qualification with a leading Asian display manufacturer.

The goal for Phase II is commercial ready solution processed HIL formulations specifically designed for SMOLED displays. This project will provide a necessary component for rapid commercialization of high performing SMOLED displays via inexpensive solution processing methods. These results will ultimately improve the Plexcore HIL technology for all solution processed based OLEDs

Our goal for Phase I was to improve the performance of polymeric OLED displays, and this was achieved with Plexcore HIL. The USDC is very impressed with the breadth and depth of knowledge that the Plextronics’ team brought to the project and their ability to ‘turn the knobs’ within the active layer technology to optimize the efficiency and lifetime of OLED displays. Plexcore technology will assist in driving the commercialization of OLED displays,” stated Dr. Bob Pinnel CTO of the USDC.

“We would like to thank the USDC and its member companies for their support and assistance during Phase I. Their insights were invaluable. The end result is a product ready to be commercialized. We look forward to achieving the same results with Plexcore for SMOLED devices,” explained Andrew Hannah, President and CEO of Plextronics.

The USDC R&D program is a collaborative effort of private industry and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, located in Adelphi, MD.

About the U.S. Display Consortium
The USDC is an industry-led public/private partnership providing a common platform for flexible electronics and display manufacturers, developers, integrators and the supplier base. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the consortium’s primary mission is to fund supply-chain projects and share the results with member companies. The USDC provides a communication channel among industry, government and financial communities for flexible electronics and display industry issues; sponsors conferences and workshops to broaden the impact of technological developments; and educates consumers on the importance of flexible electronics and displays in providing access to information technology. More information can be found at www.usdc.org

About Plextronics
Plextronics, Inc. is a world leader in developing and delivering active layer technology for printed electronic devices - OLED displays and lighting, polymer solar cells and plastic circuitry.  Active layer technology is the printed conductors and semiconductors that drive device performance. Plextronics has unsurpassed control of polymer design and ink formulation, as well as an intimate understanding of device physics and its impact on device performance.  This knowledge is applied to the creation of Plexcore™ technology, which is specifically designed for each application to maximize device efficiency and operating lifetime in a cost effective manner. In 2006, Plextronics received the following recognition: The Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards Runner-Up, the Organic Semiconductor Industry Awards Start-Up of the Year, A Top 50 Nanotechnology Start-Up by Lux Research, and NREL Clean Energy Entrepreneur of the Year. For additional information, please visit www.plextronics.com.

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