Chemists Ching Wan Tang, Ph.D., and Steven A. Van Slyke of Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, N.Y., were honored June 26 by the world's largest scientific society for improving organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology, which is being used to develop flat-panel displays. They received one of two 2001 Industrial Innovation Awards at the American Chemical Society's Northeast regional meeting in Durham, N.H.
"Materials and chemistry are at the heart of this new technology — a clear example of the ubiquitous central role of chemistry in new 'electronic' technologies," said Henry J. Gysling, a research associate at Eastman Kodak Company.
Tang and Van Slyke's landmark research has led to a worldwide pursuit of OLED technology for flat-panel display applications — from today's cellular telephones to tomorrow's digital cameras and DVD players. The technology developed by Tang and Van Slyke consists of a stack of organic layers — thinner than a wavelength of green light — sandwiched between a transparent anode and a metallic diode. OLEDs operate by converting electrical energy to light.
OLED displays have many advantages over the liquid crystal displays (LCDs) used in many flat computer screens today. Since OLEDs are self-illuminating, they don't use environmentally undesirable mercury lamps for backlighting. Unlike traditional TV screens and LCDs, OLED pixels turn "on" and "off," requiring less power. OLEDs also offer a wide viewing angle — and there's no limit on the pixel count, resolution or size of the display.
The American Chemical Society's Industrial Innovation Awards recognize individuals and teams whose discoveries and inventions contribute to the commercial success of their companies and enhance our quality of life.
Ching Wan Tang, Ph.D., is a senior research associate at Eastman Kodak Company. He received his B.S. in chemistry from the University of British Columbia in 1970 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Cornell University in 1975. He resides in Rochester, N.Y.
Steven A. Van Slyke is a research associate at Eastman Kodak Company. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College in 1978 and his M.S. in materials science from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1988. He resides in Pittsford, N.Y.