Organic EL Lighting All Set to Go Mainstream

摘要

Expectations are high on the idea that organic electro-luminescence (EL) lighting will become a future driving force in the lighting market along with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Promotional activities directed toward expanding the use of organic EL lightings have started. Leading lighting manufacturers are stepping up promotion of organic EL lighting applications and pushing forward with the development of products with original design, for example, products that combine organic EL lighting with LED lighting. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan forecasts that existing light sources will be gradually replaced with LED and other lightings by 2020 and that the market for organic EL lighting-specific applications will open up from around 2030. There is a growing prospect of opening up the market for new organic EL lighting applications, such as window glass lighting that takes advantage of the transparent characteristic of organic EL lighting, as well as lighting embedded in wall surfaces. There are, however, still some issues in the aspects of brightness, power efficiency, cost, and life. Because of these issues, organic EL lighting has been limited to decorative applications until now.