Recent progress, challenges, and opportunities in 2D materials for flexible displays

Abstract

Emerging trends in flexible electronics have led to the creation of novel foldable, rollable, and stretchy displays to maintain their functionality under diverse deformations. However, in order to produce flexible devices, it is necessary to develop novel materials with desired metallic, semiconducting, or insulating properties while maintaining flexibility. Emerging two-dimensional materials like hexagonal boron nitride, graphene, and transition metal dichalcogenides have recently received a lot of scientific interest due to their remarkable optical, electrical, and mechanical characteristics, which make them ideal for flexible electronics. This review summarizes the most recent developments in scalable synthesis of various 2D materials and their application in flexible displays. Initially, the rising demand for flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays is discussed. Next, a detailed synopsis is provided on the state of the art and potential utilization of different 2D materials in flexible emissive films, encapsulation layers, thin film transistors and flexible transparent electrodes for OLED displays. Then, a comparison of advantages and disadvantages of different 2D materials for different applications is provided. Finally, the challenges encountered, possible solutions and perspective future research directions are furnished for exploring 2D materials in advanced flexible display applications.