Sol–gel synthesized siloxane hybrid materials for display and optoelectronic applications

Abstract

Recently, displays and optoelectronics have made remarkable development because they are the most frequently exposed applications to humanity. The pixel size has become smaller and a new form factor is needed for displays and optoelectronics beyond rigid ones. New material breakthroughs enabling new form factors with plastic-like flexibility, mechanical toughness as well as glass-like thermal/mechanical resistance and low thermal expansion are required. Sol–gel-derived siloxane hybrid material (Hybrimer), showing synergetic properties of organic and inorganic (O–I) materials, can be realized by chemical hybridization and dense O–I co-networks. In addition, the characteristics of hybrimer can be easily optimized via control of organic functional groups, sol–gel reaction, and polymerization steps. First, a sol–gel reaction and polymerization, which enables chemical hybridization of O–I groups, are introduced. Then, the various display and optoelectronic applications using hybrimer achieved by control of properties are provided: (i) patterning, (ii) passivation, (iii) glass-fabric reinforced film, and (iv) color conversion films. This paper includes a brief overview of fabrication process and applications using hybrimer developed over the past decades.