Flexible, stretchable, rubbery OLED prototype shown off in Tokyo

Electrical engineering researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a flexible, stretchable OLED that acts something like rubber, and does not tear or break when stretched. The material is produced by spraying a layer of carbon nanotubes with a fluoro-rubber compound, creating a rubbery, conducive material. The current, monochrome display prototype has a resolution of just 256 pixels, is 10-centimeters square, and can apparently be folded about 1,000 times with out falling apart, tearing, or imploding. The team is presenting its findings in the British science journal Nature Materials this month.

[Via Slashgear]

[PrivateFlank Posted May 11th 2009 11:59AM]

First Bitches... Hahahaha

Low rank me and die tommorrow morning.... HaHaha

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 11:59AM]

troll

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 11:59AM]

first. meh. folding 1000 times is somewhat impressive i guess...wait, didnt mythbusters prove you cant fold a piece of paper more than 7 times? no matter how big it is even...

[glennS Posted May 11th 2009 12:18PM]

I think meant folding and unfolding 1000 times.

[RiDK Posted May 11th 2009 12:19PM]

I believe the 1000 times = 1000 cycles. The 7 times on Mythbusters has to do with folds on a single sheet. Not repetition.

[beavertank Posted May 11th 2009 12:22PM]

I would guess that's more a measure of projected survivability than number of concurrent folds (as in any one place can take being folded 1000 times before failing).

Also, I wouldn't take anything mythbusters does as proof of anything. Except that jackasses with some money enjoy blowing things up.

[rlynd3 Posted May 11th 2009 1:00PM]

Ummm, I think that was a rhetorical question / joke... but hey, ruining punchlines with literal transitions is fun?.. ;)

[blooop Posted May 11th 2009 12:10PM]

wow, that looks really cool! I can't wait for them to shrink the pixels a bit.

[Mr Blue Posted May 11th 2009 12:13PM]

ooooooooh.. shinyyyy..

[J Acheson Posted May 11th 2009 12:15PM]

I foresee glowy TRON tires on future cars.

[glennS Posted May 11th 2009 12:18PM]

That was my first though when I saw the pictures. Good call.

[Shenyue Posted May 11th 2009 3:41PM]

"OLED that acts something like rubber"
YESSS

[rento Posted May 11th 2009 4:30PM]

That would be awesome for the first 2 second and then it will be inevitably redneck....

[jfalkingham Posted May 11th 2009 12:27PM]

11th!

[jfalkingham Posted May 11th 2009 12:28PM]

I mean 12th.... oh wait.. sh*t

[VS Dude Posted May 11th 2009 12:45PM]

I predict we'll see this show up in the clothing and/or accessories industry soon enough. This would also make for some really cool wallpaper - in the right venue.

[whormongr Posted May 11th 2009 1:00PM]

regular oled is fine for wallpaper and more colorful- this would be great for things that are curved or have to flex like a dome covering or car decals and stuff that would be pretty neat

[darkmax Posted May 11th 2009 1:01PM]

It is cool and all but what is a practical application? A wrist-worn touchscreen device?

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 1:27PM]

Quit making OLED prototypes and start making OLEDs already. Every week, a new prototype. Nothing more.

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 1:31PM]

Of course! Always with the nanotubes!

[Raul7 Posted May 11th 2009 1:34PM]

I think that by now everyone got the idea that OLED can do everything...
So how about making some useful products that use it?

[Gorilla800lbs Posted May 11th 2009 1:34PM]

I predict this stretchable, bendable, rubbery type of substance will be used to make condoms. Simple glow-in-the-dark condoms are so 1980's! It's about time the technology caught up with times to provide the solutions for interactive artwork and signage in such important sector of healthcare and hygiene.

I'll leave you to dwell on the implications.

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 2:07PM]

The read link should be http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20090511p2a00m0na020000c.html - same page, but translated to English by Mainichi themselves

[Hazman Posted May 11th 2009 2:58PM]

Anyone up for a game of 16x16 Pong on it, while it is wrapped around an actual tennis ball being used in a game of tennis?

[Fox Dude Posted May 11th 2009 3:38PM]

Is that the new Gucci OLED purse? OMG!

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 4:04PM]

mediatronic condoms comes to mind...

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 5:10PM]

Come on. E-book that you can stuff in your pocket. E-book that you can unfold like a newspaper. An e-book reader that you can drop on the floor without shattering. The ultimate reader. And it only gets better from here.