Unlike liquid crystal devices, light-emitting polymer displays require no backlight, which could ultimately lead to more efficient, thinner, lighter-weight displays. Images also are reportedly of higher quality, even at wide viewing angles. There are still problems related to operating life, though. Now, UK-based Cambridge Display Technology has more than tripled the lifetime of its blue light-emitting polymer research devices to 11,000 hours.

According to CEO David Fyfe, the blue material is key to providing full color capability in televisions, personal computing devices and other mobile consumer electronic products. While further work is necessary, he credits gains so far to advances in material formulation, deposition processes and device structures.