The combination of electroluminescence (EL) and textiles promises a new era in ambient lighting and display technology. In our new QL-Tex project, we aim to enhance the performance and versatility of EL textiles through the use of colloidal quantum dots (QDs).

EL devices have already established themselves as robust and thin displays and are increasingly used in the field of ambient lighting. However, research is now looking to transfer this technology to textile or other flexible and stretchable substrates to exploit the tactile quality and flexibility of the substrates.

The new project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), focuses on the integration of QDs into EL devices on textile substrates. The use of QDs promises an extended color palette and an increase in performance, which has already been demonstrated in research e.g. on QLEDs and LECs. The successful AC excitation of QDs has already delivered promising results.

The main objectives of the project are to investigate the use of colloidal QDs in EL devices to increase performance and extend the color range, and to develop white-luminous textiles by implementing red-luminous QDs. The excitation mechanisms of the quantum dots in the devices will be investigated in order to achieve a significant reduction in the operating voltages of EL textiles.

All steps of the project will be carried out using a state-of-the-art inert gas glovebox system, which is also funded by the DFG (FE-Tex), to ensure optimal conditions for the production of the materials and processing.