Managing Director of the Merck Group in Taiwan, John Lee, said that while Apple's decision to halt its MicroLED development is significant, it might open more doors for MicroLED manufacturers in Taiwan, who are actively exploring the technology, as they are not confined to a single application anymore.
Lee also noted that despite previous expectations for automotive CID applications to shift towards OLED technology, high-contrast LCDs are now proving to be more suitable. He emphasized that maximizing a technology could lead to the proliferation of new applications.
However, Lee acknowledged that the maturation and scaling of any industry require time. MicroLED manufacturers are exploring different applications. MicroLED's high brightness, strong contrast, and long lifespan make it suitable for large-sized TVs, automotive applications, outdoor displays, and transparent screens.
Despite its potential, MicroLED faces significant challenges, mainly its high cost. Lee pointed out that initial development costs for MicroLED materials are substantial, but as applications and industry scale increase, costs are expected to decrease accordingly.
Merck at Touch Taiwan 2024: Advanced display materials
Merck's theme for Touch Taiwan 2024 is "Advancing Digital Living." The firm is highlighting its audio-visual products, automotive displays, XR applications, and MicroLED technologies.
Merck displayed a range of advanced Liquid Crystal (LC) materials that balance high resolution and energy efficiency. These included high light transmittance C-PS-VA technology, environmentally friendly SA-VA technology, and UB-FFS LCs, which offer energy efficiency, high color saturation, and high light transmittance.
For automotive displays, Merck enhances the display quality of its product with FFS LCs, which improves display contrast and light leakage in dark states. For Head-Up Displays (HUDs), Merck improved light transmittance with high-brightness HB-FFS and UB-FFS LCD technologies, creating a safer and more comfortable driving experience. Additionally, Merck offered solutions for screen transitions in the front passenger seat and sunroof LC materials that provide thermal insulation.
To address new challenges in MicroLED applications, Merck now offers customized patterning solutions, including negative tone photoresist for metal lift-off applications and white reflective layers. These materials enhance brightness and luminous efficiency.
Merck noted that the firm provides great, immersive visual experiences for XR devices with its capability to integrate semiconductor manufacturing and display technologies. The company offers microdisplays and spatial light modulators with high contrast and rapid adjustment capabilities, wide-view diffractive optical elements without color distortion, photoreactive polymer LC lens technologies, and polarized volume holographic waveguides created with photoreactive LC grating technologies. These technologies enable Merck to create lightweight devices with improved displays.
Merck has set a target to achieve global climate neutrality by 2040. The company is expanding its display materials initiatives towards sustainable development. The firm's eyrise smart LC windows equipped with the licrivision LC technology adjust light transmittance for thermal insulation. The windows are applicable in both architectural and automotive designs.
In addition, Merck has introduced digital and smart manufacturing systems in its production processes, transforming used purifiers into fire-resistant and mosaic tiles. In collaboration with its partners, the company recycles discarded polarizing films and LC test films into science education tools and repurposes waste plastics into company uniforms.
Article translated by Julie Chang
