(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – LG Display, the South Korean display technology giant, announced on Sunday its successful development of the world’s first stretchable display with an industry-leading elongation rate of up to 50 per cent. This significant advancement comes after five years of dedicated research and was revealed at an industry event held at LG Science Park in Seoul on Friday.
The newly developed prototype boasts a 12-inch screen that can stretch up to 18 inches while maintaining high-definition resolution at 100 pixels per inch and full RGB color. This achievement more than doubles the previous elongation rate of 20 per cent seen in its 2022 prototype, setting a new benchmark in display technology.
Described as the “ultimate display technology,” stretchable screens offer unparalleled versatility, capable of stretching, folding, and twisting into various shapes. LG Display noted that with the enhanced elongation rate, the latest prototype positions the company at the forefront of innovative display solutions.
Yoon Soo-young, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of LG Display, emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering a sustainable future for display technologies: “We will continue to build a sustainable future display ecosystem through close cooperation with industry, academia, and research stakeholders.”
The research project, initiated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2020, involved LG Display leading a collaborative effort with 19 participating research institutes. Initially, the project aimed for an elongation rate of 20 per cent, but breakthroughs in new technologies enabled the team to surpass this goal. Key innovations included a specially engineered silicon material substrate, inspired by contact lenses, and an advanced wiring diagram technology.
The prototype is designed for repeated use, withstanding over 10,000 stretches while maintaining performance. The use of micro-LEDs, each up to 40 micrometers, ensures image clarity even under extreme conditions such as temperature fluctuations and physical impact.
At the unveiling event, LG Display showcased various potential applications for the stretchable technology, including a curved automotive display operable by touch and a wearable display integrated into firefighters’ gear, offering real-time information.
Stretchable displays are lightweight, thin, and adaptable to irregularly shaped surfaces such as clothing and skin. LG Display anticipates that this technology will find widespread applications across industries, including fashion, wearables, and mobility solutions.
