Researchers at St. Petersburg Polytechnical University report a breakthrough in flexible displays: LEDs that stretch with the screen yet keep brightness and image fidelity. The team describes a class of ultra-expandable devices whose panels promise to be noticeably brighter than contemporary organic LEDs, and they estimate a service life near twenty years under typical consumer use. The findings came to light in a report shared with local press in St. Petersburg, highlighting a potential path from laboratory prototypes to mass-market products. The project represents a response to the growing demand for foldable, rollable, and bendable screens across smartphones, tablets, wearables, and signage. In practical terms, the researchers aim to reduce the fragility that currently limits consumer adoption of flexible displays while boosting brightness for outdoor readability and energy efficiency. The work also underscores the role of Russia’s research institutions in pursuing long-term, scalable display technologies that can compete globally. Source: St. Petersburg Polytechnical University press materials.
At the heart of the approach is a dual-elastic display architecture. The device combines two elastic LED matrices, each tuned to a distinct color spectrum, and interlinked by a pliant layer of polydimethylsiloxane. This configuration allows independent color control while maintaining a seamless, continuous surface. Each matrix uses nanocrystalline inorganic semiconductors from III-nitride families as light emitters, chosen for their robustness, efficiency, and high-temperature tolerance. The chosen materials enable spectral brightness that remains vivid when the substrate is flexed, enabling crisp color rendering over a wide operating range. The researchers emphasize that the elastic connectors and the flexible medium are engineered to prevent delamination or microcracking during bending, which is a common Achilles heel of flexible displays. The structure aims to combine mechanical resilience with electronic performance in a single, scalable platform. Source: St. Petersburg Polytechnical University press materials.
In flexible devices, the active radiation zone where recombination occurs must not deteriorate significantly when stretched. To meet this requirement, the team redesigned the charge transport layers, electrodes, and encapsulation to stay stable under repeated deformation. The new device uses elastic contacts and a resilient encapsulating matrix that accommodates strain without fracture or electrical leakage. Experimental tests showed the material could endure 15 percent strain while retaining emission efficiency, and it maintained operation through more than 500 stretching cycles without performance loss. The researchers interpret these results as a clear demonstration that flexible, expanded LEDs based on semiconductor nanomaterials can be produced without sacrificing reliability. They note that endurance beyond 500 cycles is already meaningful for many consumer applications where devices undergo daily flexing. The study also highlights the potential for scalable manufacturing, as the materials and processes used align with existing semiconductor fabrication practices. Source: St. Petersburg Polytechnical University press materials.
Compared with previous flexible display options, the polytechnic team’s invention offers greater functionality and broader application scenarios. The device supports independent voltage control for each sub-pixel, enabling true multi-color rendering and more efficient power use. Because the assembly uses elastic conductors and a flexible matrix, panels can be bent or rolled with less risk of dead zones or color shift. The bright luminance achieved by the III-nitride based emitters makes the screens legible in outdoor lighting, reducing glare and improving battery life for mobile devices. Experts estimate a potential life span of around two decades under normal usage, which could dramatically lower replacement costs and e-waste in consumer electronics, signage, and wearable technology. The design also opens doors for new form factors, from rollable televisions to curved car dashboards, broadening the market reach for domestic display innovations. Industry partners and senior researchers emphasize that this technology aligns with national programs supporting advanced nanomaterials and flexible electronics. Source: ITMO University and Skoltech collaboration statements.
Collaboration with Russia’s leading research centers supported the validation of the approach. The project teamed with ITMO University, a hub for photonics and materials science, and with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, which provides facilities for nano- and micro-scale device testing. These partnerships supply the experts, testing rigs, and environment needed to translate lab concepts into real-world prototypes. The overall effort reflects a sustained investment in flexible, robust display technologies within the Russian research ecosystem, suggesting a path toward domestic manufacturing and export opportunities for resilient, bright flexible screens. While the work remains at the experimental stage, the researchers stress that continued development could yield commercially viable modules and drive competition in the broader display market. Attribution: St. Petersburg Polytechnical University news release; ITMO University and Skoltech collaboration statements.