Organics for Electro-Optical Applications

Report Highlights

• Total market volume for the major applications/products based on organic electro-optical materials is estimated to be $4,524 million for 2001.
• By 2006, this market is expected to reach a value of $38,429 million, while rising at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 53.4%.
• Organic-based displays account for about 51% of the total market in 2001. While sales will rise at an AAGR of 52%, their share of the market will drop to 46% by 2006.
• Telecommunications and photonics applications will rise at an AAGR of 55% through period, and will account for 51% of sales in 2006.

INTRODUCTION

This BCC report covers the emerging electro-optics industry based on organic and polymeric materials. It provides a detailed discussion of the market situation and an analysis of economic parameters such as market volumes, needs and opportunities within. The report also analyzes organic-based electro-optical devices divided between current (2001) and future (2002-2006) applications in the following areas:

• displays
• telecommunications and photonics
• lasers and optics

The major goals of this study are:

• to investigate the current applications and future potential of organic and polymeric electro-optical devices based on various types of products and applications
• to characterize and analyze current and future worldwide markets for the key existing and potential applications of organic-based electro-optics
• to analyze the relative strength of various products and applications
• to identify and analyze the major industrial players actively involved in various aspects of the field of organic-based electro-optics: materials, components, devices and financial strengths
• to analyze the drawbacks of available electro-optical products based on organic and polymeric materials
• to identify current major developments relating to materials used for electro-optical devices, devices and systems
• to analyze the technology, patents, and major research and development players in the field.

This study analyzes the unique role of organic and polymeric materials in high-performance active photonic devices. Organics can be used for photonic devices both as passive elements (gratings, fibers, lenses and prisms) as well as active components (light emitting diodes, modulators, molecular switches, semiconducting lasers, plastic transistors, frequency doublers, optical memories and more).

The advantages of organic materials as building blocks for photonic devices over current alternatives, is their promise to lead to cheaper and lighter devices, greater color variety, tunability, further miniaturization and easier processing and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, organic materials have the potential for use in applications that are not accessible to conventional inorganic semiconductors.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

This study is a consequence of the fact that photonic devices fabricated from organic and polymeric materials now are gaining recognition and attention of the electro-optical industrial community. As a result, organic-based devices are currently experiencing accelerated development efforts as dictated by the telecommunications, optical storage and display markets.

Advantages of the fabrication of organic materials into electro-optical devices, as well as enormous information age market potential, have long been recognized. However, only now do these technologies appear to be reaching a critical mass as the next generation in several key technologies. Driving this trend are continuing and accelerating developments in both manufacturing process technology, including novel nano designs and fabrications, and new materials systems.

CONTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY AND FOR WHOM

This BCC report is intended to provide a broad but concise overview of the market potential and opportunities for organic and polymeric-based electro-optical devices. This will be done through analysis of organic and polymeric-based electro-optical devices, their current and potential applications, major technological developments and still existing gaps, market characteristics, major players in the field, their market strength, and potential products as well as applications. Also, a detailed patent analysis and financial survey of the main players will be provided, and major contributors will be emphasized.

The study is intended for those who are interested in:

• exploring needs with regard to efficient, compact, reliable electro-optical devices and systems that use organic and polymeric materials
• understanding market needs, especially fast-growing applications such as displays, light sources, and components for all-optical networks
• understanding the market strengths of organic-based photonic products and devices.

During the last decade, there was an explosion of information pertaining to the field. As a result, it was difficult to focus on key efforts involving promising applications and potential markets. Currently, there is a growing need to identify the main players and products in the field, to identify existing and potential applications and directions, and to assess the worldwide market potential for organic-based electro-optical related products and applications.

To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first comprehensive effort that intends to cover most of the available and potential industrial applications for organic-based electro-optics. Other recent and similar reports appear to focus on specific applications such as displays. These are, indeed, the most familiar and ready-to-market application.

This study is directed to strategic planners, marketers, forecasters, product managers, new developers and decision makers in companies that deal with materials and applications and belong in one of the following categories: the chemical and electro-optical industries, industries considered end-users of photonic devices, and research and development institutes.

This report provides a thorough analysis of present and potential markets and applications, and applications of organic and polymeric-based electro-optics. It will specifically emphasize the following:

• assessments of the main products, devices, applications and companies that are active in the field
• analyses of technological merits of the main players and their financial records
• identification of present and future applications
• specification of needs and possible solutions
• assessments of industry structure
• identification of major participants and the dynamics of the
• analyses of major technologies, products and devices
• analyses of new technological developments
• forecasts of market values per application and annual growth rates (AAGRs)
• analyses of drawbacks of current products, and needs that seek solutions.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

The analyses presented in this study are based on information derived from professional journals, technical literature, specific information and catalogs, and on-line sources. In addition, we conducted interviews with industry leaders and sources mostly in the United States and Europe and in some of the Pacific Rim countries, as well as with several researchers in leading universities. We also analyzed available on-line and commercial sources that contained relevant financial and market information and added our own assessments to that information.

In addition, we consulted BCC reports that we considered relevant to the present topic. BCC has conducted several studies in the field of electro-optics and optical materials. We think this report adds an additional dimension to reports already in existence, i.e., market-oriented technological analyses and forecasts of the dramatically increasing field of organic and polymeric-based electro-optics.