Development of color filter films based on photocurable cyanine dyes with enhanced stability for AR/VR OLED microdisplay

High-resolution OLED microdisplays require advanced color filters with excellent optical performance, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. In this study, a novel cyanine dye (MDR4) was developed specifically for color filters suitable for AR/VR displays. The dye incorporates two methacrylate groups, enabling covalent bonding within a photocurable binder matrix and significantly enhancing chemical resistance by preventing dye leaching during the etching process. To improve dye stability and solubility in PGMEA solvent, four weakly coordinating anions—TFSI, HFSI, PFSI, and NFSI—were introduced. Among the resulting compounds, MDR4-NFSI exhibited superior solubility (10–15 wt%), thermal stability, and chemical resistance compared to previous cyanine dyes. To overcome the limitations of dye-based color filters on silicon substrates, we formulated a hybrid-type film by incorporating MDR4-NFSI with conventional pigments. The film exhibited high transmittance (86 %) in the 600 nm range and excellent micropatterning capabilities crucial for high-resolution microdisplays, as well as exceptional thermal stability, photostability, and chemical resistance. Furthermore, we demonstrated a novel yellow compensating dye complex (C3-Y), which significantly enhanced selective absorption in the undesired 400–500 nm wavelength region while preserving high transmittance above 600 nm. This notably improved color purity, establishing a promising foundation for further optimization.