Recent trends in the development of plasma display panels (PDPs) are reviewed in this article with special emphasis on materials. New developments in the panel structure, discharge gases and phosphors used, and drive methods have improved many of the display characteristics over a wide range of operating conditions. As a result, much progress has been seen in large-scale panel development; for example, 50-in. and 61-in. PDPs have been commercialized. Improvements in phosphor longevity, discharge gas efficiency, and characteristics of the protective layers can be attributed in part to materials solutions. The longevity of the blue phosphor has been improved by the development of new materials and a greater understanding of the phosphor deterioration mechanism. The luminous efficiency has been greatly increased by the use of high-density Xe gas. The protective-layer characteristics have been improved as a result of advancements in processes, materials, and analytical methods.
