Innolux, a global display manufacturer, has developed a groundbreaking method to recycle liquid crystals from defective panels and production losses, becoming the world’s first full-circulation green enterprise for in-factory panels. Consuming approximately 85 tons of liquid crystal materials annually, the company has managed to repurpose 95% of these materials, but the remaining 5%—comprising process losses and defects—has traditionally been wasted.
In response, Innolux established an intelligent recycling center, featuring exclusive purification technology to extract and recycle liquid crystals. Collaborating with ITRI Materials Research Institute and with support from the Ministry of Environment’s Resource Recycling Agency, Innolux has successfully converted scrapped liquid crystals into material suitable for smart dimming windows.
The major challenge lies in extracting liquid crystals with optimal optical properties from waste materials. By formulating dichroic dyes using azo and allium quinones, Innolux has developed smart windows that offer stable and efficient light adjustment. Their recycled liquid crystal windows meet performance benchmarks, with dark-state transmittance below 40% and bright-state transmittance above 70%.
Innolux’s innovation was showcased at the 2024 International Electronic Waste Management Network Annual Conference, where the company demonstrated the world’s first 15-inch transparent dimming glass house made from 56 two-inch recycled liquid crystal modules. This achievement has earned recognition from circular economy experts worldwide.
