Ching Tang, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Rochester’s Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, is being recognized as one of the most influential researchers in the field of chemistry. Thomson Reuters has named Tang one of this year’s 26 Citation Laureates for his role in inventing the organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

Tang has called it “highly satisfying” to see OLED technology being used in millions of mobile phones all over the world. “And there is no doubt OLED TVs will set the standard for the next generation,” he said.” I am very pleased to have contributed to this transformation.”

Tang, along with Steven Van Slyke—who was also named one of this year’s Citation Laureates—invented the OLED in the 1970s, giving birth to a multi-billion-dollar industry. The OLED is replacing the current liquid crystal display (LCD) technology employed on video displays, including flat screen televisions, computer monitors, and smart phones. OLED displays work without a backlight and are more energy efficient, thinner and have a better picture quality than LCD displays.

When he published his seminal paper on the technology in 1987 in the journal Applied Physics Letters, Tang was employed by the Eastman Kodak Company. To this day, that paper has been cited by more scientists than any other paper in the history of the well-regarded journal.

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