ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode

Okay, so let's imagine you have a toy car that glows in the dark. You know how it works - you hold it under a bright light for a little while, and then when you turn off the lights, the car keeps glowing for a bit before fading away. Pretty cool, huh?

Now, scientists have figured out a way to make special light bulbs called organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. These bulbs are made out of special materials that can light up when you pass an electric current through them. They are very energy efficient and can be used in all sorts of cool things like TVs and smartphones.

So, what's a phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode, you ask? Well, it's just like a regular OLED, but with a twist. The special material in a phosphorescent OLED keeps glowing for a long time after the electricity stops flowing through it, just like your toy car. This means that these bulbs can keep giving off light even when there's no electricity around to keep them lit up.

This is really useful because it means that you can use these bulbs in places where you don't want a constant source of electricity, like emergency exit signs or night lights. Plus, they're really pretty to look at! You might have seen a phosphorescent OLED in action if you've ever seen a glowing watch face or a light-up shirt.

So to sum up - a phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode is a special light bulb that can keep glowing even when the electricity stops, just like your glowing toy car. It's really useful and looks really cool!