Display panel and manufacturing method thereof, and display device

Abstract

The present application discloses a display panel and a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device. The method for manufacturing the display panel comprises the following steps: providing a substrate; and manufacturing an OLED device on the substrate; wherein the step of manufacturing the OLED device on the substrate comprises: manufacturing an electron transport layer and a cathode layer on the substrate using the same photomask. The present application improves production capacity and reduces production costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of display, and in particular to a display panel and a method for preparing the same, and a display device. Background Art

[0002] In the production process of AMOLED display screens, even with inkjet printing technology, OLED devices still contain two layers of evaporation layers, the electron transport layer (ETL) and the cathode layer (Cathode), so an evaporation mask is needed to cover the areas that do not need evaporation. Because the cathode needs to be overlapped with the metal wiring in the non-display area, the opening sizes of the evaporation masks of the two are different. It is necessary to first evaporate the electron transport layer with a common mask (Common Mask), remove the mask, load the cathode mask (Cathode Mask) and change the evaporation chamber before continuing to evaporate the cathode. Unloading and installing the mask is very time-consuming and inefficient, leading to production capacity bottlenecks. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present application is to provide a display panel and a preparation method thereof, and a display device, which can solve the technical problems that in the existing display panel manufacturing process, the preparation of the electron transport layer and the cathode layer uses different masks for evaporation, which wastes time, has low efficiency, and leads to production capacity bottlenecks.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application provides a method for preparing a display panel, comprising the following steps: providing a substrate; and preparing an OLED device on the substrate; wherein the step of preparing the OLED device on the substrate comprises: using the same mask to prepare an electron transport layer and a cathode layer on the substrate.

[0005] Furthermore, the OLED device includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area; the non-display area includes an overlapping area, and the overlapping area is used to overlap the cathode layer and the metal wiring.

[0006] Furthermore, the step of using the same photomask to prepare an electron transport layer and a cathode layer on the substrate includes: using a photomask to evaporate the electron transport layer; moving the evaporation device from the display area to the overlapping area to evaporate the cathode layer; using the photomask to evaporate the cathode material on the electron transport layer and in the overlapping area to form a cathode layer.

[0007] Furthermore, the step of preparing an electron transport layer and a cathode layer on the substrate using the same photomask includes: setting a first alignment point and a second alignment point on the substrate to be evaporated, the first alignment point being the alignment point between the substrate and the evaporation device when evaporating the electron transport layer, and the second alignment point being the alignment point between the substrate and the evaporation device when evaporating the cathode layer.

[0008] Furthermore, the step of preparing the electron transport layer and the cathode layer on the substrate using the same photomask also includes: aligning the substrate to be evaporated and the evaporation device according to the first alignment points; evaporating the electron transport layer using a photomask; aligning the substrate to be evaporated and the evaporation device according to the second alignment points to evaporate the cathode layer; and using the photomask to evaporate the cathode material on the electron transport layer and in the overlapping area to form a cathode layer.

[0009] Further, the relative distance between the first pair of points and the second pair of points is the distance of translation of the mask.

[0010] Furthermore, the step of preparing the OLED device on the substrate also includes: preparing an array layer on the substrate; preparing an anode layer on the array layer; preparing a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer on the anode layer; and preparing a light-emitting layer on the hole transport layer, wherein the electron transport layer is arranged on a side of the light-emitting layer away from the hole transport layer.

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application also provides a display panel, comprising: a substrate; an OLED device, arranged on the substrate; wherein the hole transport layer and the cathode layer in the OLED device are formed by evaporation from the same mask.

[0012] Furthermore, the OLED device is prepared by the display panel preparation method as described above.

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, the present application also provides a display device, comprising the display panel as described above.

[0014] The technical effect of the present application is that the same photomask is used when evaporating the electron transport layer and the cathode layer, which can effectively avoid time waste during the installation and removal of the photomask, improve the evaporation efficiency, increase production capacity, and reduce production costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0016] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method for preparing a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure after the electron transport layer is prepared according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure after preparing the cathode layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Description of reference numerals:

[0020] 10. Substrate;

[0021] 21. electron transport layer; 22. cathode layer;

[0022] 100, display area; 200, overlapping area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application. In addition, it should be understood that the specific implementation methods described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present application, and are not used to limit the present application. In the present application, unless otherwise stated, the directional words such as "upper" and "lower" used generally refer to the upper and lower parts of the device in actual use or working state, specifically the drawing direction in the accompanying drawings; while "inside" and "outside" refer to the outline of the device.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the embodiments of the present application provide a display panel and a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device. The following are detailed descriptions of each. It should be noted that the description order of the following embodiments is not intended to limit the preferred order of the embodiments.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the present application provides a method for preparing a display panel, including steps S1 to S2.

[0027] S1 provides a substrate 10, which is generally a glass substrate and serves as a substrate and a support.

[0028] S2 prepares an OLED device on the substrate 10, wherein an electron transport layer 21 and a cathode layer 22 are prepared on the substrate 10 using the same photomask, and specific preparation steps are described in detail below.

[0029] An array layer is prepared on the substrate 10, and the array layer includes a buffer layer, an active layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate layer, a dielectric layer, a source-drain electrode layer, a passivation layer and other film layers from bottom to top; an anode layer is prepared on the array layer, and the material of the anode layer is generally a metal material, connected to the source-drain electrode layer, and the anode layer serves as a circuit connection medium between the array layer and the light-emitting layer, so that the array layer can drive the light-emitting layer to emit light and provide an electrical signal to the light-emitting layer. A pixel definition layer is prepared on the anode layer, and a plurality of through holes are provided on the pixel definition layer, and the through holes define the size of the light-emitting layer, and the through holes expose the anode layer, and a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer are prepared in the through holes, so that the carriers (holes) are transported to the light-emitting layer; a light-emitting layer is prepared on the hole transport layer, and an electron transport layer 21 and a cathode layer 22 are prepared on the light-emitting layer using the same mask. The hole carriers excited from the anode layer collide with the electron carriers excited from the cathode layer 22 in the light-emitting layer to excite light.

[0030] The OLED device includes a display area 100 and a non-display area surrounding the display area 100 . The non-display area includes an overlap area 200 . The overlap area 200 is used to overlap the cathode layer 22 and the metal wiring.

[0031] Furthermore, the step of preparing the electron transport layer 21 and the cathode layer 22 on the light-emitting layer using the same photomask includes:

[0032] The electron transport layer 21 is deposited by evaporation using a photomask (see Figure 2 ), the evaporated electron transport layer 21 covers the display area 100 and extends to the overlapping area 200, serving as a transport medium for carriers (electrons).

[0033] The evaporation device is moved from the display area 100 to the overlapping area 200 to evaporate the cathode layer 22. In this embodiment, the evaporation device can be translated after the evaporation is completed, and the translation program can be set to translate a specific value in a single direction, the single direction is defined as the extension direction from the display area 100 to the overlapping area 200, and the specific value is defined as not exceeding the length of the overlapping area 200 in the single direction. After the evaporation device is translated, the next evaporation operation can be performed.

[0034] The cathode material is evaporated on the electron transport layer 21 and in the overlap region 200 using the photomask to form a cathode layer 22 (see Figure 3 ).

[0035] Using the same photomask when evaporating the electron transport layer 21 and the cathode layer 22 can effectively avoid time waste during mask installation and removal, improve evaporation efficiency, increase production capacity, and reduce production costs.

[0036] The present embodiment also provides a display device, which can be an electronic device such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a computer, etc. The display device includes a display panel, and the display panel is prepared by the display panel preparation method described above. The display panel includes a substrate 10 and an OLED device, and the OLED device includes film layers such as an array layer, an anode layer, a pixel definition layer, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer 21 and a cathode layer 22.

[0037] The electron transport layer 21 and the cathode layer 22 are formed by evaporation using the same photomask. The specific evaporation method is as described above and will not be described in detail.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, the present application provides a method for preparing a display panel, including steps S1 to S2.

[0040] S1 provides a substrate 10, which is generally a glass substrate and serves as a substrate and a support.

[0041] S2 prepares an OLED device on the substrate 10, wherein an electron transport layer 21 and a cathode layer 22 are prepared on the substrate 10 using the same photomask, and specific preparation steps are described in detail below.

[0042] An array layer is prepared on the substrate 10, and the array layer includes a buffer layer, an active layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate layer, a dielectric layer, a source-drain electrode layer, a passivation layer and other film layers from bottom to top; an anode layer is prepared on the array layer, and the material of the anode layer is generally a metal material, connected to the source-drain electrode layer, and the anode layer serves as a circuit connection medium between the array layer and the light-emitting layer, so that the array layer can drive the light-emitting layer to emit light and provide an electrical signal to the light-emitting layer. A pixel definition layer is prepared on the anode layer, and a plurality of through holes are provided on the pixel definition layer, and the through holes define the size of the light-emitting layer, and the through holes expose the anode layer, and a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer are prepared in the through holes, so that the carriers (holes) are transported to the light-emitting layer; a light-emitting layer is prepared on the hole transport layer, and an electron transport layer 21 and a cathode layer 22 are prepared on the light-emitting layer using the same mask. The hole carriers excited from the anode layer collide with the electron carriers excited from the cathode layer 22 in the light-emitting layer to excite light.

[0043] The OLED device includes a display area 100 and a non-display area surrounding the display area 100 . The non-display area includes an overlap area 200 . The overlap area 200 is used to overlap the cathode layer 22 and the metal wiring.

[0044] Furthermore, the difference from Example 1 is that in this embodiment, the steps of preparing the electron transport layer 21 and the cathode layer 22 on the light-emitting layer using the same photomask include:

[0045] A first alignment point and a second alignment point are set on the substrate 10 to be evaporated, the first alignment point is the alignment point between the substrate 10 and the evaporation device when evaporating the electron transport layer 21, and the second alignment point is the alignment point between the substrate 10 and the evaporation device when evaporating the cathode layer 22. The relative distance between the first alignment point and the second alignment point is the distance of translation of the mask.

[0046] According to the first alignment point, the substrate 10 to be evaporated and the evaporation device are aligned; a mask is used to evaporate the electron transport layer 21 (see Figure 2 ), the evaporated electron transport layer 21 covers the display area 100 and extends to the overlapping area 200, serving as a transport medium for carriers (electrons).

[0047] The substrate 10 to be evaporated and the evaporation device are re-aligned according to the second alignment point to evaporate the cathode layer 22, and the cathode material is evaporated on the electron transport layer 21 and in the overlapping area 200 using the mask to form the cathode layer 22 (see Figure 3 ).

[0048] In this embodiment, two sets of alignment points are provided on the substrate 10 , which are respectively aligned when the electron transport layer and the cathode layer are evaporated.

[0049] Using the same photomask when evaporating the electron transport layer 21 and the cathode layer 22 can effectively avoid time waste during mask installation and removal, improve evaporation efficiency, increase production capacity, and reduce production costs.

[0050] The present embodiment also provides a display device, which can be an electronic device such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a computer, etc. The display device includes a display panel, and the display panel is prepared by the display panel preparation method described above. The display panel includes a substrate 10 and an OLED device, and the OLED device includes film layers such as an array layer, an anode layer, a pixel definition layer, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer 21 and a cathode layer 22.

[0051] The electron transport layer 21 and the cathode layer 22 are formed by evaporation using the same photomask. The specific evaporation method is as described above and will not be described in detail.

[0052] The above is a detailed introduction to a display panel and its preparation method and a display device provided in the embodiments of the present application. Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present application and its core idea. At the same time, for technical personnel in this field, according to the idea of ​​the present application, there will be changes in the specific implementation method and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a display panel, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: providing a substrate; as well as An OLED device is prepared on the substrate; the OLED device comprises a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, the non-display area comprises an overlapping area, and the overlapping area is used to overlap the cathode layer and the metal wiring; Wherein, the step of preparing an OLED device on the substrate comprises: A first alignment point and a second alignment point are set on the substrate to be evaporated, wherein the first alignment point is an alignment point between the substrate and the photomask when evaporating the electron transport layer, and the second alignment point is an alignment point between the substrate and the photomask when evaporating the cathode layer, and the relative distance between the first alignment point and the second alignment point is a translation distance of the photomask; Aligning the substrate to be evaporated and the photomask according to the first alignment point; Using a photomask to evaporate the electron transport layer; Aligning the substrate to be evaporated and the photomask according to the second alignment point; The cathode material is evaporated on the electron transport layer and in the overlapping area by using the same photomask to form a cathode layer.

2. The method for preparing a display panel according to claim 1, wherein: Aligning the substrate to be evaporated and the photomask according to the second alignment point, further comprising: The evaporation device is moved from the display area to the overlapping area to evaporate the cathode layer.

3. The method for preparing a display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The step of preparing an OLED device on the substrate further includes: preparing an array layer on the substrate; preparing an anode layer on the array layer; Preparing a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer on the anode layer; and A light-emitting layer is prepared on the hole transport layer, and the electron transport layer is arranged on a side of the light-emitting layer away from the hole transport layer.

4. A display panel, characterized in that: include: substrate; An OLED device is disposed on the substrate; Wherein, the hole transport layer and the cathode layer in the OLED device are formed by evaporation using the same photomask; The OLED device is prepared by the method for preparing a display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A display device, characterized in that: Comprising the display panel as claimed in claim 4.

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