Display panel, preparation method thereof and display device

Abstract

The invention relates to a display panel, a preparation method thereof and a display device. The display panel further comprises at least one groove. In the direction parallel to the plane where the base plate is located, the groove is provided with a second cross section perpendicular to the plane where the base plate is located, the second cross section comprises two opposite side edges, and the side edges at least comprise a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge and a third sub-edge; the first sub-edge is in contact with the groove bottom of the groove; the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge in the direction of pointing to the first electrode layer along the substrate; the third sub-edge comprises a vertex far away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface, far away from the substrate, of the pixel definition layer to the substrate; wherein in the direction away from the substrate, the third sub-edge comprises first to Nth inclined edges which are connected in sequence, the inclined angles of the inclined edges are in a decreasing trend, and the inclined angles of the inclined edges are included angles between the inclined edges and the plane where the substrate is located; therefore, the service life of the OLED light-emitting unit is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a display panel and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device. Background Art

[0002] Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display devices have attracted widespread attention due to their many advantages such as high brightness, low power consumption, wide viewing angle, ultra-lightness, and flexibility.

[0003] In order to improve the working life of the OLED light-emitting unit in the OLED display device, in the related art, multiple single OLED light-emitting units are stacked up, so that the same amount of current flows through multiple different OLED light-emitting units in sequence to emit light together, thereby improving the light brightness and efficiency, forming a series-type OLED light-emitting unit; that is, the series-type OLED light-emitting unit includes multiple single OLED light-emitting units, and the multiple single OLED light-emitting units are connected in series in sequence. Compared with a single OLED light-emitting unit, the series-type OLED light-emitting unit can have doubled current efficiency and light brightness, and the working life will be greatly improved.

[0004] However, in an OLED display device including a series-connected OLED light-emitting unit, there is a phenomenon that the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit abnormally transforms into a single OLED light-emitting unit, which not only reduces the working life but also increases the risk of leakage. Summary of the invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a display panel and a preparation method thereof and a display device that can increase the service life of an OLED light-emitting unit while reducing the risk of leakage in order to address the above technical problems.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a display panel, the display panel comprising:

[0007] substrate;

[0008] A first electrode layer, located on one side of the substrate;

[0009] A pixel definition layer is located on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate, and the pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel openings; wherein,

[0010] The display panel further comprises at least one groove; along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the groove is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the groove has a first cross section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross section gradually increases along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer; the groove has a second cross section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, the second cross section comprises two opposite side edges, and the side edges comprise at least a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge, and a third sub-edge;

[0011] The first sub-edge is in contact with the bottom of the groove, and the angle between the first sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge; the third sub-edge includes a vertex away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate to the substrate; wherein, along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the third sub-edge includes the 1st to Nth inclined edges which are connected in sequence and whose inclination angles tend to decrease, and the inclination angle of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0012] The light-emitting unit layer is located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and the light-emitting unit layer at least partially covers the pixel opening and the groove.

[0013] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a display device, which includes the display panel as described in the first aspect above.

[0014] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a method for preparing a display panel, the method comprising:

[0015] providing a substrate;

[0016] forming a first electrode layer on one side of the substrate;

[0017] forming a pixel definition layer on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate, wherein the pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel openings;

[0018] At least one groove is formed; wherein, along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the groove is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the groove has a first cross-section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross-section gradually increases along the direction of the substrate pointing to the first electrode layer; the groove has a second cross-section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, the second cross-section includes two opposite side edges, and the side edges include at least a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge, and a third sub-edge;

[0019] The first sub-edge is in contact with the bottom of the groove, and the angle between the first sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge; the third sub-edge includes a vertex away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate to the substrate; wherein, along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the third sub-edge includes the 1st to Nth inclined edges which are connected in sequence and whose inclination angles tend to decrease, and the inclination angle of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0020] A light-emitting unit layer is formed, wherein the light-emitting unit layer is located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and the light-emitting unit layer at least partially covers the pixel opening and the groove.

[0021] The display panel, the manufacturing method thereof and the display device, the display panel comprises a substrate, a first electrode layer, a pixel definition layer and a light emitting unit layer which are stacked in sequence, and the pixel definition layer comprises a plurality of pixel openings.

[0022] The display panel also includes at least one groove, which may be located in the pixel definition layer; along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the groove is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the groove has a first cross-section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross-section gradually increases along the direction of the substrate pointing to the first electrode layer; the groove has a second cross-section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, and the second cross-section includes two opposite side edges, and the side edges include at least a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge and a third sub-edge.

[0023] The first sub-edge is in contact with the bottom of the groove, and the angle between the first sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction of the substrate pointing to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge; the third sub-edge includes a vertex away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate to the substrate; wherein, along the direction away from the substrate, the third sub-edge includes the 1st to Nth inclined edges which are connected in sequence and whose inclination angles tend to decrease, and the inclination angle of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1.

[0024] The light-emitting unit layer is located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and the light-emitting unit layer at least partially covers the pixel opening and the groove. In this way, due to the arrangement of gradually increasing the area of ​​the groove and the first cross-section of the groove, the leakage path along the light-emitting unit layer between different series-connected OLED light-emitting units can be extended in a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, thereby reducing the leakage between different series-connected OLED light-emitting units.

[0025] On this basis, due to the setting of the third sub-side of the groove, the embodiment of the present application reduces the steepness of the notch of the groove, and can prevent the partial film layer in the light-emitting unit layer between different series-connected OLED light-emitting units from being broken at the groove in the direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located. In the related art, at the break, the cathode layer (located on the surface of the light-emitting unit layer away from the substrate) will directly overlap the charge generation layer (such as the positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes) in the light-emitting unit layer, causing the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit to be transformed into a single OLED light-emitting unit.

[0026] In the embodiment of the present application, due to the setting of the third sub-side of the groove, the steepness of the notch of the groove is smoothed and reduced, thereby preventing such breakage, thereby avoiding the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit from being converted into a single OLED light-emitting unit, thereby improving the working life of the OLED light-emitting unit; at the same time, compared with a single OLED light-emitting unit, the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit is more difficult to turn on, and the degree of stealing light from the surrounding OLED light-emitting units is less. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application avoids the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit from being converted into a single OLED light-emitting unit, reducing the risk of leakage between different OLED light-emitting units. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application or related technical descriptions will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a display panel in one embodiment;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 One of the enlarged schematic diagrams of the local A;

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 2 One of the cross-sectional diagrams along line CC';

[0031] Figure 4 for Figure 3 One of the enlarged schematic diagrams of the middle groove;

[0032] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing that a light-emitting unit layer and a second electrode layer are arranged on the middle groove;

[0033] Figure 6aThis is one of the schematic diagrams of a groove in the related art in which a light-emitting unit layer and a second electrode layer are arranged;

[0034] Figure 6b It is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting unit layer disposed on a groove in the related art;

[0035] Figure 6c The second schematic diagram of a groove in the related art in which a light-emitting unit layer and a second electrode layer are arranged;

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 3 The second enlarged schematic diagram of the middle groove;

[0037] Figure 8 for Figure 2 The second cross-sectional diagram along line CC';

[0038] Fig. 9 for Figure 1 The second enlarged schematic diagram of the local A;

[0039] Fig.10 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a tandem OLED light-emitting unit in one embodiment;

[0040] Fig.11 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a display device in an embodiment.

[0041] Description of the drawings: substrate-310, first electrode-320, pixel definition layer-330, light-emitting unit layer-340, second electrode layer-350, planarization layer-360, pixel opening-331, groove-332. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0043] In order to facilitate understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. Embodiments of the present application are provided in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application.

[0045] It is understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. used in this application may be used herein to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish a first element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, a first resistor may be referred to as a second resistor, and similarly, a second resistor may be referred to as a first resistor. Both the first resistor and the second resistor are resistors, but they are not the same resistor.

[0046] It can be understood that the “connection” in the following embodiments should be understood as “electrical connection”, “communication connection”, etc. if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc. have electrical signals or data transmission between each other.

[0047] It can be understood that “at least one” means one or more, “plurality” means two or more, and “at least a portion of an element” means a part or all of an element.

[0048] When used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "said / the" may also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "include / comprise" or "have" and the like specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. At the same time, the term "and / or" used in this specification includes any and all combinations of the relevant listed items.

[0049] The display panel provided in the embodiment of the present application may be, but is not limited to, an OLED display panel.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, in combination Figures 1 to 3 , provides a display panel, the display panel includes a substrate 310, a first electrode layer, a pixel definition layer 330, a light emitting unit layer 340 and a second electrode layer 350 which are stacked in sequence; wherein, Figure 2 The light emitting unit layer 340 and the second electrode layer 350 are not shown.

[0051] The substrate 310 supports the film layers, devices, etc. thereon. The substrate 310 can be a rigid substrate 310 or a flexible substrate 310. The substrate 310 also includes an array layer, which includes a plurality of pixel circuits, each of which is used to drive the corresponding connected sub-pixel to emit light. The first electrode layer is located on one side of the substrate 310, and the first electrode layer can be used as an anode layer, and the anode layer can include a plurality of anodes; wherein the first electrode layer can include a plurality of first electrodes 320, each of which is arranged at intervals, and the first electrodes 320 correspond to the sub-pixels one by one, and a first electrode 320 can be used as the anode of the corresponding sub-pixel, and accordingly, the second electrode layer 350 is located on the side of the light-emitting unit layer 340 away from the pixel definition layer 330, and the second electrode layer 350 can be used as a cathode layer. The pixel definition layer 330 is located on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate 310. The pixel definition layer 330 includes a plurality of pixel openings 331 arranged in an array. The pixel openings 331 are used to set sub-pixels. The sub-pixels may include sub-pixels of three colors: red (R), green (G), and blue (B), but are not limited thereto.

[0052] Combination Figure 2 and Figure 3 The display panel further includes at least one groove 332 , which may be located in the pixel definition layer 330 ; along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate 310 is located, the groove 332 is located between two adjacent pixel openings 331 .

[0053] The light-emitting unit layer 340 is located on the side of the pixel definition layer 330 away from the substrate 310, and the light-emitting unit layer 340 at least partially covers the pixel opening 331 and the groove 332. The light-emitting unit layer 340 may include a stacked hole injection layer HIL, a hole transport layer HTL, an organic light-emitting layer, a negative charge generation layer N-CGL for generating electrons, a positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes, an electron transport layer ETL, and an electron injection layer EIL. The organic light-emitting layer may be located in the pixel opening 331. The film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer, namely the hole injection layer HIL, the hole transport layer HTL, the negative charge generation layer N-CGL for generating electrons, the positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes, the electron transport layer ETL, and the electron injection layer EIL, are not only located in the pixel opening 331, but also located on the surface of the pixel definition layer 330 away from the substrate 310, and thus are also located in the groove 332.

[0054] In other words, each sub-pixel includes a stacked hole injection layer HIL, a hole transport layer HTL, an organic light-emitting layer, a negative charge generation layer N-CGL for generating electrons, a positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes, an electron transport layer ETL and an electron injection layer EIL, that is, each sub-pixel may include a series-connected OLED light-emitting unit. The pixel definition layer 330 between two adjacent sub-pixels is stacked on the surface away from the substrate 310 and in the groove 332 with film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer, that is, the hole injection layer HIL, the hole transport layer HTL, the negative charge generation layer N-CGL for generating electrons, the positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes, the electron transport layer ETL and the electron injection layer EIL.

[0055] Combination Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present application, since the groove 332 has a first cross section parallel to the plane where the substrate 310 is located, the area of ​​the first cross section gradually increases along the direction of the substrate 310 pointing to the first electrode layer. In this way, compared with the display panel without the groove 332, the groove 332 provided in the embodiment of the present application can extend the leakage path between different sub-pixels along the film layer other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 in the direction parallel to the plane where the substrate 310 is located, thereby reducing the leakage between different sub-pixels (that is, between two adjacent sub-pixels), that is, reducing the leakage between different series-type OLED light-emitting units (between two adjacent series-type OLED light-emitting units), wherein the film layer other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 can be understood as a common film layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340.

[0056] As the resolution of the display panel becomes higher and higher, the distance between two adjacent sub-pixels becomes smaller and smaller. In order to further extend the leakage path on the common film layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 of the high-resolution display panel, the depth and steepness of the groove between the two adjacent sub-pixels will become larger. However, the common film layer may also break at the notch of the groove, affecting the display effect.

[0057] In this regard, refer to Figure 4In the embodiment of the present application, the groove 332 has a second cross section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate 310 is located, and the second cross section includes two opposite side edges, and the side edges include at least a first sub-edge S1, a second sub-edge S2, and a third sub-edge S3. The first sub-edge S1 contacts the bottom of the groove 332, and the angle between the first sub-edge S1 and the plane where the substrate 310 is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction of the substrate 310 pointing to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge S2 is located between the first sub-edge S1 and the third sub-edge S3; the third sub-edge S3 includes a vertex D away from the substrate 310, and the vertical distance from the vertex D to the substrate 310 is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer 330 away from the substrate 310 to the substrate 310; wherein, along the direction of the substrate 310 pointing to the first electrode layer, the third sub-edge S3 includes the first to Nth inclined edges connected in sequence and with the inclination angle a decreasing trend, and the inclination angle a of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate 310 is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1.

[0058] in, Figure 4 As exemplarily shown in FIG. 1 , N=3, the third sub-edge S3 includes a first inclined edge S31, a second inclined edge S32 and a third inclined edge S33 arranged in sequence, and the inclination angles a of the inclined edges S31, S32 and S33 show a decreasing trend.

[0059] So, reference Figure 5 Due to the arrangement of the first to Nth inclined sides of the third sub-side S3 of the groove 332, the steepness of the notch of the groove 332 is reduced, and the film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 between different sub-pixels can be prevented from being broken at the groove 332 in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate 310. On the one hand, exemplarily, referring to Figure 6a If a common film layer such as a cathode layer is broken at a steep notch, the cathode of some sub-pixels will have no signal input, which will affect the display effect; on the other hand, for example, refer to Figure 6b Since the film thickness of the charge generation layer is generally small, the charge generation layer may break when covering the steep groove. Figure 6c , causing the cathode layer to directly overlap the charge generation layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 (for example, directly overlap the positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes), thereby causing the series-connected OLED light-emitting units in the sub-pixel to be transformed into a single OLED light-emitting unit.

[0060] refer to Figure 5In the embodiment of the present application, due to the setting of the 1st to Nth inclined edges of the third sub-edge S3 of the groove 332, the steepness of the notch of the groove 332 is smoothed and reduced, thereby preventing such breakage, thereby improving the display effect, and avoiding the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit from being converted into a single OLED light-emitting unit, thereby increasing the working life of the OLED light-emitting unit; at the same time, compared with a single OLED light-emitting unit, the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit is more difficult to light up, and the degree of stealing light from the surrounding OLED light-emitting units is less severe. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application avoids the series-connected OLED light-emitting unit from being converted into a single OLED light-emitting unit, reducing the risk of leakage between different OLED light-emitting units.

[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 7 The third sub-side S3 is in the shape of a gently transitioning arc, and the inclination angle of the first inclined side is a2, a2≤30°.

[0062] In this embodiment, when the value of N is large, as the inclination angle from the first inclined edge to the Nth inclined edge gradually decreases, the inclination angle of the Nth inclined edge approaches 0, which makes the third sub-edge S3 present a gently transitioning arc shape, better reduces the steepness of the notch of the groove 332, and can better prevent the film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 between different sub-pixels from being broken at the groove 332 in the direction parallel to the plane where the substrate 310 is located. Among them, when the inclination angle of the first inclined edge is a2 and a2≤30°, the inclination angle of the Nth inclined edge can be made to approach 0, and the notch of the groove 332 is sufficiently gentle to prevent the film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 from being broken at the groove 332. When the first inclined edge to the Nth inclined edge are all arc-shaped, even if the value of N is small, as the maximum inclination angle of the tangent from the first inclined edge to the Nth inclined edge gradually decreases, the third sub-edge S3 will present a smoothly transitioning arc shape, thereby better reducing the steepness of the notch of the groove 332.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 4 , the third sub-side S3 is a broken line, and the inclination angle of the Nth inclined side is a3, a3≤30°.

[0064] In this embodiment, the connection mode between two adjacent inclined edges changes from the first inclined edge to the Nth inclined edge, and as the inclination angle from the first inclined edge to the Nth inclined edge gradually decreases, the third sub-edge S3 will be in the shape of a broken line, which can also well reduce the steepness of the notch of the groove 332, and can prevent the film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 between different sub-pixels from being broken at the groove 332 in the direction parallel to the plane where the substrate 310 is located. Among them, when the inclination angle of the Nth inclined edge is a3 and a3≤30°, the notch of the groove 332 can be made sufficiently gentle, which is enough to prevent the film layers other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 from being broken at the groove 332.

[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 4 , the second sub-side S2 is a straight line, and the maximum angle between the second sub-side S2 and the plane where the substrate 310 is located is a4, and a4≤a1.

[0066] In this embodiment, the second sub-side S2 is a straight line, and the second sub-side S2 and the first sub-side S1 are both straight lines, so that the second sub-side S2 is easy to manufacture, and thus the groove 332 is easy to manufacture. Among them, the maximum angle between the second sub-side S2 and the plane where the substrate 310 is located is a4 and a4≤a1, which can further ensure that the light-emitting unit layer 340 will not break not only at the notch, but also in the groove 332 (that is, the middle of the groove 332) due to the large steepness, so that when the light-emitting unit layer 340 covers the entire groove 332, it will not break at any position, ensuring the integrity of the light-emitting unit layer 340.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the second sub-side S2 is arc-shaped, and the maximum angle between the tangent line of the second sub-side S2 and the plane where the substrate 310 is located is a5, and a5≤a1.

[0068] In this embodiment, the second sub-side S2 is arc-shaped, which can make the transition between the third sub-side S3 and the second sub-side S2 smoother, and can further ensure that the light-emitting unit layer 340 will not be broken in the middle of the groove 332 due to its large steepness, so that when the light-emitting unit layer 340 covers the entire groove 332, it will not be broken at any position, thereby ensuring the integrity of the light-emitting unit layer 340.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 3 The bottom of the groove 332 is set in the pixel definition layer 330.

[0070] In this embodiment, the bottom of the groove 332 is set on the pixel definition layer 330, so that the groove 332 is easy to manufacture, and the groove 332 can extend the leakage path between different sub-pixels along the film layer other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340 in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate 310, thereby reducing the leakage between different sub-pixels (that is, between two adjacent sub-pixels), that is, reducing the leakage between different series-type OLED light-emitting units (between two adjacent series-type OLED light-emitting units).

[0071] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 8 The display panel further includes a planarization layer 360 , which is located on a side of the first electrode layer close to the substrate 310 , wherein the bottom of the groove 332 is arranged at the contact position between the pixel definition layer and the planarization layer 360 .

[0072] In this embodiment, the bottom of the groove 332 is set at the contact surface between the pixel definition layer 330 and the planarization layer 360, so that the depth of the groove 332 is deeper, which is conducive to better extending the leakage path between different sub-pixels along the film layer other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340; at the same time, even if the depth of the groove 332 is deeper, due to the setting of the third sub-side S3 of the groove 332, it can ensure that the light-emitting unit layer 340 is broken at the groove 332, thereby ensuring the working life of the sub-pixel.

[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 8 The display panel further includes a planarization layer 360 , which is located on a side of the first electrode layer close to the substrate 310 , wherein the groove 332 penetrates the pixel definition layer and extends to the planarization layer 360 and the groove bottom is arranged in the planarization layer 360 .

[0074] In this embodiment, the bottom of the groove 332 is set in the planarization layer 360, so that the depth of the groove 332 is deeper, which is further conducive to better extending the leakage path between different sub-pixels along the film layer other than the organic light-emitting layer in the light-emitting unit layer 340; at the same time, even if the depth of the groove 332 is deep, due to the setting of the third sub-side S3 of the groove 332, it can ensure that the light-emitting unit layer 340 will not be broken at the groove 332, thereby ensuring the working life of the sub-pixel.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Fig. 9, the multiple pixel openings 331 include multiple first color pixel openings 331, multiple second color pixel openings 331 and multiple third color pixel openings 331; the number of grooves 332 surrounding the first color pixel openings 331 is b1, the number of grooves 332 surrounding the second color pixel openings 331 is b2, and the number of grooves 332 surrounding the third color pixel openings 331 is b3, b1>b2>b3, wherein, along the direction surrounding the pixel openings 331, two adjacent grooves 332 are arranged at intervals.

[0076] Exemplarily, the first color pixel opening 331, the second color pixel opening 331 and the third color pixel opening 331 may correspond to a blue pixel opening 331 for setting a blue sub-pixel, a green pixel opening 331 for setting a green sub-pixel and a red pixel opening 331 for setting a red sub-pixel, respectively. Usually, the turn-on voltages of the blue sub-pixel B, the green sub-pixel G and the red sub-pixel R decrease in sequence, that is, the red sub-pixel R is easiest to turn on, so when the blue sub-pixel B is turned on alone, there will be a phenomenon of the green sub-pixel G and the red sub-pixel R turning on secretly (that is, leakage current), and similarly, when the green sub-pixel G is turned on alone, there will be a phenomenon of the red sub-pixel R turning on secretly (that is, leakage current); accordingly, the number of grooves 332 around the blue pixel opening 331, the green pixel opening 331 and the red pixel opening 331 increases in sequence to protect the corresponding blue sub-pixel B and the green sub-pixel G from being turned on secretly, that is, to extend the leakage current path, thereby improving the leakage current.

[0077] In an exemplary embodiment, continue to refer to Fig.10 The sub-pixel may include a stacked hole injection layer HIL, a hole transport layer HTL, a first organic light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer ETL, a negative charge generation layer N-CGL for generating electrons, a positive charge generation layer P-CGL for generating holes, a hole transport layer HTL, a second organic light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer ETL and an electron injection layer EIL.

[0078] In this embodiment, the first electrode, the hole injection layer HIL, the hole transport layer HTL, the first organic light-emitting layer, the electron transport layer ETL and the negative charge generating layer N-CGL for generating electrons may constitute a single first OLED light-emitting unit, the positive charge generating layer P-CGL for generating holes, the hole transport layer HTL, the second organic light-emitting layer, the electron transport layer ETL, the electron injection layer EIL and the second electrode layer 350 may constitute a single second OLED light-emitting unit, and the first OLED light-emitting unit and the second OLED light-emitting unit are stacked to achieve a series connection, thereby forming a sub-pixel.

[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Fig.11The embodiment of the present application provides a display device, which includes a display panel as provided in any of the above embodiments. The display device may be, but is not limited to, an OLED display device, and the display device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, an electronic wearable product, etc.

[0080] The display device and the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application belong to the same inventive concept, can solve the same technical problems, and thus achieve the same technical effects, and repeated contents will not be repeated here.

[0081] In an exemplary embodiment, the present application also provides a method for preparing a display panel, which can be used to prepare the display panel of any of the above embodiments, and the method includes:

[0082] S1202, provide a substrate.

[0083] S1204, forming a first electrode layer on one side of the substrate.

[0084] S1206, forming a pixel definition layer on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate, wherein the pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel openings.

[0085] S1208, forming at least one groove; wherein, along the direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the groove is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the groove has a first cross-section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross-section gradually increases along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer; the groove has a second cross-section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, the second cross-section includes two opposite side edges, and the side edges include at least a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge and a third sub-edge; the first sub-edge contacts the bottom of the groove, and the angle between the first sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge; the third sub-edge includes a vertex away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate to the substrate; wherein, along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the third sub-edge includes the 1st to Nth inclined edges connected in sequence and with a decreasing inclination angle, the inclination angle of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1.

[0086] The manufacturing method of the display panel and the display panel provided in the embodiments of the present application belong to the same inventive concept, can solve the same technical problem, and thus achieve the same technical effect, and repeated contents will not be repeated.

[0087] S1210, forming a light-emitting unit layer, wherein the light-emitting unit layer is located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and the light-emitting unit layer at least partially covers the pixel opening and the groove.

[0088] In an exemplary embodiment, forming at least one groove in S1208 may include at least the following steps:

[0089] S12081, provide a barrier preparation mask.

[0090] S12082, performing diffraction compensation exposure on the blocking preparation mask to form a groove preparation mask.

[0091] S12083, using a groove preparation mask to prepare at least one groove.

[0092] The barrier preparation mask is used to form a barrier opening. If a barrier opening is formed in a display panel, the barrier opening formed in the display panel includes at least the following features:

[0093] Along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the blocking opening is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the blocking opening has a first cross-section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross-section gradually increases along the direction of the substrate pointing to the first electrode layer; the blocking opening has a second cross-section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, and the second cross-section includes two opposite side edges, the side edges are straight lines, and the angle between the side edges and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°.

[0094] That is, the mask used for preparing the groove in this embodiment is exposed with diffraction compensation, so that the groove prepared based on the mask has the first sub-side, the second sub-side and the third sub-side.

[0095] In an exemplary embodiment, the blocking preparation mask can be exposed again by diffraction compensation, so that the surface of the groove finally prepared based on the mask has a smooth transition between the two adjacent groove walls in the direction surrounding the groove opening, avoiding the corner between the two adjacent groove walls in the direction surrounding the groove opening being too sharp, resulting in the common film layer being broken. In other words, the embodiment of the present application not only uses the third sub-edge to smooth the surface between the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate and the groove wall, but also further uses diffraction compensation exposure to smooth the corner between the two adjacent groove walls in the direction surrounding the groove opening, so that the entire surrounding edge of the groove is smooth, thereby largely avoiding the breakage of the common film layer.

[0096] In an exemplary embodiment, forming at least one groove in S1208 may at least include: using a surface treatment process to bombard a surface of the pixel definition layer away from the first electrode layer with a gas to form at least one groove.

[0097] In this embodiment, a conventional surface treatment process in the field of display technology is used. The surface of the pixel definition layer away from the first electrode layer is bombarded by gas in the surface treatment process to form a groove. The method is simple and low in cost.

[0098] The technical features of the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this application.

[0099] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: The display panel comprises: substrate; A first electrode layer, located on one side of the substrate; A pixel definition layer is located on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate, and the pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel openings; wherein, The display panel further comprises at least one groove; along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the groove is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the groove has a first cross section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross section gradually increases along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer; the groove has a second cross section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, the second cross section comprises two opposite side edges, and the side edges comprise at least a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge, and a third sub-edge; The first sub-edge is in contact with the bottom of the groove, and the angle between the first sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge; the third sub-edge includes a vertex away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate to the substrate; wherein, along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the third sub-edge includes the 1st to Nth inclined edges which are connected in sequence and whose inclination angles tend to decrease, and the inclination angle of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1; The light-emitting unit layer is located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and the light-emitting unit layer at least partially covers the pixel opening and the groove.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third sub-side is in the shape of a gently transitioning arc, and the inclination angle of the first inclined side is a2, where a2≤30°.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third sub-edge is a broken line, and the inclination angle of the Nth inclined edge is a3, where a3≤30°.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The maximum angle between the tangent line of the second sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a4, and a4≤a1.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The display panel further includes: A planarization layer is located on a side of the first electrode layer close to the substrate; wherein, The groove bottom of the groove is arranged in the pixel definition layer, or the groove bottom of the groove is arranged at the contact between the pixel definition layer and the planarization layer, or the groove penetrates the pixel definition layer and extends to the planarization layer and the groove bottom is arranged in the planarization layer.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of pixel openings include a plurality of first color pixel openings, a plurality of second color pixel openings, and a plurality of third color pixel openings; The number of the grooves surrounding the first color pixel opening is b1, the number of the grooves surrounding the second color pixel opening is b2, and the number of the grooves surrounding the third color pixel opening is b3, b1>b2>b3, wherein, along the direction surrounding the pixel opening, two adjacent grooves are arranged at intervals.

7. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light emitting unit layer comprises: a hole transport layer, located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and located in the groove and in the pixel opening; A first organic light emitting layer, the hole transport layer located in the pixel opening; a negative charge generating layer, located on a side of the hole transport layer away from the pixel definition layer, the hole transport layer located in the groove, and the first light emitting layer located in the pixel opening; a positive charge generating layer located on a side of the negative charge generating layer away from the hole transport layer, and the negative charge generating layer located in the groove and the negative charge generating layer in the pixel opening; A second organic light emitting layer, the positive charge generating layer located in the pixel opening; The electron transport layer is located on a side of the positive charge generation layer away from the negative charge generation layer, the positive charge generation layer is located in the groove, and the second light emitting layer is located in the pixel opening.

8. A display device, characterized in that: Comprising the display panel as described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. A method for preparing a display panel, characterized in that: The method comprises: providing a substrate; forming a first electrode layer on one side of the substrate; forming a pixel definition layer on a side of the first electrode layer away from the substrate, wherein the pixel definition layer includes a plurality of pixel openings; At least one groove is formed; wherein, along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the groove is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the groove has a first cross-section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross-section gradually increases along the direction of the substrate pointing to the first electrode layer; the groove has a second cross-section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, the second cross-section includes two opposite side edges, and the side edges include at least a first sub-edge, a second sub-edge, and a third sub-edge; The first sub-edge is in contact with the bottom of the groove, and the angle between the first sub-edge and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°; along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the second sub-edge is located between the first sub-edge and the third sub-edge; the third sub-edge includes a vertex away from the substrate, and the vertical distance from the vertex to the substrate is equal to the vertical distance from the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate to the substrate; wherein, along the direction from the substrate to the first electrode layer, the third sub-edge includes the 1st to Nth inclined edges which are connected in sequence and whose inclination angles tend to decrease, and the inclination angle of the inclined edge is the angle between the inclined edge and the plane where the substrate is located, and N is a positive integer greater than 1; A light-emitting unit layer is formed, wherein the light-emitting unit layer is located on a side of the pixel definition layer away from the substrate, and the light-emitting unit layer at least partially covers the pixel opening and the groove.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The forming of at least one groove comprises: Providing a barrier preparation mask; Performing diffraction compensation exposure on the barrier preparation mask to form a groove preparation mask; Using the groove preparation mask to prepare at least one groove; Wherein, the barrier preparation mask is used to form a barrier opening. If a barrier opening is formed in the display panel: Along a direction parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, the blocking opening is located between two adjacent pixel openings; the blocking opening has a first cross-section parallel to the plane where the substrate is located, and the area of ​​the first cross-section gradually increases along the direction of the substrate pointing to the first electrode layer; the blocking opening has a second cross-section perpendicular to the plane where the substrate is located, and the second cross-section includes two opposite side edges, the side edges are straight lines, and the angle between the side edges and the plane where the substrate is located is a1, 80°≤a1≤90°.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The forming of at least one groove comprises: A surface treatment process is adopted to bombard the surface of the pixel definition layer away from the first electrode layer with gas to form at least one groove.

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