Angled Edge Electrode Organic EL Panel Inkjet Patterning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing organic electroluminescent panels using the inkjet method require a bank structure to prevent liquid mixing, which increases the number of steps and can result in patterning issues and residue-related problems, making it difficult to achieve a high aperture ratio.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming electrodes with angled edge portions that restrict the behavior of coating liquids, eliminating the need for a bank structure by using a conductive body with an angled edge portion to surround the top face, allowing for the direct application and drying of organic layers without mixing, thereby simplifying the process and improving the aperture ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bank structure is used to prevent liquid mixing in inkjet method, then liquid mixing is prevented, but the number of steps increases and aperture ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the bank structure from the device, replacing it with a surface treatment on the substrate that provides the same liquid confinement function without the physical barrier, thereby reducing structural complexity and manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface energy parameters of the substrate through fluorine-containing compound treatment, transforming it from a lyophilic surface to a lyophobic surface, which enables liquid confinement without requiring a bank structure
2Reliability
If a bank structure is used to prevent liquid mixing, then liquid mixing is prevented, but aperture ratio and light-emitting area are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bank structure is completely removed from the device architecture, allowing the light-emitting area to extend to the edges of the substrate without being constrained by peripheral banks, thereby maximizing the aperture ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate surface itself is treated to provide liquid-repellent properties, making the substrate serve the dual function of both support and liquid confinement boundary, eliminating the need for separate bank structures
3Reliability
If fluorine coating is applied to create water-repellent bank, then water repellency is achieved, but patterning properties deteriorate and residue problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
A fluorine-containing compound is used as an intermediary substance to treat the substrate surface, providing water repellency through surface energy modification without forming a thick coating that would interfere with subsequent patterning processes
Solution Approach 2:
The surface energy parameters of the substrate are modified by fluorine treatment to achieve water repellency, while controlling the treatment conditions to prevent residue formation that would affect patterning precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the production process, enhances the aperture ratio, and prevents liquid mixing, leading to a more efficient and effective formation of organic electroluminescent elements with improved light-emitting performance.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive body with an angled edge portion to surround the top face
Implementation Method 2
restrict the behavior of coating liquids
Implementation Method 3
painting the areas for respective light-emitting layers and organic layers with different liquids by an inkjet method in which a liquid containing organic materials is ejected from a nozzle and supplied in a fine flow shape
Implementation Method 4
a gas containing fluorine is decomposed by plasma with a vacuum plasma device or an atmospheric-pressure plasma device to coat the surface of the bank with fluorine
Implementation Method 5
decomposed by plasma
Implementation Method 6
Each of the organic EL elements has a plurality of organic layers (organic material layers) made of an organic compound having charge-transporting properties between an anode and a cathode
Implementation Method 7
is a luminus element containing at least one light-emitting layer in the organic layers
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing an organic electroluminescent panel having an organic layer formed by a coating step and a large aperture ratio includes: a first step of arraying and distributing a plurality of first electrodes on or above a substrate; a second step of forming stacking bodies each composed of a plurality of organic-emitting layer on the top face of each of the first electrodes; and a third step of forming organic electroluminescent elements by forming second electrodes respectively on or above the stacking bodies. In the first step, a conductive body having an angled edge portion forming a edge line surrounding the top face itself is used. The second step includes a step of supplying at least a liquid having a light-emitting organic material that is ejected from a nozzle and supplied in a fine flow shape to the organic layer on the top face.