Blue-Emitting Polymer with Spirofluorene Backbone for OLEDs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional organic electroluminescent devices face challenges with low efficiency, high turn-on voltage, short lifetime, and poor color purity, particularly in polymer-based systems, which hinder their application in high-performance displays.

Innovation Solution

A blue-emitting polymer with a bisindenospirofluorene unit incorporated into a polyarylene backbone is developed, enhancing emission efficiency and color purity, and used in an organic electroluminescent device configuration that includes specific layer structures and manufacturing methods to achieve improved performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If polymer organic electroluminescent devices are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but color purity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcolor purity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters of the polymer by incorporating spirofluorene units with specific substituents (Ar groups) at defined positions in the backbone. This structural parameter change transforms the emission characteristics to achieve high color purity blue light while preserving the polymer's solution-processability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polymer structure by combining spirofluorene units with aromatic substituent groups (Ar) in a copolymer backbone. This composite molecular structure integrates the rigid spirofluorene core for high color purity with flexible aromatic side groups for processability, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and color purity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional polymer materials are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidefficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular parameters of the polymer by selecting specific aromatic groups (Ar) as substituents on the spirofluorene backbone. These parameter changes enhance the electron-hole recombination efficiency and light emission quantum yield, achieving high efficiency while maintaining the solution-processing advantage of polymers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional polymer materials are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but lifetime deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a composite polymer structure where spirofluorene units provide structural rigidity and photostability, while aromatic substituent groups enhance solubility and processability. This composite architecture improves device lifetime by preventing polymer degradation and maintaining stable electroluminescence over time, while still allowing easy manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional polymer materials are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but turn-on voltage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidturn-on voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the electronic parameters of the polymer by incorporating electron-donating or electron-withdrawing aromatic groups (Ar) on the spirofluorene backbone. This parameter optimization tunes the HOMO-LUMO energy levels and improves charge carrier injection efficiency, reducing turn-on voltage while preserving the ease of manufacture inherent to polymer systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The blue-emitting polymer achieves high color purity, low turn-on voltage, and extended lifetime, improving the overall efficiency and stability of the organic electroluminescent device, particularly in maintaining blue chromaticity characteristics across varying brightness levels.

Implementation Method 1

Organic electroluminescent devices (hereinafter, referred to as 'organic EL devices') are self-emission displays that emit light by recombination of electrons and holes in a thin layer (hereinafter, referred to as 'organic layer') made of a fluorescent or phosphorescent organic compound when a current is applied to the organic layer.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS7550207B2Blue-emitting polymer and organic electroluminescent device using the same
Publication Date: 2009.06.23 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US7550207B2 patent drawing
  • US7550207B2 patent drawing
  • US7550207B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A blue-emitting polymer in which a bisindenospirofluorene unit is incorporated in a polyarylene polymer backbone, and an organic EL device using the blue-emitting polymer as a light-emitting material. One example of the blue-emitting polymer may be represented by Formula 1:where Ar, R1 through R14, X1 and X2, M and n are defined in the specification. The organic EL device exhibits excellent emission efficiency, low turn-on voltage, good color stability and color purity.