Blue OLED Emitter Layer with Phosphorescent Scavenger

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with blue or violet emission have shorter lifetimes and lower quantum efficiency compared to those emitting in the green, yellow, orange, or red spectral range, limiting their application in display and lighting.

Innovation Solution

A radiation-emitting device with an emitter layer containing a fluorescent emitter and a phosphorescent exciton scavenger, where the exciton scavenger enhances energy transfer to the fluorescent emitter, improving quantum efficiency and service life by transferring triplet excitons to the singlet state of the fluorescent emitter, thereby increasing radiative decay and charge carrier transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If a fluorescent emitter is used in the violet or blue spectral range, then the service life is extended compared to phosphorescent emitters, but the quantum efficiency is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidquantum efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines a fluorescent emitter and a phosphorescent emitter in a single emitter layer, creating a hybrid system that merges the long lifetime of fluorescent emitters with the high quantum efficiency of phosphorescent emitters. The fluorescent emitter provides the operational longevity while the phosphorescent emitter enhances light output efficiency, and both work synergistically within the same device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The emitter layer uses a composite material system comprising both fluorescent and phosphorescent emitting substances dispersed in a matrix material. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously exhibit the beneficial properties of both emitter types: the extended lifetime characteristic of fluorescent emitters and the high quantum efficiency characteristic of phosphorescent emitters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Use of energy by moving object

If a phosphorescent emitter is used in the violet or blue spectral range, then the quantum efficiency is increased, but the service life is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantum efficiencyVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines a fluorescent emitter and a phosphorescent emitter in a single emitter layer, creating a hybrid system that merges the long lifetime of fluorescent emitters with the high quantum efficiency of phosphorescent emitters. The fluorescent emitter provides the operational longevity while the phosphorescent emitter enhances light output efficiency, and both work synergistically within the same device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The emitter layer uses a composite material system comprising both fluorescent and phosphorescent emitting substances dispersed in a matrix material. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously exhibit the beneficial properties of both emitter types: the extended lifetime characteristic of fluorescent emitters and the high quantum efficiency characteristic of phosphorescent emitters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Use of energy by moving object

If the proportion of phosphorescent exciton scavenger is increased, then the quantum efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantum efficiencyVSAvoidemitter layer composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of the emitting substances within specific ranges (fluorescent emitter: 0.1-5% by weight, phosphorescent emitter: 1-30% by weight) to achieve high quantum efficiency while maintaining manageable device complexity. By carefully controlling these compositional parameters, the system achieves optimal performance without requiring overly complex device structures.

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 device achieves significantly increased quantum efficiency, improved charge carrier balance, lower operating voltage, and extended service life, with lifetimes exceeding 10,000 hours at high luminance, while maintaining the color impression of the emitted light.

Implementation Method 1

the exciton scavenger enhances energy transfer to the fluorescent emitter, improving quantum efficiency and service life by transferring triplet excitons to the singlet state of the fluorescent emitter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy transfer:

Implementation Method 2

which includes a phosphorescent exciton scavenger in addition to the matrix material and the fluorescent emitter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Implementation Method 3

a fluorescent radiation-emitting emitter (which emits in the violet or blue spectral range)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP2422381B1Radiation-emitting device
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 OSRAM OLED
  • EP2422381B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2422381B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a radiation-emitting device comprising a substrate, a first and a second electrode, and an emitter layer arranged between the first and the second electrode that emits light in the violet or blue spectral range. The emitter layer contains a matrix material and (relative to the matrix material) 0.1 - 5 wt % of a fluorescent radiation-emitting emitter and 1-30 wt % of a phosphorescent exciton trap. The maximum emission of the fluorescent emitter and the maximum emission of the phosphorescent exciton trap lie within the blue, violet, or ultraviolet spectral range.