Light Emitting Device Cathode Stability via Heterocyclic Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light emitting devices face challenges in reducing cathode thickness while maintaining film uniformity and high temperature stability, leading to lower light transmittance and reliability due to metal particle aggregation and surface uniformity issues.

Innovation Solution

A light emitting device with a cathode and organic layers formed from a heterocyclic compound with lone-pair electrons, which bonds with a metal component to prevent aggregation and ensure interfacial stability, allowing for a thinner cathode with improved transmittance and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the thickness of the cathode is reduced to increase light transmittance, then light transmittance is improved, but film uniformity and high temperature stability deteriorate due to metal particle aggregation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidfilm uniformity and high temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An organic layer containing heterocyclic compounds with lone-pair electrons is introduced as an intermediary between the cathode and adjacent layers. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact that would cause metal particle aggregation, while still allowing effective electron injection and maintaining cathode functionality at reduced thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cathode structure is transformed from a single metal layer to a composite structure combining metal with an organic layer containing heterocyclic compounds. This composite material provides both the electrical conductivity of metal and the stabilizing effect of the organic compound, preventing aggregation and improving high-temperature stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If a single metal is used as the cathode to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but surface uniformity deteriorates due to metal particle aggregation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecathode structureVSAvoidsurface uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cathode is designed as a composite material combining metal with an organic layer containing heterocyclic compounds. This composite structure maintains relative structural simplicity while the organic component prevents metal particle aggregation, achieving both low complexity and high surface uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Illumination intensity

If the cathode thickness is reduced to improve light transmittance, then light transmittance is improved, but bonding force at the interface between the cathode and organic layers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidbonding force at the interface
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The chemical composition of the organic layer is specifically changed to include heterocyclic compounds with lone-pair electrons. This parameter change in molecular structure creates strong coordinate bonds with metal atoms at the interface, maintaining high bonding force even when the cathode thickness is reduced for improved light transmittance

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 solution achieves a stable and thin cathode with enhanced light transmittance and reliability by preventing metal particle aggregation and ensuring strong bonding between the cathode and organic layers, even at high temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

organic layers contacting both surfaces of a cathode include an organic compound with lone-pair electrons to increase bonding force at the interfaces between the cathode and the organic layers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding with lone-pair electrons: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3618135B1Light emitting device and transparent display device using the same
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3618135B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3618135B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3618135B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6A

AI summary

Disclosed are a light emitting device which has improved reliability by increasing bonding force between a cathode and organic layers contacting both surface thereof, and a transparent display device using the same.