Organic Electroluminescence Element Ionization Potential Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic electroluminescence devices face challenges in prolonging lifetime, improving luminous efficiency, and inhibiting roll-off when driven at high current densities, particularly due to the instability of delayed fluorescent compounds and the competition between emission processes in emitting layers.

Innovation Solution

An organic electroluminescence device is designed with an emitting layer containing a thermally activated delayed fluorescent compound and a fluorescent compound, where the ionization potential difference between the two compounds is optimized to inhibit trap emission and promote energy transfer, thereby enhancing luminous efficiency and reducing roll-off.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) mechanism is used to improve luminous efficiency, then triplet excitons can be converted to singlet excitons, but the delayed fluorescent compound exhibits instability and trap emission occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous efficiencyVSAvoidstability of delayed fluorescent compound
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fluorescent compound as an intermediary material in the emitting layer. This fluorescent compound acts as a mediator that receives energy from the delayed fluorescent compound through energy transfer, converting the unstable delayed fluorescence emission into stable fluorescent emission. The fluorescent compound thus serves as a bridge that transforms the harmful instability of TADF compounds into useful stable light emission, resolving the contradiction between improving luminous efficiency and maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful trap emission and instability of delayed fluorescent compounds into beneficial effects. By utilizing the energy transfer from the delayed fluorescent compound to the fluorescent compound, the patent transforms the unstable TADF emission (which causes reliability issues) into stable fluorescent emission. The previously harmful trap emission is converted into a mechanism that can still contribute to overall emission while the stability issue is resolved through the fluorescent compound's stable emission characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If high current density is applied to improve productivity, then light output increases, but roll-off occurs and lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight outputVSAvoiddevice lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the energy level parameters of the emitting layer materials to resolve the roll-off issue. By carefully selecting materials with appropriate energy levels (where the fluorescent compound's energy level is lower than the delayed fluorescent compound's energy level), the patent enables efficient energy transfer while maintaining stable emission characteristics at high current densities. This parameter optimization allows the device to operate at high productivity without the severe roll-off that would otherwise occur, thereby extending device lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If delayed fluorescent compound is used to utilize triplet excitons, then luminous efficiency improves, but competition between emission processes reduces overall performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous efficiencyVSAvoidoverall emission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the emission function into two distinct components: the delayed fluorescent compound is responsible for harvesting triplet excitons and transferring energy, while the fluorescent compound is responsible for the actual light emission. This segmentation allows each material to perform its specialized function optimally - the delayed fluorescent compound efficiently converts triplet excitons without suffering from stability issues, while the fluorescent compound provides stable, controllable emission. This division of labor resolves the competition between emission processes by making them sequential rather than competing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 combination of delayed fluorescent and fluorescent compounds in the emitting layer prolongs the device's lifetime, improves luminous efficiency, and inhibits roll-off at high current densities by optimizing energy transfer and carrier balance.

Implementation Method 1

a thermally activated delayed fluorescent compound... inverse intersystem crossing from triplet excitons to singlet excitons thermally occurs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF): Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

energy transfer from a delayed fluorescent compound to a fluorescent compound... ionization potential difference between the two compounds is optimized to inhibit trap emission and promote energy transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy transfer: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 3

When a voltage is applied to an organic electroluminescence device, holes and electrons are injected into an emitting layer respectively from an anode and a cathode. The injected holes and electrons are recombined to generate excitons in the emitting layer.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3255693B1Organic electroluminescence element and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 IDEMITSU KOSAN CO LTD
  • EP3255693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3255693B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3255693B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An organic electroluminescence device includes an anode, an emitting layer and a cathode, in which the emitting layer includes a first compound and a second compound, the first compound is a delayed fluorescent compound, the second compound is a fluorescent compound, an emission quantum efficiency of the first compound is 70% or less, and an ionization potential Ip1 of the first compound and an ionization potential Ip2 of the second compound satisfy a relationship of 0 ≤ Ip2 - Ip1 ≤ 0.8 eV.