Hole-Transporting Ink Composition for Uniform OLED Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) face challenges in achieving high luminance, efficiency, lifespan, and low driving voltage due to issues with wettability and in-pixel uniformity during the solution process.

Innovation Solution

A hole-transporting ink composition comprising an adhesion-promoting compound and a hole-transporting compound, which forms a self-assembled monolayer on the substrate, improving wettability and uniformity, and includes a non-polar solvent for better layer formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional hole-transporting materials are used in OLEDs, then the device structure is simple, but the wettability and in-pixel uniformity are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvein-pixel uniformityVSAvoidhole transport region structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hole transport region is divided into two distinct layers: a hole injection layer (HIL) containing adhesion-promoting compound and hole-transporting compound, and a hole transport layer (HTL) containing hole-transporting compound. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, with the HIL providing excellent wettability and adhesion, and the HTL providing efficient hole transport, thereby achieving high in-pixel uniformity without excessive overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesion-promoting compound acts as an intermediary substance between the substrate and the hole-transporting materials. It forms a self-assembled monolayer that improves wettability and adhesion, enabling subsequent layers to be deposited uniformly. This intermediary layer resolves the contradiction by providing the necessary surface properties without requiring the base substrate to be modified.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If solution processing is used for manufacturing OLEDs, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the wettability and layer uniformity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolution processingVSAvoidlayer uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the solution processing system by introducing adhesion-promoting compounds with specific functional groups that enhance wettability. By optimizing the chemical composition and concentration of the solution, the patent achieves both ease of manufacture through solution processing and high layer uniformity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If high luminance and efficiency are achieved in OLEDs, then the device performance is improved, but the driving voltage increases and lifespan decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveluminanceVSAvoiddriving voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hole-transporting ink composition is designed to self-optimize its properties through the self-assembled monolayer formation of the adhesion-promoting compound. This self-organizing behavior creates optimal interfaces that facilitate efficient charge transport, allowing the device to achieve high luminance at lower driving voltages, thus resolving the contradiction between performance and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 process results in OLEDs with excellent characteristics such as high luminance, high efficiency, long lifespan, and low driving voltage.

Implementation Method 1

the adhesion-promoting compound forms a self-assembled monolayer on a surface of a liquid-repellent substrate or electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Data Source

PatentEP3916823B1Hole-transporting ink composition, light-emitting device, and method of preparing the light-emitting device
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3916823B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3916823B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3916823B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hole-transporting ink composition for a light emitting device. The hole-transporting ink composition includes an adhesion-promoting compound represented by Formula 1 and a hole-transporting compound:          Formula 1     A1-B1-C1 wherein, in Formula 1, the variables are defined herein.