Inkjet Printing Substrate with Discontinuous Organic Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional substrates for inkjet printing in OLED displays face challenges with ink droplet overflow due to limited surface tension variations and increased manufacturing costs, as well as complications in creating geometrical barriers that can affect electrical resistance and resolution.
Innovation Solution
A substrate with a discontinuous photoresist layer structure and a discontinuous organic layer structure, where the organic layer has a lower surface tension than the photoresist layer, is manufactured using indium tin oxide and polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON) layers, allowing for large surface tension variations without the need for costly plasma processes and complex equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a two-layered surface structure with different surface tensions is used to prevent ink droplet overflow, then ink positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to plasma treatment and complex deposition processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface tension parameter by applying a surfactant to specific regions of the substrate. This creates areas with different surface tensions (treated areas have lower surface tension) without requiring complex multi-layer deposition or plasma treatment, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining ink positioning precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a surfactant coating that can be applied through simple dip-coating or spray methods instead of expensive plasma treatment or vacuum deposition. This cheaper alternative achieves the same functional effect of creating surface tension differences to control ink placement
2Manufacturing precision
If geometrical barriers (separators) are used to prevent ink droplet overflow, then ink positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases and electrical resistance may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the barrier function from physical geometrical structures and implements it through chemical modification of the substrate surface. By applying surfactant to specific regions, the substrate itself creates the barrier effect through surface tension differences, eliminating the need for separate separator structures
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant acts as an intermediary substance that modifies the substrate surface properties. It creates the necessary surface tension differences to control ink placement without requiring physical barriers, thus simplifying the overall device structure
3Manufacturing precision
If plasma treatment is used to create surface tension variations, then ink positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/physical plasma treatment process with a chemical approach using surfactants. The surfactant can be applied through simple dip-coating or spray methods, substituting complex plasma equipment with straightforward chemical application processes
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
This approach enables efficient ink droplet positioning with reduced thickness variations, lower manufacturing costs, and improved electrical stability by preventing ink overflow and ensuring uniform layer thickness, thus enhancing the resolution and operational efficiency of OLED displays.
Implementation Method 1
The discontinuous organic layer structure has a lower surface tension than the discontinuous photoresist layer structure
Data Source
AI summary
A substrate for inkjet printing, which includes a photoresist layer structure on a base substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The substrate, which has high surface tension variation and slight thickness variation, may be manufactured at a low cost. The substrate includes a discontinuous organic layer structure made of a fluorinated hydrocarbon or a polysiloxane on the photoresist layer structure.