Inverted OLED Efficiency via Dual Electron-Deficient Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inverted OLED devices experience significant voltage rise over time due to poor hole and electron injection at anode and cathode interfaces, leading to luminance issues and operational challenges.

Innovation Solution

The use of two electron-accepting layers, one between the hole-transporting layer and the anode and another between the electron-transporting layer and the cathode, both comprising electron-deficient organic materials with reduction potentials greater than -0.5 V, to improve charge injection and reduce voltage rise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inverted OLED configuration is used to connect OLED cathode to drain of driving TFT, then changes in OLED characteristics affect only current (Ids) and not voltage between gate and source (Vgs), but poor hole and electron injection at anode and cathode interfaces causes large voltage rise over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of Vgs against OLED agingVSAvoiddrive voltage rise over time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

An electron-accepting layer comprising electron-deficient organic material with reduction potential greater than -0.5V is introduced at the anode interface as an intermediary between the anode and hole-transporting layer. This mediator improves hole injection efficiency and stabilizes the anode interface, preventing voltage rise over time while maintaining the inverted configuration's electrical stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If electron-deficient organic material with reduction potential greater than -0.5V is used in electron-accepting layer, then charge injection is improved and voltage rise is reduced, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidnumber of organic layers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electron-accepting layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an electron sink to maintain charge balance, improves hole injection at the anode interface, and stabilizes the anode-cathode voltage difference. This multi-functionality allows a single layer to address multiple issues without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration results in a lower rise in drive voltage with aging, enhancing the operational stability and efficiency of inverted OLED devices.

Implementation Method 1

two electron-accepting layers, one between the hole-transporting layer and the anode and another between the electron-transporting layer and the cathode, both comprising electron-deficient organic materials with reduction potentials greater than -0.5 V

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron acceptance: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentEP2201626B1Inverted OLED device with improved efficiency
Publication Date: 2015.02.25 GLOBAL OLED TECHNOLOGY LLC
  • EP2201626B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2201626B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2201626B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inverted OLED device, comprising: a substrate; a cathode disposed on the substrate; an anode spaced from the cathode; at least one light-emitting layer disposed between the anode and the cathode; a hole-transporting layer disposed between the anode and the light-emitting layer(s); an electron-transporting layer disposed between the cathode and the light-emitting layer(s); a first electron-accepting layer disposed between the hole-transporting layer and the anode and including a first electron-deficient organic material constituting more than 50% by volume of the first electron-accepting layer and having a reduction potential greater than -0.5 V vs. a Saturated Calomel Electrode; and a second electron-accepting layer disposed between the electron-transporting layer and the cathode including a second electron-deficient organic material constituting more than 50% by volume of the second electron-accepting layer and having a reduction potential greater than -0.5 V vs. a Saturated Calomel Electrode.