Light-Emitting Device Without Isolation Banks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light-emitting devices with isolation structures face issues such as uneven film formation due to capillary effects, leading to poor light-emitting performance, and instability of the top electrode, which results in non-emitting pixels and reduced light-emitting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device design without isolation structures between the substrate and electrodes, featuring a stack of functional layers with adjacent units in contact, and a second electrode on top, which suppresses electrical leakage and enhances light-emitting efficiency by maintaining a uniform film and stable electrode contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If isolation structures are used to define pixels, then pixel definition is improved, but film uniformity deteriorates due to capillary effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the isolation structures (banks) from the device architecture entirely. Instead of using physical barriers to define pixels, the invention relies on the self-aligned nature of the electrode patterns and the controlled deposition processes to achieve pixel definition, thereby eliminating the capillary effects that cause film non-uniformity around isolation structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using isolation structures to define pixel boundaries from the substrate up, the patent inverts the approach by defining pixels through the electrode patterns and functional layer deposition. The pixel definition emerges from the top-down process of forming electrodes and depositing functional materials in controlled patterns, rather than building up from isolated substrate regions.
2Manufacturing precision
If isolation structures are used to separate pixels, then pixel separation is improved, but top electrode stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of pixel separation and electrode support into a unified continuous top electrode structure. The top electrode extends continuously across what would traditionally be isolated pixel regions, providing mechanical stability and electrical continuity while pixel separation is achieved through the underlying electrode patterns and functional layer configuration rather than physical isolation structures.
3Manufacturing precision
If isolation structures are used for pixel definition, then pixel boundary definition is improved, but light-emitting efficiency deteriorates due to electrical leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the lower functional layer as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it provides electrical insulation to prevent leakage between adjacent pixels while simultaneously serving as a functional layer for charge transport or blocking. This eliminates the need for thick isolation structures that would interfere with light emission, as the insulating function is achieved through the functional layer's material properties rather than physical barrier height.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a light-emitting device, a method of preparing the light-emitting device and an electronic device. The light-emitting device includes a plurality of first electrodes disposed above the substrate; a stack of functional layers disposed above the plurality of first electrodes, the stack including at least a light-emitting layer, the light-emitting layer including a plurality of units, the plurality of units being disposed in correspondence with corresponding first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes, and adjacent units of the plurality of units being in contact with each other; and a second electrode, disposed above the stack.