Light-Emitting Element Electron-Relay Layer Low Voltage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current light-emitting elements with multiple layers require high voltage for operation due to interface interactions between metal-doped layers and charge-generation layers, leading to increased power consumption and reduced luminance.

Innovation Solution

A light-emitting element structure with a charge production region, electron-relay layer, and electron-injecting buffer is implemented, where the electron-relay layer prevents interaction between the charge production and electron-injecting layers, allowing efficient electron injection and reducing the driving voltage, using materials with specific LUMO levels to minimize electric field and enhance electron injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a charge production layer formed of vanadium pentoxide is provided over a metal-doped layer, then a light-emitting element with multiple light-emitting units can be constructed, but the interface between the metal-doped layer and the charge-generation layer has a high electric field requiring high voltage for driving

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveluminanceVSAvoiddriving voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

An electron-relay layer is introduced as an intermediary between the charge production layer and the electron-injecting buffer. This intermediate layer mediates electron transport, reducing the electric field intensity at the charge production layer interface while maintaining efficient electron injection into the light-emitting layer, thereby enabling low-voltage operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the LUMO level parameter of the electron-relay layer to be between that of the charge production layer and the light-emitting layer. This parameter optimization creates favorable electron transport conditions, reducing the energy barrier and enabling efficient electron injection at lower voltages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If a large amount of current is supplied to the light-emitting layer, then emission luminance can be increased, but power consumption increases and deterioration of the light-emitting element is accelerated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission luminanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electron-relay layer acts as a mediator that improves electron injection efficiency into the light-emitting layer. This enables achieving high emission luminance through efficient electron transport rather than high current density, thereby reducing power consumption and preventing element deterioration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By optimizing the LUMO level parameter of the electron-relay layer, the patent creates favorable conditions for electron injection. This parameter change enables high luminance output at lower current densities, reducing power consumption and extending device lifetime

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables a light-emitting element that can be driven at low voltage while maintaining high luminance and reducing power consumption, suitable for use in various electronic and lighting devices.

Implementation Method 1

an electron-relay layer which prevents interaction between the charge production region and the electron-injecting buffer, allows efficient electron injection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron transport: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

Current is applied to a light-emitting layer provided between a pair of electrodes in a light-emitting element to excite a light-emitting material contained in the light-emitting layer, whereby a predetermined emission color can be obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2192633B1Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, lighting device, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 SEMICON ENERGY LAB CO LTD
  • EP2192633B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2192633B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2192633B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An object is to provide a light-emitting element which exhibits light emission with high luminance and can be driven at low voltage. Another object is to provide a light-emitting device or an electronic device with reduced power consumption. Between an anode and a cathode, n (n is a natural number of two or more) EL layers are provided, where between a first EL layer and a second EL layer, a first layer containing any of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, an alkali metal compound, an alkaline earth metal compound, and a rare earth metal compound, a second layer containing a material having a high electron-transporting property in contact with the first layer, and a region containing a material having a high hole-transporting property and an acceptor material in contact with the second layer are provided in this order from the anode side.