Multi-Layer Barrier Structure for OLED Inkjet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light emitting devices manufactured using inkjet printing techniques often suffer from uneven film thickness, leading to inconsistent light emitting effects due to the limitations in material distribution and processing.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting device with a multi-layer barrier structure comprising a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, and a third barrier layer, where the second barrier layer is a metal or inorganic dielectric material, helping to control the thickness and hydrophobicity of the light emitting structure layer, ensuring even distribution of materials and blocking escape gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If inkjet printing technique is used to manufacture organic light emitting devices, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but film thickness becomes uneven leading to inconsistent light emitting effect
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier structure layer is divided into three distinct barrier layers with different materials and functions. The first barrier layer (organic or inorganic dielectric) provides initial barrier function, the second barrier layer (metal material) provides enhanced barrier function and controls material distribution, and the third barrier layer (fluorine-containing photoresist) provides final barrier function and hydrophobicity control. This segmentation allows each layer to address specific aspects of the film thickness uniformity problem while maintaining the cost benefits of inkjet printing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different barrier layers are applied to different regions and provide different local functions. The first barrier layer contacts the first electrode and provides initial material confinement, the second barrier layer provides enhanced barrier function in critical regions, and the third barrier layer provides hydrophobicity and final material distribution control. This local quality approach ensures that each region of the light emitting structure receives appropriate barrier protection tailored to its specific needs, achieving uniform film thickness despite using inkjet printing.
2Manufacturing precision
If barrier structure layer is added to control film thickness, then light emitting uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layer barrier structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: material barrier function, hydrophobicity control, film thickness confinement, and interface protection. By integrating these multiple functions into a single barrier structure layer comprising three layers, the patent reduces overall device complexity compared to adding separate structures for each function. The second barrier layer's metal material provides both barrier function and hydrophobicity, while the third barrier layer's fluorine-containing photoresist provides both protection and hydrophobicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier structure layer uses composite materials with different properties: organic or inorganic dielectric material for the first barrier layer, metal material for the second barrier layer, and fluorine-containing photoresist for the third barrier layer. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its unique properties (barrier function, hydrophobicity, material confinement) to achieve uniform film thickness without requiring complex external control systems.
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 multi-layer barrier structure ensures a consistent thickness of the light emitting structure layer, enhancing the light emitting device's performance by maintaining even light emission and preventing gas invasion, thus improving the overall quality of the organic light emitting diode.
Implementation Method 1
The second barrier layer stacks on the first barrier layer. The third barrier layer stacks on the second barrier layer... blocking escape gases
Implementation Method 2
The material of the second barrier layer includes a metal material... helping to control the thickness and hydrophobicity of the light emitting structure layer
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting device including a base, a first electrode, a barrier structure layer, a light emitting layer and a second electrode is provided. The barrier structure layer includes a first barrier layer in contact with the first electrode, a second barrier layer and a third barrier layer. The first barrier layer, the second barrier layer and the third barrier layer stack sequentially.The materials of the first barrier layer and the third barrier layer include a dielectric material. The material of the second barrier layer includes a metal material. A boundary between the third barrier layer and the second barrier layer keeps a vertical distance from the first electrode. The light emitting structure layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and surrounded by the barrier structure layer. The thickness of the light emitting structure layer is not greater than the vertical distance.