Organic Light-Emitting Element Dopant Interdiffusion Barrier

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting devices face challenges in maintaining driving stability due to chemical reactions and increased driving voltage caused by dopant interdiffusion between layers, which affects device performance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a stacked structure with an undoped first layer, a barrier second layer, and an n-type dopant third layer, along with an additional electron transport layer, to prevent chemical reactions and dopant diffusion, thereby enhancing stability and reducing voltage increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dopant is added to electron transport layer to improve electron injection, then electron transport performance is improved, but dopant interdiffusion between layers occurs causing chemical reactions and increased driving voltage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving stabilityVSAvoidchemical reactions and dopant interdiffusion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an undoped electron transport layer as an intermediary barrier between the doped electron transport layer and the light emitting layer. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact and interdiffusion between dopants in the doped layer and materials in the light emitting layer, thereby eliminating chemical reactions and dopant contamination while maintaining electron transport performance through the doped layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The electron transport function is segmented into multiple distinct layers: a doped electron transport layer for electron injection and transport enhancement, an undoped electron transport layer as a barrier to prevent dopant diffusion, and additional undoped layers positioned strategically. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without interfering with adjacent layers, preventing harmful interdiffusion while maintaining overall device performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple organic material layers are stacked to improve device functionality, then device performance is enhanced, but complexity of layer structure and manufacturing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice performanceVSAvoidlayer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The undoped electron transport layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a physical barrier to prevent dopant diffusion, provides an additional electron transport pathway, maintains energy level alignment between layers, and prevents chemical reactions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized layers, thereby managing complexity while enhancing device performance and reliability.

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

The proposed structure effectively prevents chemical reactions and dopant interdiffusion, leading to improved driving stability, reduced voltage increase, and enhanced performance with better low voltage, high luminance, and efficiency properties.

Implementation Method 1

a light-emitting element comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode opposed to the first electrode; and an organic light-emitting layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic light-emitting layer containing a deuterium-labeled carbazole-based compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3016158B1Organic light-emitting element
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3016158B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3016158B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3016158B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present application describes an organic light emitting device including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer between a cathode and a light emitting layer or between light emitting units, in which the first layer includes an n-type organic material or metal oxide, the second layer includes a barrier material, and the third layer includes an n-type dopant.