Organic Light-Emitting Display Pixel Electrode Trench Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic light-emitting display apparatuses face issues with silver (Ag) diffusion and particle-like defects due to the reprecipitation of Ag during the etching process, leading to dark spots and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
The organic light-emitting display apparatus incorporates a semi-transparent metal pixel electrode with its end disposed inside a trench formed in inorganic insulating layers, preventing Ag diffusion and using organic insulating layers to cover source and drain electrodes, thereby reducing Ag reprecipitation and particle-like defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a metal pixel electrode is used to improve light emission efficiency, then light emission efficiency is improved, but silver diffusion and particle-like defects occur during etching process
Solution Approach 1:
An organic insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the metal pixel electrode and the etching process. This layer prevents direct contact between the etchant and the silver-containing electrode material, thereby preventing silver diffusion and particle-like defects while maintaining the light emission efficiency of the metal electrode
Solution Approach 2:
The organic insulating layer serves as a temporary protective barrier that is removed after serving its purpose of preventing silver diffusion during etching. This disposable layer enables the use of metal electrodes without the harmful side effects
2Reliability
If organic insulating layers are used to cover source and drain electrodes, then silver reprecipitation is reduced, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The organic insulating layer performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a protective barrier during etching, prevents silver diffusion, and acts as an insulating layer in the final device structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate layers, thereby limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity
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 effectively reduces Ag diffusion and particle-like defects, enhancing display quality by preventing Ag reprecipitation and improving the reliability of the organic light-emitting display apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a pixel electrode including a semi-transparent metal layer and having an end located in a trench formed around the first insulating layer
Implementation Method 2
light is emitted when holes injected from the hole injection electrode and electrons injected from the electron injection electrode recombine and progressively decay in the organic light-emitting layer
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, source and drain electrodes, a first insulating layer between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulating layer between the gate electrode and the source and drain electrodes, a third insulating layer covering the source and drain electrodes, the third insulating layer being an organic insulating layer, a pixel electrode including a semi-transparent metal layer and having an end located in a trench formed around the first insulating layer, a fourth insulating layer including an opening exposing a top surface of the pixel electrode, the fourth insulating layer being an organic insulating layer, an organic light-emitting layer on the pixel electrode, and a counter electrode on the organic light-emitting layer.