OLED Hole Transport Polymer Coating for Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organic light emitting devices face challenges with materials that lack thermal stability, efficient charge transfer, chemical stability, and solvent compatibility, leading to issues with high driving voltage, low efficiency, and short service life.

Innovation Solution

A polymer is developed through co-polymerization of a first and second unit, forming a covalent bond, which improves the uniformity and surface characteristics of the organic material layer, enhancing light efficiency, reducing driving voltage, and extending service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If NPB is used as hole transport layer material, then the device can be manufactured, but the glass transition temperature is 100°C or less, making it difficult to use in high electric current devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglass transition temperatureVSAvoidthermal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular structure of hole transport materials by introducing rigid aromatic groups (carbazole, triphenylene) and extending conjugation systems, which fundamentally changes the glass transition temperature parameter from 100°C or less to above 150°C, enabling thermal stability for high electric current applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite hole transport materials by combining multiple functional units (carbazole groups for hole transport, triphenylene groups for thermal stability, and aromatic groups for structural rigidity) into a single molecular structure, achieving both high Tg and excellent charge transport properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If PEDOT:PSS is used as hole transport material, then the device can be manufactured by solution application method, but the LUMO energy level is lower than the light emitting layer, causing poor efficiency and short service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolution applicabilityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the hole transport material by modifying the electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups in the molecular structure, ensuring the LUMO level is higher than the light emitting layer while maintaining solution processability through appropriate solvent selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces specific functional groups at different positions of the molecular structure: electron-donating groups (carbazole) at the core for hole transport, and electron-withdrawing groups (triphenylene) at the periphery for energy level adjustment, creating local functional zones that collectively solve the energy level mismatch problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If conventional organic materials are used, then the device structure is simple, but the materials lack thermal stability, chemical stability, and charge mobility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial structure complexityVSAvoidoverall stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs composite organic materials incorporating multiple stabilizing functionalities: rigid aromatic cores (triphenylene, carbazole) for thermal stability, conjugated systems for charge mobility, and appropriate substituents for chemical stability, all within a single molecular framework that maintains reasonable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent assigns specific functional roles to different parts of the molecular structure: the core aromatic system provides thermal stability, the conjugated bridges provide charge mobility, and the peripheral substituents provide chemical stability and solubility, creating a material where each local region contributes to a specific stability attribute

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 polymer improves the light efficiency and service life of organic light emitting devices by providing better solubility, uniformity, and stability, while maintaining low driving voltage.

Implementation Method 1

A polymer is developed through co-polymerization of a first and second unit, forming a covalent bond

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCovalent bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The electrons and the holes which are injected into the organic material layer are recombined to form an exciton, and the exciton falls down again to the ground state to emit light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3960778B1Polymer, coating composition comprising same, and organic light emitting device using same
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3960778B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3960778B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3960778B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present specification relates to a polymer including: a unit represented by Formula 1; and a unit represented by Formula 2, a coating composition including the same, and an organic light emitting device formed by using the same.