Transparent OLED Surface Energy Control for Metal Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transparent organic light-emitting display panels face challenges in achieving high light transmittance and maintaining long-term performance due to the presence of metal electrodes in light-transmitting areas, which reduce transmittance and lead to premature degradation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a surface energy controlling layer with a fluorinated organic compound in the light-transmitting areas to prevent the deposition of metal electrodes, combined with a buffer layer to enhance the display panel's longevity and transmittance, and optimizing the layer structure with additional components like electron transport and injection layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal electrodes are placed in light-transmitting areas to enable electrical functionality, then the display panel can operate as an organic light-emitting display, but light transmittance is reduced and premature degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts metal electrodes from the light-transmitting areas (second areas) while maintaining them in the light-emitting areas (first areas). This is achieved through a surface energy controlling layer that prevents metal deposition in specific regions, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of metal on light transmittance while preserving electrical functionality where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different regions: the surface energy controlling layer is disposed only in light-transmitting areas to prevent metal deposition, while light-emitting areas maintain their original structure with metal electrodes. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of light transmittance in transparent regions and electrical functionality in active display regions.
2Illumination intensity
If metal electrodes are present in light-transmitting areas, then electrical connectivity is maintained, but transmittance is reduced and degradation accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The surface energy controlling layer acts as an intermediary between the buffer layer and the metal electrode deposition process. It mediates the contradiction by preventing metal deposition in light-transmitting areas through surface energy control, thereby protecting the display panel from metal-induced degradation while allowing metal electrodes to function in light-emitting areas.
3Manufacturing precision
If the surface energy of the buffer layer is high, then metal electrodes deposit uniformly, but light transmittance in transparent areas decreases due to unwanted metal deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface energy parameter of the buffer layer by introducing a surface energy controlling layer with fluorinated organic compounds. This parameter change reduces surface energy in light-transmitting areas, preventing metal deposition there, while maintaining appropriate surface energy in light-emitting areas for proper electrode formation. The fluorine concentration gradient (10%-70%) provides precise control over surface energy properties.
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 significantly improves light transmittance and extends the lifespan of the display apparatus by preventing metal electrode deposition in light-transmitting areas and maintaining luminance over time, as demonstrated by comparative examples.
Implementation Method 1
a surface energy controlling layer disposed on the buffer layer to overlap the second electrode and not to overlap the first electrode in a plan view
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus of an embodiment includes a first area and a second area disposed adjacent to the first area in a plan view, and includes a first electrode disposed in the first area and a second electrode disposed in the second area, a hole transport region disposed on the first electrode and the second electrode, an emission layer disposed on the hole transport region to overlap the first electrode and not to overlap the second electrode, a buffer layer disposed on the emission layer in the first area and the second area, a surface energy controlling layer disposed on the buffer layer to overlap the second electrode and not to overlap the first electrode, and a third electrode disposed on the buffer layer to overlap the first electrode and not to overlap the surface energy controlling layer. Such a display apparatus may have improved transmittance.