Organic UV Emitter Materials for Solid-State Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current organic electroluminescent devices have limited capability to emit radiation in the UV range, particularly in the lower UV-A and UV-B ranges, with poor performance data and a lack of suitable organic emitter materials.

Innovation Solution

Development of organic electroluminescent devices incorporating specific aromatic, non-condensed emitter materials that emit radiation with wavelengths of 280 to 380 nm, utilizing compounds with specific structural formulas in the emitting layer to enhance efficiency and stability, and the use of mixed host systems and barrier layers to improve performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional UV radiation sources (mercury lamps, xenon lamps) are used, then UV radiation can be emitted, but the devices are cumbersome, contain toxic substances, and have poor safety and portability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetoxic substancesVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical UV lamp systems with an organic electroluminescent device that generates UV radiation through electroluminescence. The device uses organic emitter materials in the emitting layer to convert electrical energy directly into UV photons, eliminating the need for mercury lamps, xenon lamps, and associated mechanical components, thereby removing toxic substances and improving portability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the emission wavelength parameter of the electroluminescent device to target the UV range (280-380 nm). By selecting specific organic emitter materials with appropriate HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, the device is tuned to emit UV radiation instead of visible light, while maintaining the benefits of solid-state operation and eliminating toxic substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If UV LEDs are used, then UV radiation can be emitted, but most emit only wavelengths greater than 365 nm or are very expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUV radiation wavelength rangeVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the emission wavelength parameter of the electroluminescent device to target the UV range (280-365 nm). By selecting specific organic emitter materials with appropriate HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, the device is tuned to emit UV radiation instead of visible light, while maintaining the benefits of solid-state operation and eliminating toxic substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent discards the conventional approach of using inorganic phosphors or complex organometallic complexes for UV emission. Instead, it recovers and utilizes simple organic compounds with appropriate energy levels, which are easier and cheaper to synthesize while achieving the desired UV emission characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If organic electroluminescent devices are designed for UV emission, then flexible and surface emitter configurations are achieved, but very little is known about devices emitting in the UV range and performance characteristics are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible device configurationVSAvoidUV emission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite emitting layer system consisting of multiple organic components: emitter compounds (formulas 1 and 2), host materials, and dopants. This composite structure allows optimization of charge transport, exciton management, and UV emission efficiency, thereby improving the reliability and performance characteristics of UV OLEDs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces host materials as intermediaries between the electrodes and emitter compounds. These host materials facilitate charge injection, transport, and recombination, while also managing exciton formation and energy transfer to the emitter, thereby improving overall device performance and stability in the UV emission regime

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 devices achieve efficient UV emission with improved radiation intensity and reduced operating voltage, enabling applications in various fields including life science, medicine, and electronics.

Implementation Method 1

The devices achieve efficient UV emission with improved radiation intensity and reduced operating voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2906662B1Emitter and hosts with aromatic units
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 MERCK PATENT GMBH
  • EP2906662B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2906662B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2906662B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention concerns polymers, electroluminescence devices, compositions and their use.