Photodegradable Light-Emitting Ink for Viscosity and Alignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The viscosity of inks containing inorganic light-emitting elements is challenging to manage, leading to issues with ejection and removal during the manufacturing of display devices, affecting the alignment and efficiency of light-emitting elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a photodegradable functional group in the light-emitting element solvent and thickener, which decomposes upon light irradiation, allowing controlled viscosity adjustment and efficient alignment of elements on electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the viscosity of the ink is low, then the ink may be smoothly ejected through a nozzle, but the precipitation speed of the light-emitting elements dispersed in the ink may be high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses photodegradable thickeners that change viscosity parameters in response to light irradiation. Before ejection, the ink maintains low viscosity for smooth nozzle passage. After ejection and light exposure, the thickener decomposes to adjust viscosity, controlling precipitation speed of light-emitting elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink is prepared with photodegradable thickeners in advance, which remain intact during storage and ejection to maintain low viscosity. Upon light irradiation after ejection, the thickeners decompose preliminarily to control subsequent precipitation, separating the ejection and precipitation control phases.
2Speed
If the viscosity of the ink is high, then the precipitation speed of the light-emitting elements may be slowed down, but ejection through the nozzle may be impossible or difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ink formulation includes photodegradable thickeners that enable dynamic viscosity parameter changes. The ink maintains low viscosity (easy ejection) before light exposure and transitions to higher viscosity (slowed precipitation) after light irradiation, resolving the contradiction between ejection ease and precipitation control.
3Speed
If the viscosity of the ink is high, then the solvent is not smoothly removed from the ink sprayed on the electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The photodegradable thickeners are designed to decompose upon light irradiation as a preliminary action. This decomposition event triggers subsequent solvent removal processes, ensuring that the solvent can be efficiently evaporated or removed after the thickener has performed its viscosity control function during ejection and initial settling.
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
Facilitates the manufacturing of display devices with improved alignment and dispersion of light-emitting elements using an inkjet printing method, enhancing the manufacturing process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a photodegradable functional group in which at least one chemical bond is decomposed by irradiated light
Implementation Method 2
a photodegradable thickener in which a molecular chain is decomposed when light is irradiated
Implementation Method 3
light-emitting elements having a small size are dispersed in an ink and then sprayed on electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a display device comprises the steps of: spraying, on a target substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode formed thereon, an element ink comprising a first element solvent and light-emitting elements dispersed in the first element solvent; forming a second element solvent in which at least some bonds of the first element solvent are decomposed by irradiating light to the first element solvent and mounting the light-emitting elements on the first electrode and the second electrode; and removing the second element solvent.