Plastic Substrate with Secondary Scattering Component for Light Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic substrates for organic electronic devices lack efficient light extraction and surface roughness characteristics, which are crucial for optimal performance and manufacturing stability.

Innovation Solution

A plastic substrate with a supporting layer comprising a polymeric binder and a scattering component, where the scattering component is incorporated within a specific weight ratio and thickness range, providing excellent light extraction efficiency and surface roughness, and is produced by adding the scattering component secondarily to the polymeric binder precursor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a plastic substrate is used for organic electronic devices, then ease of manufacture and flexibility are improved, but light extraction efficiency and surface roughness characteristics deteriorate compared to glass substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlight extraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies composite materials by incorporating scattering components (such as TiO2 particles) into the plastic substrate matrix. This creates a composite structure that combines the manufacturing advantages of plastic with the light scattering properties needed for efficient light extraction, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and light extraction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the optical parameters of the plastic substrate by controlling the refractive index difference between the substrate and surrounding media, and by adjusting the size and concentration of scattering components. These parameter changes enable plastic substrates to achieve light extraction efficiency comparable to glass substrates while maintaining manufacturing advantages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If scattering components are added to improve light extraction efficiency, then light extraction efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision and surface flatness deteriorate due to concave-convex structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight extraction efficiencyVSAvoidsurface flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the size parameter of scattering components to 0.1-10 μm, which is small enough to minimize surface topography disruption while large enough to effectively scatter light. This parameter optimization allows the substrate to maintain both good light extraction efficiency and surface flatness for manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The scattering components are uniformly distributed throughout the bulk of the substrate rather than concentrated at the surface. This local distribution strategy ensures that light scattering occurs within the substrate interior, preserving surface flatness while achieving the desired light extraction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If scattering components are incorporated in high concentration to maximize light extraction, then light extraction efficiency is improved, but dispersibility and manufacturing stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight extraction efficiencyVSAvoiddispersibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameter of scattering components to a specific range (0.1-10 wt%) where sufficient light scattering occurs without causing aggregation. At this optimized concentration, the scattering components remain well-dispersed in the matrix, maintaining compositional stability and manufacturing reproducibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a porous or heterogeneous structure at the micro-scale through the dispersed scattering components, which increases the surface area for interaction with light while maintaining adequate spacing between particles to prevent aggregation and ensure stable dispersibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 substrate achieves enhanced light extraction efficiency, improved surface roughness, and stable dispersibility of the scattering component, facilitating the production of high-performance organic electronic devices with improved manufacturing stability.

Implementation Method 1

a scattering component (1012) included in the polymeric binder (1011)... a material that may have a refractive index different from a surrounding material such as the polymeric binder together with an appropriate size to form a region being capable of scattering, refracting or diffracting the incident light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3147311B1Plastic substrate
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3147311B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3147311B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP3147311B1 patent drawingFigure 7(a)~7(c)

AI summary

The present application relates to a plastic substrate, a method for producing same, an organic electronic device, and display light source and lighting apparatus. The plastic substrate according to the present application has superb light extraction efficiency and exhibits an excellent surface roughness characteristic. Furthermore, the method for producing the plastic substrate according to the present application can produce the plastic substrate by means of a process in which scattering components are added secondarily. Moreover, the plastic substrate according to the present application can be utilized as a substrate for an organic electronic device, and the organic electronic device can be utilized as display light source and lighting apparatus.