Polymer Compound for Organic EL Driving Voltage and Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organic electroluminescence (EL) elements face challenges with high driving voltage and low durability due to the limitations of low molecular compounds used in their production, particularly in forming uniform organic layers and maintaining phosphorescent properties.

Innovation Solution

A polymer compound with a specific aromatic heterocyclic structure is developed, serving as both an electron-transporting and hole-transporting site, which lowers the driving voltage and enhances durability by incorporating a monomer with a polymerizable functional group, allowing for efficient carrier transport and luminous properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If low molecular compounds are used to form organic layers in organic EL elements, then the production process can be simplified, but the film thickness becomes uneven and vacuum equipment is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process simplicityVSAvoidfilm thickness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the organic material from low molecular compound to polymer compound. This parameter change enables the material to be processed into uniform films without vacuum equipment, as polymers can be applied by solution casting or coating methods that inherently produce more uniform thickness compared to vapor deposition of low molecular compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material structure by combining polymer backbone with specific functional groups (electron-transporting and hole-transporting moieties). This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both ease of processing like conventional organics and improved film formation characteristics, eliminating the need for vacuum equipment while maintaining uniform thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If compounds with conjugatable nitrogen atoms are used to enhance charge transport, then carrier mobility improves, but excimer formation and polarization phenomenon increase causing reduced durability

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidexcimer formation and polarization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by placing electron-transporting and hole-transporting functional groups at specific local positions on the polymer backbone, rather than having extensive conjugated systems throughout. This localized functional group approach maintains charge transport capability while preventing the formation of excimers and polarization phenomena that occur in highly conjugated systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the charge transport function into separate electron-transporting groups and hole-transporting groups attached to the polymer backbone. This segmentation prevents the formation of continuous conjugated pathways that lead to excimer formation, while still providing effective bipolar charge transport through the distributed functional groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If polymer compounds are used to improve film uniformity, then manufacturing complexity increases, but the patent aims to simplify the process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm thickness uniformityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-service processing by designing the polymer compound to form uniform films through simple solution-based methods without requiring complex vacuum equipment. The polymer's inherent properties allow it to self-organize into uniform films during conventional coating processes, eliminating the need for sophisticated manufacturing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 compound enables the production of organic EL elements with reduced driving voltage and improved durability, achieving high luminous efficiency and stability.

Implementation Method 1

the polymer compound having a specific aromatic heterocyclic structure as an electron-transporting site and a hole-transporting site

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron transport: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

the polymer compound having a specific aromatic heterocyclic structure as an electron-transporting site and a hole-transporting site

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHole transport: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

organic electroluminescence elements (hereinafter optionally referred to 'organic EL element')

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2246370B1Polymer compound and organic electroluminescent device using the same
Publication Date: 2017.04.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2246370B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention provides a polymer material capable of preparing organic EL elements having low driving voltage and high durability. The polymer compound of the present invention includes a constituting unit derived from a monomer represented by the formula (1); (in the formula (1), each of A1's is independently a condensed polycyclic aromatic group optionally having a heteroatom as a ring-constituting atom; the condensed polycyclic aromatic group links to A2 at the meta position to the bonding position of the ring represented by the following formula; each of A2's is independently a six-membered ring aromatic group optionally having a heteroatom as a ring-constituting atom; at least one of A1 and A2 has a substituent having a polymerizable functional group; at least one of X's is a nitrogen atom, and n's are independently 1 or 2).