Stacked White OLED With Charge-Generating Layers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) face challenges in achieving high efficiency and color rendering index (CRI) at high brightness, particularly in indoor lighting applications, due to difficulties in balancing exciton formation and optical interference within multiple emissive layers.

Innovation Solution

A stacked OLED structure with vertically stacked red, green, and blue sub-elements separated by transparent charge-generating layers, optimized for charge balance and microcavity effects, achieving balanced white emission and high efficiency through specific layer thickness adjustments and charge balancing mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple emissive layers are stacked to achieve high brightness and color rendering, then the color rendering index and brightness are improved, but the efficiency deteriorates due to unbalanced exciton formation and optical interference

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidefficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the white light emission into three separate emissive sub-elements (red, green, blue) stacked vertically, each responsible for a specific color range. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each sub-element's exciton formation and light extraction, avoiding the efficiency losses associated with unbalanced multi-layer emission in conventional WOLEDs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a planar multi-layer structure to a vertical stacked configuration, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to separate the emissive layers. This vertical arrangement reduces optical interference between layers and enables better control of exciton formation in each sub-element, thereby maintaining high efficiency while achieving superior brightness and color rendering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple emissive layers are stacked to achieve high brightness and color rendering, then the color rendering index is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple charge-generating layers and charge balancing mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor rendering indexVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The charge-generating layers serve multiple functions: they generate charge carriers for adjacent emissive sub-elements, act as charge extraction interfaces, and provide mechanical separation between layers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized layers, thereby managing device complexity while achieving high color rendering index through the stacked configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If layer thickness is adjusted to optimize charge balance and microcavity effects, then the external quantum efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal quantum efficiencyVSAvoidlayer thickness precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies the thickness parameters of charge-generating layers and emissive sub-elements to optimize both charge balance and microcavity effects. By carefully controlling these dimensional parameters, the design achieves enhanced external quantum efficiency through constructive optical interference and balanced charge injection, while the specific thickness values provided in the patent serve as manufacturable targets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 results in a WOLED with a total external quantum efficiency of at least 28% at 1000 cd/m² and a CRI of 75 or higher, suitable for indoor lighting, by optimizing the order and thickness of sub-elements and using charge-generating layers like MoO3 for efficient charge injection and extraction.

Implementation Method 1

transparent charge-generating layers, optimized for charge balance and microcavity effects, achieving balanced white emission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharge generation:

Implementation Method 2

using charge-generating layers like MoO3 for efficient charge injection and extraction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharge injection:

Implementation Method 3

A stacked OLED structure with vertically stacked red, green, and blue sub-elements separated by transparent charge-generating layers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 4

optimized for charge balance and microcavity effects, achieving balanced white emission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrocavity effects: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP2345096B1Stacked white OLED having separate red, green and blue sub-elements
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 THE RGT UNIV OF MICHIGAN
  • EP2345096B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2345096B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2345096B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)

AI summary

The present invention relates to efficient organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). More specifically, the present invention relates to white-emitting OLEDs, or WOLEDs. The devices of the present invention employ three emissive sub-elements, typically emitting red, green and blue, to sufficiently cover the visible spectrum. The sub-elements are separated by charge generating layers.