Surface-plasmon-pumped OLED Devices for Efficiency and Lifetime

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional OLED devices face inefficiencies in exciton energy transfer to non-radiative modes of surface plasmon polaritons, leading to energy loss and reduced device lifetime, as they typically inhibit such transfers rather than utilizing them for light emission.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a plasmonic enhancement layer that non-radiatively couples excited state energy from organic emissive materials to surface plasmon polaritons, and using an emissive outcoupling layer to transfer this energy back into free space as light, thereby increasing device lifetime and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional OLED devices inhibit exciton energy transfer to surface plasmon polaritons, then energy loss is reduced, but device lifetime and efficiency are decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexciton energy lossVSAvoiddevice lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the previously harmful non-radiative energy transfer to surface plasmon polaritons into a beneficial process by introducing a plasmonic enhancement layer that captures this energy and redirects it through an emissive outcoupling layer to produce additional light emission, thereby transforming energy loss into useful output and improving device lifetime

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a plasmonic enhancement layer as an intermediary component between the organic emissive layer and the external environment. This intermediary captures exciton energy that would otherwise be lost and mediates its conversion to light through surface plasmon polariton coupling and subsequent emission, resolving the contradiction between energy conservation and device longevity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If exciton energy is transferred to surface plasmon polaritons, then device efficiency increases, but energy is lost through non-radiative modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice efficiencyVSAvoidnon-radiative energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the non-radiative energy loss to surface plasmon polaritons into a beneficial emission pathway by using the plasmonic enhancement layer to couple the exciton energy and the emissive outcoupling layer to convert it back to radiative light, thereby improving device efficiency while eliminating the harmful energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a system where exciton energy is temporarily transferred to surface plasmon polaritons (an intermediate state) and then recovered as useful light emission through the emissive outcoupling layer, effectively discarding the non-radiative loss pathway and recovering the energy as productive output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

This approach enhances OLED device stability and efficiency by converting exciton energy into emitted light, leading to longer lifetimes at display luminance levels and improved operational stability.

Implementation Method 1

an enhancement layer comprising a plasmonic material exhibiting surface plasmon resonance that non-radiatively couples to an organic emissive material in the organic emissive layer and transfers excited state energy from the organic emissive material to a non-radiative mode of surface plasmon polaritons of the enhancement layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface plasmon resonance:

Implementation Method 2

an emissive outcoupling layer disposed over the substrate and comprising a second emissive material; wherein the device is configured to transfer energy from the non-radiative mode of surface plasmon polaritons of the enhancement layer to the second emissive material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface plasmon polariton emission:

Data Source

PatentUS20220115616A1Surface-plasmon-pumped light emitting devices

Publication Date: 2022.04.14 UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORP

AI summary

Devices and techniques are provided for achieving OLED devices that include one or more plasmonic material exhibiting surface plasmon resonance and one or more outcoupling layers.