Transparent Electrode Nitrogen Layer Silver Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent electrodes face challenges in achieving both sufficient electrical conductivity and light transmissibility simultaneously, particularly in organic electroluminescence elements where high conductivity materials like silver and aluminum require specific configurations to maintain performance.
Innovation Solution
A transparent electrode configuration featuring a nitrogen-containing layer formed by a compound with specific aromatic heterocycles, adjacent to a silver or alloy electrode layer, which inhibits silver aggregation and allows for single-layer growth, ensuring both conductivity and transmissibility with a thin film thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal material with high electrical conductivity, such as silver, is formed into a thin-film to reduce resistance, then electrical conductivity is improved, but light transmissibility deteriorates due to increased film thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the growth mode parameter of the silver thin-film from island growth to single-layer growth by controlling the deposition process, enabling the film to achieve sufficient electrical conductivity at reduced thickness for improved light transmissibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by forming a nitrogen-containing organic layer adjacent to the silver electrode layer, where the organic layer modifies the silver film growth behavior to achieve uniform single-layer growth mode, simultaneously optimizing both electrical conductivity and light transmissibility
2Illumination intensity
If aluminum is mixed into silver to form a film with reduced thickness to ensure electrical conductivity, then film thickness is reduced for better transmissibility, but electrical conductivity deteriorates due to alloying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the morphological parameter of the silver film from aggregated island structure to uniform single-layer structure through controlled deposition conditions, achieving both reduced thickness and maintained conductivity without requiring aluminum alloying
3Illumination intensity
If ITO is used as the transparent electrode material, then light transmissibility is maintained, but electrical conductivity deteriorates and material cost increases due to indium content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive ITO (containing rare metal indium) with a cheaper silver-based transparent electrode that uses organic materials and controlled deposition processes to achieve the necessary electrical conductivity at lower material cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electrode structure combining silver with nitrogen-containing organic materials to achieve both high electrical conductivity and high light transmissibility, replacing the conventional ITO single-material approach
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 configuration enhances both electrical conductivity and light transmissibility of the transparent electrode, improving the performance of electronic devices such as organic electroluminescence elements without the need for high-temperature annealing.
Implementation Method 1
the silver atom which constitutes the electrode layer will interact with the compound which constitutes the nitrogen-containing layer and which contains nitrogen atom, so that diffusion distance of silver atom on the surface of the nitrogen-containing layer is reduced, so that aggregation of silver is inhibited
Implementation Method 2
the light emitted by the light emitting layer is transmitted through the electrode(s) and extracted to the outside
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a transparent electrode having both sufficient conductivity and light transmittance, as well as an electronic device whose performance is improved by using the transparent electrode. A transparent electrode (1) includes: a nitrogen-containing layer (1a) formed by using a compound containing nitrogen atom; and an electrode layer (1b) formed adjacent to the nitrogen-containing layer (1a) by using silver or an alloy having silver as a main component.