Transparent Surface Electrode with Patterned Metal and Polymer Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transparent surface electrodes for organic electronic devices suffer from high current leakage, poor storability under high-temperature conditions, and insufficient durability against bending, particularly those composed of patterned metal electroconductive layers and polymer electroconductive layers.
Innovation Solution
A transparent surface electrode with a patterned metal electroconductive layer having a surface roughness of 20 nm or smaller and a polymer electroconductive layer containing non-electroconductive polymers with hydroxyl groups, where the polymer electroconductive layer is formed over the patterned metal electroconductive layer, and the electrode is manufactured using printing and subsequent heating or chemical etching to optimize surface roughness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a patterned metal electroconductive layer is formed by printing to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing cost, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but current leakage increases and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the surface roughness of the patterned metal electroconductive layer to be 20 nm or smaller through printing process optimization. This parameter control eliminates current leakage while maintaining the productivity benefits of printing-based manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a patterned metal electroconductive layer with a transparent polymer electroconductive layer. This composite material approach prevents current leakage through the polymer layer while maintaining the high productivity of printed metal patterns.
2Reliability
If ITO transparent electrode is used to achieve good electroconductivity and transparency, then electrical performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive ITO transparent electrodes with a combination of printed metal patterns and polymer electroconductive layers. This substitution uses cheaper materials and printing processes to achieve comparable or superior electroconductivity while dramatically reducing manufacturing cost and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electroconductive system combining printed metal patterns with polymer electroconductive layers. This composite structure provides the necessary electroconductivity and transparency while avoiding the high cost and low productivity associated with ITO vacuum deposition processes.
3Strength
If the surface roughness of the patterned metal layer is increased to improve adhesion, then bonding strength is improved, but current leakage increases and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the surface roughness parameter to be 20 nm or smaller, optimizing it to provide sufficient adhesion for the polymer layer while preventing current leakage. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between adhesion strength and current leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the transparent polymer electroconductive layer as an intermediary that bonds to the patterned metal layer. This composite structure allows the polymer to provide adhesion while the smooth metal surface prevents current leakage, separating the adhesion function from the conduction function.
4Ease of operation
If conventional transparent electrodes are used to achieve basic functionality, then device operation is enabled, but storability under high-temperature conditions deteriorates and bending durability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure of patterned metal layer and transparent polymer electroconductive layer. The polymer layer provides enhanced stability under high-temperature conditions and improved flexibility for bending durability, while the patterned metal layer maintains electroconductivity. This composite approach preserves device functionality while dramatically improving storability and durability.
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a transparent surface electrode that maintains high transparency, suppresses the occurrence of leak currents, and has superior storage stability and resistance to damage by bending, a method for manufacturing the same, and an organic electronic element using the same. This transparent surface electrode has a metal pattern conductive layer that contains a metal on a transparent base material, and the transparent surface electrode also has a transparent polymer conductive layer, which contains that base material and a conductive polymer, on that metal pattern conductive layer. The transparent surface electrode is characterized by the surface roughness (Ra (surface roughness provided for by JIS, B601 (1994))) of the metal pattern conductive layer being 20 nm or less, and the polymer conductive layer containing a non-conductive polymer having a hydroxyl group.