Ultra-Thin Organic Electroluminescent Structure for Flexible Lifetime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic electroluminescence devices face challenges in achieving a balance between thinness, flexibility, and device lifetime, with thinner and more flexible devices having short lifetimes and sealed devices being less flexible, while devices with improved lifetime have larger thicknesses, making them unsuitable for applications requiring thinness and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An organic electroluminescence device with an inverted structure, featuring a thin substrate, a cathode, an anode, and multiple layers between them, utilizing a para-xylylene-based polymer substrate and a metal oxide layer to enhance resistance to oxygen and water, allowing for a thickness of less than 10 μm while maintaining comparable device lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the device is made thinner and more flexible, then the thickness and flexibility are improved, but the device lifetime becomes short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional device structure by placing the cathode on the substrate side and the anode on the opposite side, with the organic light-emitting layer adjacent to the substrate. This inverted configuration allows the light-emitting layer to be positioned closer to the substrate, enabling better protection and sealing while maintaining ultra-thin profile, thus resolving the contradiction between thinness and lifetime
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible thin film structures throughout the device, including the substrate and encapsulation layers, to achieve both ultra-thin dimensions and extended lifetime. The flexible film structure allows the device to maintain its thinness while providing adequate protection against environmental degradation, thereby extending device lifetime without sacrificing flexibility
2Reliability
If the device is sealed to improve lifetime, then the device lifetime is improved, but the thickness increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing/encapsulation function into multiple thin layers rather than using a single thick sealing structure. This allows adequate protection for extended lifetime while maintaining the overall device thickness below 10 μm, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and thinness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional thick sealing structures to ultra-thin film encapsulation, effectively changing the dimensional approach to sealing. By utilizing advanced thin film deposition techniques, the device achieves adequate sealing performance in the thickness dimension without compromising flexibility or increasing overall device thickness
3Length of moving object
If the device thickness is reduced to below 10 μm, then the thinness and flexibility are improved, but the device structure becomes more challenging to maintain reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes critical structural parameters including the inverted electrode arrangement and the positioning of the light-emitting layer adjacent to the substrate. These parameter changes enable the device to achieve ultra-thin dimensions while maintaining reliability through optimized layer configuration and enhanced protection mechanisms at the substrate interface
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 provides an organic electroluminescence device with improved thinness, flexibility, and extended lifetime, suitable for various applications including display devices and cosmetic/therapeutic uses, capable of adhering to curvilinear surfaces without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
Organic electroluminescence device having a structure including an anode, a cathode on a substrate, and a laminate of multiple layers between the anode and the cathode
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an organic electroluminescence device capable of having not only a device lifetime comparable to that of an existing organic electroluminescence device but also a small thickness of smaller than 10 μm and excellent flexibility. The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence device having a structure including: an anode; a cathode on a substrate; and a laminate of multiple layers between the anode and the cathode, the device having a thickness of smaller than 10 μm.