45‐1: Invited Paper: Charge Balance in OLEDs: Optimization of Hole‐Injection Layer

Abstract

In this work, we provide a novel strategy to improve the charge balance in organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) by optimizing the hole injection layer (HIL) and thereby controlling the overall hole supply in the device. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) of the p‐dopant proposed in this work, PD02, is ‐4.63 eV, much shallower than that of the commercial material (PD01). Nevertheless, this enables use of the doping concentration to modulate the supply of holes to the emissive layer to control the charge balance. We demonstrate that device performances are significantly improved by employing such a scheme. With 23% molar doping of PD02, a bottom emission red OLED achieves external quantum efficiency (EQE) over 30%, operating voltage of 3.4 V and LT95 ~ 15,000 h at 10 mA/cm2. Moreover, the efficiency roll‐off is also suppressed up till ~ 3,500 cd/m2, a desirable feature in display applications. A study of exciton distribution within the emissive layer suggests that improved charge balance is indeed achieved in the optimized structure. An additional benefit from the modified HIL is its lower lateral conductivity relative to the standard formula, which reduces crosstalk between RGB pixels.