Optimum Structure Adjustment for Flexible Fluorescent and Phosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Abstract

The organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) [1] is a new-generation flat panel display with the advantages of self-luminescence, wide viewing angle (> 160°), prompt response time (~1 μs), low operating voltage (3~10 V), high luminance efficiency, high color purity, and easy to be made on various substrates. Therefore, it’s an important topic that how to improve the luminance efficiency, lifetime and the adhesion characters of ITO/organic interface of flexible OLEDs. Zugang Liu et al. reported that the NPB (HTL) is suitable in contact with the emission layer and when they form an energy ladder structure, the driving voltage decreased and the electroluminescent output increased [2]. Thus it can be seen, the hole transport layer [3-6] is very important to balance the injection of hole and electron, to increase the luminance efficiency and lifetime. In recent years, the hole buffer layer of device typically employs LiF [7], CuPc [8], Pani:PSS [9-10] or PEDOT:PSS [9-11] to improve the hole injection efficiency. In addition, a flexible substrate (PET, metal foil, etc.) surface is not completely smooth and will usually have spikes. After the organic thin film evaporates onto the ITO substrate surface the spikes will still exist. When the device is operated under high voltage or high current density, a heavy amount of electric current will concentrate at the spikes and damage the device by causing the device to short circuit, creating Joule heat. The luminance efficiency of the device will therefore be reduced producing shorter device lifetime. Thus, the PEDOT:PSS fabrication process uses spin-coating to obtain a thin film with a smoother surface than that produced by thermal deposition. Spin-coating enhances the organic material adhesion in subsequent processes, thereby directly affecting the performance of flexible OLED. For the above reason, this research dissolved hole transport material N,N’-diphenyl-N,N’-bis(1-naphthyl)1,1’biphenyl-4,4’’diamine (α-NPD), N,N’Bis(naphthalenel-yl) -N,N’-bis(phenyl)-benzidine (NPB) or α-NPD:NPB in tetrahydrfuran (THF) solvent and spin-coated the buffer layer onto ITO surface of flexible OLEDs. Phosphorescent dye gains energy from the radiative recombination of both singlet and triplet excitons [12], improving the internal quantum efficiency of fluorescent OLEDs (FOLEDs) typically 25% at maximum to nearly 100% [13]. Enhancing the luminance 8