Top-emitting Organic Light-emitting Diodes Research Articles

Fusion of Multi-Resonance Fragment with Conventional Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon for Nearly BT.2020 Green Emission.

Herein, we report a general strategy for achieving ultra-pure green emissions by suppressing the shoulder peaks in the emission spectra of conventional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Through precise synthetic fusion of multi-resonance (MR) fragments with conventional PAH, extended π-conjugation lengths, increased molecular rigidity, and reduced vibrational frequency could be simultaneously realized. The proof-of-concept emitters exhibited ultra-pure green emissions with dominant peaks at ca. 521 nm, photoluminescence quantum yields that are greater than 99 %, a small full-width-at-half-maximum of 23 nm, and CIE coordinates of (0.16, 0.77). The bottom-emitting organic light-emitting diode (OLED) exhibited a record-high CIEy value of 0.74 and a high maximum external quantum efficiency of 30.5 %. The top-emitting OLED not only achieved a BT.2020 green color (CIE: 0.17, 0.78) for the first time but also showed superior performance among all green OLED devices, with a current efficiency of 220 cd A- .

Ytterbium oxide electron injection interface in organic light-emitting diode

The ytterbium oxide (Yb3+) is found to have an extremely low work function of 2.42 eV, which is even lower than that of its metallic form Yb0 (2.64 eV). The stability of oxides makes Yb3+ an ideal electron injection material for both top-emitting and bottom-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TOLED and BOLED). The device test data indeed show that at 1000 nit luminance, the TOLED has a 94 cd/A current efficiency and 70 lm/W power efficiency, and BOLED has a 76 cd/A and 60 lm/W efficiency, respectively. X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopical studies indicate that the Fermi level of the metal oxide is pinned to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the electron transport layer, leading to the formation of a cathode interface with an ultra-low electron injection barrier.

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Curved Mirror Arrays for Light Extraction in Top-Emitting Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

The light outcoupling efficiency of a top-emitting organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is only about 20%, and the majority of the light is trapped in the waveguide modes and surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes. Extracting the trapped modes can reduce the device power consumption and improve the operating lifetime. In this study, we demonstrate a top-emitting OLED structure with a dielectric spacer to suppress the SPP mode and with a patterned back mirror to extract the waveguide modes. We examine and compare several curved mirror arrays and conclude that a micromirror array (μMA) can efficiently extract the waveguide modes while minimizing the absorption loss. The optimized μMA device with a semi-transparent top electrode shows a 36% external quantum efficiency, 2 times higher than the referenced device. This optical design can be easily incorporated into a top-emitting device and has a great potential for displays and lighting applications.

Cavity-Suppressing Electrode Integrated with Multi-Quantum Well Emitter: A Universal Approach Toward High-Performance Blue TADF Top Emission OLED

HighlightsA blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence top-emission organic light-emitting diode (TEOLED) structure that combines a cavity-suppressing transparent electrode and a multi-quantum-well emissive layer is proposed.The TEOLED exhibits high external quantum efficiency (18.05%), high color purity (full width at half maximum ~ 59 nm), reduced efficiency roll-off (~ 46% at 1000 cd m−2), and low angular dependence

Design of a Structure for Optimized Optical Performance of a Full Colored Organic Light-Emitting Diode on a Parameter Space Map.

In general, optical properties of a top-emitting organic light-emitting diode (OLED) are dependent on the cavity effect of the OLED structure. Therefore, the optical path length of the many thin solid films in the OLED, which is strongly affected by the refractive index and thickness of each material, controls the cavity effect of the cell. In previous research, a parameter space method for optimizing the inorganic layer thickness of a red OLED structure was introduced to achieve the required bandwidth and peak wavelength. This is a simple method with high accuracy and can also be applied to red, green, and blue OLED structures. To design an OLED cell with a practical approach, however, the RGB OLED device requires the thickness of each inorganic layer and organic layer in all three R, G, and B OLED structures to be same. In this study, we applied the parameter space method to an RGB OLED device to find out and optimize the thickness of three inorganic parameters: Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), cathode, and capping layer (CPL) using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The parameters ITO, cathode, and CPL were scanned from 18 to 21 nm, 5 to 100 nm, and 10 to 200 nm, respectively. The peak wavelength and bandwidth lines of the three spectral colors were placed on a map of the three inorganic layer thickness parameters to find the optimized points that can provide the desired optical characteristics with the same film thickness in the cell.

Very bright and efficient ITO-free narrow-spectrum micro-cavity top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes with low operation voltage

Top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TEOLEDs) achieved an ultra-high power efficiency of up to 186.38 lm W−1, an impressive EQE as high as 47.4%, and a low operation voltage.

Improving color rendering index of top-emitting white OLEDs with single emitter by using microcavity effects

We have developed a high color rendering index (CRI) top-emitting white organic light-emitting diode (TWOLEDs) using single emitter by enhancing the yellow-green part between the monomer and excimer emission of platinum [1,3-difluoro-4,6-di(2-pyridyl)benzene] chloride via microcavity effect. Resonant wavelengths can well-tuned by adjusting the thickness of the hole transport layer to modify the optical cavity length. The TWOLEDs exhibits four-peak spectra at 480, 512, 556, and 600 nm with maximum color rendering index of 83 and full half-maximum width of 200 nm. Meanwhile, the chromaticity of TWOLEDs is quite stable, showing slight Commission Internationale deL'Eclairage coordinate shifts of (±0.005, ±0.004) over the driving voltage range of 4–10 V. • High color rendering index and chromaticity stable top-emitting white OLEDs with single emitter. • Four peak emission are achieved by combining monomer, excimer emission and resonant cavity. • Weak microcavity white OLEDs were investigated and modelled. • The device emission shows a Lambertian-like characteristic.

High-performance narrow spectrum green phosphorescent top-emitting organic light-emitting devices with external quantum efficiency up to 38%

In this work, we have experimentally demonstrated the efficacy of micro-cavity effect in realizing high-performance top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TEOLEDs). By optimizing the thickness of top Yb/Ag electrode and cavity length, highly efficient green TEOLED with external quantum efficiency as high as 38% was achieved. A strong dependence of electroluminescent (EL) performances and spectrum on cavity length was observed, and there was also a significant angle dependence of EL spectrum. Ultimately, ultra-high current efficiency up to 161.17 cd A−1 (3.2 V) was obtained by the device with emission peak at 552 nm, which is 35 nm longer than the intrinsic emission peak (517 nm) of utilized green emitter. Interestingly, this device displayed narrow emission with full-width at half-maximum of less than 20 nm, which was obtained by increasing the Ag layer thickness.

Analysis of device performance and thin-film properties of thermally damaged organic light-emitting diodes

This paper reports the variation in the optical and geometrical properties of individual organic layers to be used for thermally damaged top-emission organic light-emitting diodes (TEOLEDs). The copper deposited on the back of TEOLEDs is employed as a thermal facilitator, and a certain thermal damage occurs to the organic layers and devices. The phosphorescent host material 4,4′-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (CBP) is rapidly damaged to a significant extent owing to the low glass transition temperature (T g ), which also changes its optical and geometrical surface properties. Although the optical properties of the hole transport layer, N,N′-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (NPB) were changed slightly, the surface morphology was changed significantly. Despite having a higher T g , the exciton blocking layer, tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA), shows notable variations in optical properties and surface morphology due to heat exposure. Surprisingly, the electroluminescence spectra and micro-cavity are affected by increasing temperature without any considerable changes in device performance. Hence, this study reveals that besides T g , the surface morphologies and thicknesses of the organic layers are also important factors in the annealing process and play a vital role in causing thermal damage to TEOLEDs. • Surface morphology variations with respect to temperature in the TEOLEDs. • The variation in optical and geometrical properties of organic layers depending on the thickness. • CBP, TCTA and NPB showing notable damage to the properties by thermal exposure. • The color purity of TEOLEDs was affected by micro-cavity after thermal exposure.

Enhanced Hole Injection Characteristics of a Top Emission Organic Light-Emitting Diode with Pure Aluminum Anode.

A top emitting organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device with pure aluminum (Al) anode for high-resolution microdisplays was proposed and fabricated. The low work function of the Al anode, even with a native oxide formed on the Al anode surface, increases the energy barrier of the interface between the anode and hole injection layer, and has poor hole-injection properties, which causes the low efficiency of the device. To enhance the hole-injection characteristics of the Al anode, we applied hexaazatriphenylene hexacarbonitrile (HATCN) as the hole-injection layer material. The proposed OLED device with a pure Al anode and native oxide on the anode surface improved efficiency by up to 35 cd/A at 1000 nit, which is 78% of the level of normal OLEDs with indium tin oxide (ITO) anode.

Hydrogen-assisted low-temperature plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of thin film encapsulation layers for top-emission organic light-emitting diodes

In this work, we developed a single high-performance SiNx encapsulation layer that can be directly integrated into organic devices by low-temperature plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). We investigated a hydrogen-assisted low-temperature PECVD process at a temperature of 80 °C. The thin film density improved with an increased hydrogen gas ratio, and the moisture permeability was less than 5 × 10−5 g/m2·day. To verify the stability of the PECVD process, we applied the SiNx encapsulation layer directly to top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes. The results showed minor changes in the current-density–voltage characteristics after the PECVD process, as well as high reliability after a water dipping test.

A highly transparent laminated composite cathode for organic light-emitting diodes

Transparent conductive electrodes are one of the important components of organic optoelectronic devices. Mg:Ag alloys have been widely used as a semi-transparent cathode for top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or transparent OLEDs (TrOLEDs) due to their high conductivity and relatively low work function. However, their low transmittance makes the light-extraction efficiency to be comparatively low. In this study, a highly transparent (84.6% in the visible light range), conductive, laminated cathode with the structure of ZnO/Mg:Ag/ZnO was fabricated via atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD-deposited ZnO is used to protect the vulnerable ultrathin Mg:Ag-alloy layer, while preserving its low work function for the entire structure. In particular, the bottom ZnO layer is used as an ETL, which can provide reasonable energy alignment between the cathode layer and the emission layer and prevent metal particles from penetrating into the underlying organic layer. The top-emission OLED, which is prepared in this study by using the laminated cathode, showed an 85.8% increase in brightness, with a current density of 11.2 mA/cm3 at 4.0 V, which is an ultra-low voltage compared with devices made with Mg:Ag cathodes. In addition, the total luminance of TrOLEDs increases 34.4% compared with devices using Mg:Ag cathodes. Furthermore, the average transmittance of the device was still as high as 77.19% for visible light.

Completely Hazy and Transparent Films by Embedding Air Gaps for Elimination of Angular Color Shift in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Red, green, and blue top-emission organic light-emitting diodes (RGB TOLEDs) suffer from white color change with viewing angle due to the microcavity effect, called white angular dependence (WAD). Great efforts are devoted by applying various kinds of hazy films, but they suffer from poor mechanical stability and optical transmittance. Herein, we introduce an air-gap-embedded hazy film (AEHF) to solve these problems and suppress WAD in RGB TOLEDs. The AEHF is designed with optical simulation to realize high haze with transparency. By tuning geometries of the air gap inside the polymer, the AEHF realizes high haze of more than 90% in all RGB colors while maintaining high transparency. To experimentally demonstrate the AEHF, the O2 plasma is treated on a polymer film with AgCl as an etching mask to fabricate microstructures with high aspect ratios. Afterward, PDMS is coated on the patterned surface; air gaps develop spontaneously in the valleys between microstructures during the coating process. Using these processes, an air gap with 1.2 μm size and 400 nm period is formed inside the film and ∼100% haze is achieved while maintaining a high transmittance of 88%; these results agree well with rigorous coupled wave analysis results. By utilizing the AEHF into TOLEDs, the WAD can be drastically suppressed by 95.2% compared with that of a device without AEHF.

Random Nanowire Arrays Spontaneously Formed via Vacuum Deposition for Enhancing Light Extraction from Inverted Top-Emitting Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Random Nanowire Arrays Spontaneously Formed via Vacuum Deposition for Enhancing Light Extraction from Inverted Top-Emitting Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Fabrication of highly efficient blue top-emission organic light-emitting diodes on different reflective electrodes

The performances of top-emission organic light-emitting diodes (TEOLEDs) with various P-dopant (PD) contents in the injection layer were studied by thinning or removing an indium tin oxide (ITO) film sputtered on the anode. On adjusting the thickness of the active TBPDA (N4,N4,N4′,N4′-tetra ([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine) film used as hole transport layer, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) coordinates of blue TEOLEDs did not change and the same CIE coordinates (0.14, 0.04) were maintained. The blue index of device I (PD of 3%) without an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer was 139.9 cd/A/CIEy at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. This value was 28% higher than that of the device B (PD of 2%), which had a 15-nm thick ITO film, and 19% higher than that of device E (PD of 2%), which had a 7-nm thick ITO film. Devices B, E, and I achieved similar voltages of approximately 3.9 V. Thus, in the optimized TEOLEDs with suitable PD contents, efficiency was improved by silver without the use of ITO as an anode.

Stoichiometric silicon nitride thin films for gas barrier, with applications to flexible and stretchable OLED encapsulation

This study reveals that the stoichiometricity of silicon nitride thin films (SiNx-TFs) significantly governs the packing density and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and it can be controlled by chemical reactions accompanied by the removal of oxygen impurities with a nitrogen neutral beam (N-NB). Here, oxygen contents of SiNx-TFs are reduced through the formation of volatile NOx, and their amount is dominated by the energy of the N-NB reflected from a negatively biased reflector (0 to −60 V). The single-layered stoichiometric SiNx-TFs with a thickness of 100 nm provides the WVTR of 6.2 × 10−6 g/(m2day), with a density and composition ratio of N/Si stoichiometry at 3.13 g/cm3 and 1.33, respectively. This optimized SiNx-TF encapsulated top-emission organic light-emitting diode has reliability under harsh condition (85 °C and 85% relative humidity) for 830 h or more.

A Method to Improve IR Drop issue of Large-Size Top-Emission AMOLED

Top-emitting active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays usually use a thin cathode layer to obtain high transmittance. However, the thin surface cathode inevitably raises an IR drop issue or even a Mura effect that is visible to the naked eyes, especially in large-size displays. Therefore, to reduce the IR-drop effect and improve the display quality, a plurality of cathode separators are provided to separate the cathode of AMOLEDs to electrically connect the cathode to the auxiliary electrodes under the cathode separators. In this work, we report how to control the process of organic photoresist to obtain a good anti-taper (cathode separator). The organic photoresist is formed through the steps of coating, pre-bake, exposure, post exposure bake (PEB) and then developing, but the exposure and PEB processes are the key factors, which can improve the anti-taper below 53° (The EL evaporation angle is 53°).

Highly Robust, Flexible Top‐Emission Organic Light‐Emitting Diode Exhibiting Stable Performance under Infolding of Curvature Radius of 0.32 mm

Flexible top‐emission organic light‐emitting diodes (TOLEDs) with a thin‐film encapsulation (TFE) are of increasing attention to improve the flexibility of foldable smartphone organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) displays. There are inevitable issues to achieve foldable display with smaller folding radius for the future portable display. Herein, the device flexibility is investigated with infolding and outfolding tests with the curvature radius from 2.5 to 0.32 mm. Parylene (1 μm)/silicon nitride (SiNx) (X nm)/parylene (1 μm)/SiNx (X nm) (X = 100, 70, 50, and 30 nm) of TFEs are applied on the TOLEDs. It is found that stable device performances can be achieved at the curvature radius of 0.32 mm after 100 000 cycles infolding testing when the SiNx thickness is 30 nm. The device has significant degradation upon outfolding of 5000 cycles at the same radius of 0.32 mm. Note that, the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the TFT with 30 nm SiNx is higher than the TFE with thicker SiNx (e.g., 50 nm). The flexibility and WVTR can be much improved using four‐stacked TFE with 30 nm SiNx for foldable active‐matrix OLED displays.

Theoretical Modeling and Analysis of the Contribution of the Near-Field Absorption to the Dipole Radiation Power in Top-Emitting Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

We theoretically model the near-field (NF) absorption for a multilayer micro-cavity (MMC) structure and investigate the contribution of the NF absorption to the dipole radiation power in top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The NF absorption occurs due to the interaction between an evanescent wave with a large in-plane wave vector and a planar metal layer in the vicinity of the dipole radiation. The analytical expressions of the NF absorption in the MMC structure are derived from the plane wave expansions of the electric field amplitude, which includes the two-beam and multi-beam interference terms. The transverse magnetic polarization light emitted by both horizontally and vertically oriented dipole emitters is considered in the NF absorption while the contribution of the transverse electric polarization light is neglected. Based on the total spectral power density calculated in a top-emitting OLED, the respective spectral response functions of surface plasmon (SP) modes and NF absorption are compared, where the summation of the Lorentzian line shape functions is used to represent spectral responses of SP modes. At large values of in-plane wave vectors, the spectral response caused by the NF absorption becomes significant and approaches the total spectral power density. In addition, the relative optical powers from various dipole dissipation mechanisms are calculated with respect to the dipole emitter position in the emission layer (EML), which shows the optical power coupled to the NF absorption is predominant over other mechanisms when the distance between the dipole emitter and the EML/Ag interface is less than 10 nm in the top-emitting OLED.