The role of copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc) has intermediate layer between the anode and the hole-transport layer in multilayer organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) was studied. The OLEDs consisted of CuPc, N,N'-di(naphtalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB) as hole-transport layer and tris-(8-hydroxyquinolinato)-aluminum (Alq3) as electron-transport and emitting layer sandwiched between a high-work-function metal and a semi-transparent calcium cathode. A combinatorial approach that allows the simultaneous fabrication of 10 x 10 individual devices was used to vary the thicknesses of CuPc and NPB over a broad range from 0 to 45 nm and from 10 to 100 nm, respectively. Systematic current-voltage and impedance measurements revealed a redistribution of the internal electric field of the CuPc/NPB/Alq3 three-layer structure compared to that of the NPB/Alq3 bilayer OLED. It was demonstrated that the hole transport is mainly controlled by the internal energy barrier at the CuPc/NPB interface. The fact that CuPc strongly impedes hole injection into NPB also has a significant impact on the frequency-dependent behavior of the capacitance, especially the cutoff frequency.
In order to get a detailed understanding of organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs), optimize their performance and provide reliable data for device modeling, we have developed an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) evaporation system for combinatorial studies. Our system allows the simultaneous fabrication of 10 x 10 individual devices on one substrate enabling a systematic variation of material combinations and electrodes as well as device parameters such as layer thickness, layer sequence, dye dopant concentrations. Here, we present an overview of the capabilities of combinatorial methods for electrical and electro-optical device optimization. We show results on multilayer OLEDs ranging from the conventional copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc)/N,N'-di(naphtalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB)/ and tris-(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq) trilayer device to double-doped, red-emitting OLEDs with efficiencies up to 1.5 cd/A at 20 mA/cm2 measured through a semitransparent metal electrode and CIE color coordinates of x=0.65, y=0.34.
The influence of interfacial charges on the device characteristics of multilayer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is investigated, and a concept to improve device performance is presented. We studied devices consisting of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as hole injection and buffer layer, N, N'-di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB) as hole transport layer, and tris(8- hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq3) as electron transport and emitting layer sandwiched between a high-work-function metal and a semi-transparent calcium electrode. Detailed current-voltage measurements show that the device characteristics in negative bias direction and at low positive bias below the built-in voltage depend strongly on the bias sweep direction, indicating that interfacial charges have a pronounced influence on the device characteristics. Low-frequency capacitance-voltage experiments reveal a voltage-independent capacitance in negative bias direction and a significant increase between 0 and 2 V, evidence of a redistribution of the internal electric field in this device configuration. Time-resolved electroluminescence (EL) measurements proved that also the EL response time at low voltages is governed by the accumulation of charge carriers inside the device rather than by their transport. Optimizing the device structure by grading the organic-organic interfaces results in an enhanced current flow, an improved brightness, and a faster EL response time. Our investigations clearly indicate that the abrupt CuPc-NPB as well as the NPB-Alq3 interface significantly influence the performance of our multilayer OLED.
The temperature stability of OLEDs was investigated by observing the I-V and EL-V characteristics of various devices stored at elevated temperature (up to 140 degrees Celsius). Results reported in this paper concern the standard KODAK structure for a green OLED (i.e. anode/CuPc/NPB/AlQ3/cathode), the standard IDEMITSU structure for a blue OLED (i.e. anode/CuPc/NPB/DPVBi/AlQ3/cathode) and variants of those using high Tg materials consisting of a spiro- bifluorene core. Use of Spiro-TAD as a hole transport material (HTM) and of Spiro-DPVBi as an emitting material (EM) resulted in considerable improvements. While the initial performance of the virgin devices is considerably unchanged, the temperature stability increases dramatically: for the green OLED no significant deterioration up to 140 degrees Celsius is found, compared to the standard device including NPB already starting to degrade slightly above 100 degrees Celsius; the blue OLED is stable up to approximately 120 degrees Celsius (particularly the color coordinates of the emitted light) whereas the standard device using DPVBi already deteriorates at around 80 degrees Celsius.
Efficiency of organic light emitting devices can be increased by separating the zones of exciton recombination from the electrodes by the insertion of additional organic layers which act as protecting - and as hole or electron blocking layers. We realized such polymer hetero-layer structures by combination of hole transporting and emitting materials like polyparaphenylenevinylene (PPV) or its derivatives with new electron transporting materials, i.e. heterocyclic polymers and heterocyclic low molecular compounds, especially phenyl quinoxalines. Current-voltage molecular compounds, especially phenyl quinoxalines. Current-voltage and current-luminance characteristics were used to study the prepared heterolayer devices. Optical spectroscopy as well as UV photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the electronic structure of the individual materials. Quantum chemical calculations completed the spectroscopic studies and supported the interpretation of experimental findings. Double layers made of PPV and polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) are characterized by low onset voltages of about 2.2 V, high efficiency, and high brightness reaching values of more than 2000 cd/m2 at a driving voltage of 10 V. The experimental findings show that PPQs are promising materials for organic electroluminescence applications.
Multilayer organic light-emitting diodes with a well-defined emission region are ideal systems to investigate the underlying mechanisms of device operation. In this paper we give a brief overview of our studies on the injection and recombination processes in blue organic light-emitting diodes. Our diodes consist of copper phthalocyanine as the hole- injection/buffer layer, the aromatic diamine N,N'- di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine as the hole- transport layer, a distyrylarylene derivative as the emitting layer, tris(8-hydroxy-quinoline)aluminum as the electron- injection/transport layer sandwiched between indium tin oxide (ITO) as the transparent hole injector, and low work-function metals as the electron-injecting electrode. To reveal the limiting mechanisms in device operation we investigated the influence of different anode (ITO, optimized ITO) and cathode materials (Mg:Ag, Ca, LiF/Mg:Ag) as well as different layer thicknesses on the device characteristics. These investigations revealed that the device characteristics in the low and medium voltage range are determined by the injection properties of the electrodes, whereas at higher voltages (i.e. at higher current densities) a transition from an electrode- limited injection to a bulk-limited conduction process is detectable.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.