EP1656707A1 - Light-emitting diode - Google Patents
Light-emitting diodeInfo
- Publication number
- EP1656707A1 EP1656707A1 EP04744677A EP04744677A EP1656707A1 EP 1656707 A1 EP1656707 A1 EP 1656707A1 EP 04744677 A EP04744677 A EP 04744677A EP 04744677 A EP04744677 A EP 04744677A EP 1656707 A1 EP1656707 A1 EP 1656707A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- light
- led
- emitting
- poly
- pedot
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- -1 poly(styrenesulfonate) Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 150000003112 potassium compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 150000001450 anions Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 229920001467 poly(styrenesulfonates) Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 230000003472 neutralizing effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- GKWLILHTTGWKLQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine Chemical compound O1CCOC2=CSC=C21 GKWLILHTTGWKLQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract 3
- HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium hydroxide Inorganic materials [OH-].[Na+] HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 22
- KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M Potassium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[K+] KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920000553 poly(phenylenevinylene) Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitrate Chemical compound [O-][N+]([O-])=O NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-M Bicarbonate Chemical compound OC([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 2
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Carbonate Chemical compound [O-]C([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910002651 NO3 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001609 Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 229920000172 poly(styrenesulfonic acid) Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 229940005642 polystyrene sulfonic acid Drugs 0.000 description 6
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000547 conjugated polymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 4
- YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Toluene Chemical compound CC1=CC=CC=C1 YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 238000006386 neutralization reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 description 3
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- HEDRZPFGACZZDS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chloroform Chemical compound ClC(Cl)Cl HEDRZPFGACZZDS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- RTZKZFJDLAIYFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Diethyl ether Chemical compound CCOCC RTZKZFJDLAIYFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003945 anionic surfactant Substances 0.000 description 2
- RDOXTESZEPMUJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N anisole Chemical compound COC1=CC=CC=C1 RDOXTESZEPMUJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- HUCVOHYBFXVBRW-UHFFFAOYSA-M caesium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[Cs+] HUCVOHYBFXVBRW-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 2
- MVPPADPHJFYWMZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N chlorobenzene Chemical compound ClC1=CC=CC=C1 MVPPADPHJFYWMZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 2
- NIHNNTQXNPWCJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N fluorene Chemical compound C1=CC=C2CC3=CC=CC=C3C2=C1 NIHNNTQXNPWCJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- QPJVMBTYPHYUOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N methyl benzoate Chemical compound COC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1 QPJVMBTYPHYUOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium nitrate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitric acid Chemical compound O[N+]([O-])=O GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- NRCMAYZCPIVABH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Quinacridone Chemical compound N1C2=CC=CC=C2C(=O)C2=C1C=C1C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3NC1=C2 NRCMAYZCPIVABH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- WYURNTSHIVDZCO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tetrahydrofuran Chemical compound C1CCOC1 WYURNTSHIVDZCO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000003545 alkoxy group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 125000000217 alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003125 aqueous solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000004945 aromatic hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052788 barium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N barium atom Chemical compound [Ba] DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001400 block copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007772 electrode material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005401 electroluminescence Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000008282 halocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229920001519 homopolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000004679 hydroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052738 indium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium atom Chemical compound [In] APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910003437 indium oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- PJXISJQVUVHSOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium(iii) oxide Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[In+3].[In+3] PJXISJQVUVHSOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- AMGQUBHHOARCQH-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium;oxotin Chemical compound [In].[Sn]=O AMGQUBHHOARCQH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910003002 lithium salt Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 159000000002 lithium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- AUHZEENZYGFFBQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N mesitylene Substances CC1=CC(C)=CC(C)=C1 AUHZEENZYGFFBQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000001827 mesitylenyl group Chemical group [H]C1=C(C(*)=C(C([H])=C1C([H])([H])[H])C([H])([H])[H])C([H])([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 229910000000 metal hydroxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004692 metal hydroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910021645 metal ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- UZKWTJUDCOPSNM-UHFFFAOYSA-N methoxybenzene Substances CCCCOC=C UZKWTJUDCOPSNM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229940095102 methyl benzoate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910017604 nitric acid Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002891 organic anions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000001997 phenyl group Chemical group [H]C1=C([H])C([H])=C(*)C([H])=C1[H] 0.000 description 1
- 125000000843 phenylene group Chemical group C1(=C(C=CC=C1)*)* 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003384 small molecules Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000010344 sodium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004317 sodium nitrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004528 spin coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004544 sputter deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000001273 sulfonato group Chemical group [O-]S(*)(=O)=O 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001897 terpolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000001771 vacuum deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007738 vacuum evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008096 xylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003738 xylenes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- H10K85/00—Organic materials used in the body or electrodes of devices covered by this subclass
- H10K85/10—Organic polymers or oligomers
- H10K85/111—Organic polymers or oligomers comprising aromatic, heteroaromatic, or aryl chains, e.g. polyaniline, polyphenylene or polyphenylene vinylene
- H10K85/113—Heteroaromatic compounds comprising sulfur or selene, e.g. polythiophene
- H10K85/1135—Polyethylene dioxythiophene [PEDOT]; Derivatives thereof
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K11/00—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials
- C09K11/06—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials containing organic luminescent materials
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- H10K50/00—Organic light-emitting devices
- H10K50/10—OLEDs or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
- H10K50/17—Carrier injection layers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- H10K85/00—Organic materials used in the body or electrodes of devices covered by this subclass
- H10K85/10—Organic polymers or oligomers
- H10K85/111—Organic polymers or oligomers comprising aromatic, heteroaromatic, or aryl chains, e.g. polyaniline, polyphenylene or polyphenylene vinylene
- H10K85/114—Poly-phenylenevinylene; Derivatives thereof
Definitions
- the invention pertains to a light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting-injecting material, a light-entitting polymer, and a cathode.
- LED light-emitting diode
- Most poly-LEDs consist of two polymer layers sandwiched between two electrode materials: one hole conducting-injecting material and the light-emitting polymer.
- the light-emitting polymer can be of the PAN type [poly(p-arylene vinylene)].
- PEDT poly(3,4-emylenedioxythiophene, PEDT), available as an aqueous dispersion thereof with polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) can be used.
- PEDOT This dispersion is called PEDOT and is commercially available from HC Starck as BAYTRO ⁇ ® P VP CH 8000 (high ohmic) or Baytron® P VP Al 4083 (low ohmic). Because of the acidic nature of PSS the pH for a PEDOT solution of a solid content of 2.5 % is below 2.
- the function of PSS is to keep PEDT soluble and stable in solution. In fact, the PEDT is polymerized in the presence of PSS. The PEDT is doped (oxidized) instantaneously during the polymerization. This results in a charged polymer, which is able to conduct holes.
- the negatively charged sulfonate groups act as counter ion balance for the doped, positively charged PEDT units (in general one on three to four units in PEDT are positively doped).
- Such LEDs are well known in the art, for instance see US 2003/0011306, which is incorporated by reference. There is a continuous need for improving the efficacy of such LEDs, in particular for improving the brightness of the displays containing these LEDs.
- US 6,284,435 it was proposed to improve the quantum efficiency by adding highly polarizable organic anion surfactant additives, such as lithium salts of various ether sulfate anionic surfactants.
- LEDs comprising PEDOT as the hole conducting-injection material and PAN-type polymers as Ught-emirting polymers can considerably be improved by a simple and cheap method without the need of using expensive surfactants or other organic materials.
- increased brightness levels can be obtained at higher voltages (at least 10 V, preferably at least 15 V) in pulsed driving modes when at least partially neutralized PEDOT is used in combination with a PAV.
- the invention also relates to a LED comprising pulsed mode driving means adapted for providing a voltage of at least IO N, preferable at least 15 N.
- Neutralization can be effected by removal of protons from PEDOT and replacement by metal ions, for instance by addition of a base, such as a metal hydroxide, or by another material that is able to remove protons from PEDOT.
- a base such as a metal hydroxide
- the neutralization with sodium hydroxide as an example, and the structures of the polymers are given in Scheme 1.
- the hole conducting-injecting material comprises a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythio ⁇ hene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT), which is obtainable by at least partially neutralizing the PEDOT with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound, and the Ught-emitting material comprises a light-emitting p-arylene-vinylene polymer (PAN) thereof.
- the sodium or potassium compound is preferably sodium or potassium hydroxide, nitrate, carbonate, or hydrogen carbonate, and more preferably sodium hydroxide. The best results are obtained when PEDOT is neutralized to a pH of at least 3.
- the pH is 3-7, more preferably 5.5-6.5.
- the neutralization of PEDOT can be obtained by a common base-acid reaction, for instance with sodium hydroxide, or in situ by capturing protons from PEDOT under the conditions used for removing the aqueous solvent, as is for instance the case with sodium nitrate that under these conditions forms a nitrate anion which captures a proton from PEDOT, that leaves the solution as gaseous nitric acid.
- the invention further relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of a light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting- injecting material, a light-ermtting polymer, and a cathode, wherein the hole conducting- injecting material comprises poly(3,4-emylenedioxvthiophene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT) and the light-en ⁇ tting material comprises light-emitting poly(p-arylene vinylene) (PAN), characterized in that the acidic hole conducting-injecting material is at least partially neutralized with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound.
- the hole conducting- injecting material comprises poly(3,4-emylenedioxvthiophene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT)
- PAN poly(p-arylene vinylene)
- Fig. 1 shows schematically, in a cross-sectional view an embodiment of an LED in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 1 A schematic view of a LED is given in Fig. 1.
- a LED with a substrate 1, which is usually glass, an anode 2, which may be ITO, a layer 3 comprising PEDOT, a layer 4 comprising PPV, and a cathode 5.
- a substrate 1 which is usually glass
- an anode 2 which may be ITO
- a layer 3 comprising PEDOT
- a layer 4 comprising PPV
- cathode 5 a cathode 5.
- the material for use in the conductive transparent polymer (CTP) layer is the mixture of poly-3,4-emylenechoxythiophene and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT).
- the active layer is situated between two electrode layers of electroconductive materials.
- At least one of said electrode layers must be transparent or translucent to the emitted light in the active layer.
- One of the electrode layers serves as the (positive) electrode for injecting holes into the active layer.
- the material of this electrode layer has a high work function and is generally formed by a layer of indium oxide or indium-tin oxide (ITO). ha addition, such layers are transparent to the emitted light in the active layer. Particularly ITO is suitable because of its satisfactory electrical conductivity and high transparency.
- the other electrode layer serves as the (negative) electrode for injecting electrons into the active layer.
- the material for this layer has a lower work function and is generally formed from a layer of, for example, indium, calcium, barium, or magnesium.
- the electrode layer of ITO is provided by vacuum evaporation, sputtering, or a CVD process.
- This electrode layer and often also the negative electrode layer, for example, of calcium, are structured in accordance with a pattern by means of a customary photolithographic process or by partly covering it with a mask during the vacuum deposition process, which corresponds to the desired pattern for a display.
- the electrodes of the first and second electrode layers have line structures, which intersect each other at right angles and hence form a matrix of separately drivable rectangular LEDs.
- the rectangular LEDs constitute the pixels or picture elements of the display. If the electrodes of the first and second electrode layers are connected to an electrical source, light-emitting pixels are formed at the intersection of the electrodes.
- the pixel structure is not limited to a particular shape. Basically all pixel shapes are possible leading to a segmented display, e.g. for showing icons or simple figures. It should be noted that according to the present invention, apart from passive matrix structures also active matrix structures could be used.
- the light-emitting polymers may be any electroluminescent material of the poly (p-arylene vinylene) (PAN) type such as poly(p-phenylene vinylene), the phenylene group of which may be substituted, as disclosed in WO 98/27136.
- PAN poly(p-phenylene vinylene)
- a poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV), more particular a phenyl-substituted PPN is a preferred type of polymer to be used.
- PAN- type polymers contain at least two, the same or different, arylene-vinylene moieties.
- the copolymers and the like according to this invention may further comprise other Ught-emitting moieties, such as fluorene or spirofluorene moieties.
- soluble conjugated polymers are used because they can be easily applied, for example in a spin-coating process or by ink jetting.
- solubility is improved by substituting a conjugated PPN derivative with alkyl and/or alkoxy or phenyl groups.
- the light emitting material may also be a doped low molecular material, such as 8- hydroxyquinolin-aluminum doped with a dye, such as quinacridone, deposited in a vacuum process.
- said polymer may comprise 5 to 10 % non-conjugated units. It has been found that such non-conjugated units increase the electroluminescence efficiency, which is defined by the number of photons per injected electron in the active layer.
- the above-mentioned conjugated PAV derivatives can be dissolved in the customary organic solvents, for example halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, and optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylenes, anisole, chlorobenzene, and mesitylene. Methylbenzoate and tetrahydrofurane can also be used as solvents.
- the degree of polymerization of the conjugated polymer ranges between 10 and 100,000.
- the layer thickness of the light en ⁇ tting layer of the conjugated polymer often ranges between 10 and 250 nm, in particular between 50 and 130 nm.
- the LED structure can be provided on a substrate, which is made, for example, from glass, quartz glass, ceramic, or synthetic resin material. Transistors or other electronic means may be present between the substrate and the transparent electrode forming a so-called active matrix substrate.
- a translucent or transparent substrate Preferably, use is made of a translucent or transparent substrate.
- a flexible elecfroluminescent device is desired, use is made of a transparent foil of a synthetic resin. Suitable transparent and flexible synthetic resins are, for example, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethene, and polyvinyl chloride. The invention is illustrated by the following example.
- Cs Cs (comparison example) or Na. It was found that CsOH had no beneficial effect on the efficacy of the LED. Brightness above 100.000 cd/m2 could not be obtained in the pH range 1-7. NaOH, on the contrary had a beneficial effect on the efficacy. The higher the pH, the higher the efficacy was found.
- the use of NaOH as base further made it possible to obtain LEDs with brightness above 100.000 cdm2. At pH 4 and higher even brightness above 200.000 cd/m2 was possible.
- the device used to obtain the date in the table had a standard device configuration of ITO, 200 nm PEDOT, 80 nm SY-LEP, and Ba/Al cathode.
- SY-LEP was commercially obtained from Covion, Germany, which is a copolymer of at least the building blocks with the following structures:
- Noltages at which the indicated brightness levels are obtained are indicated between brackets.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Electroluminescent Light Sources (AREA)
Abstract
The invention pertains to a light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting-injecting material, a light-emitting polymer, and a cathode, characterized in that the hole conducting-injecting material comprises a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT), which is obtainable by at least partially neutralizing the PEDOT with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound, and the light-emitting material comprises a light-emitting p-arylenevinylene polymer (PAV). The invention further relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of said light-emitting diode.
Description
Light-emitting diode
The invention pertains to a light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting-injecting material, a light-entitting polymer, and a cathode. Most poly-LEDs (polymer-based LEDs) consist of two polymer layers sandwiched between two electrode materials: one hole conducting-injecting material and the light-emitting polymer. The light-emitting polymer can be of the PAN type [poly(p-arylene vinylene)]. For the first function poly(3,4-emylenedioxythiophene, PEDT), available as an aqueous dispersion thereof with polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) can be used. This dispersion is called PEDOT and is commercially available from HC Starck as BAYTROΝ® P VP CH 8000 (high ohmic) or Baytron® P VP Al 4083 (low ohmic). Because of the acidic nature of PSS the pH for a PEDOT solution of a solid content of 2.5 % is below 2. The function of PSS is to keep PEDT soluble and stable in solution. In fact, the PEDT is polymerized in the presence of PSS. The PEDT is doped (oxidized) instantaneously during the polymerization. This results in a charged polymer, which is able to conduct holes. The negatively charged sulfonate groups act as counter ion balance for the doped, positively charged PEDT units (in general one on three to four units in PEDT are positively doped). Such LEDs are well known in the art, for instance see US 2003/0011306, which is incorporated by reference. There is a continuous need for improving the efficacy of such LEDs, in particular for improving the brightness of the displays containing these LEDs. In US 6,284,435 it was proposed to improve the quantum efficiency by adding highly polarizable organic anion surfactant additives, such as lithium salts of various ether sulfate anionic surfactants. We have now found that the efficacy of LEDs comprising PEDOT as the hole conducting-injection material and PAN-type polymers as Ught-emirting polymers can considerably be improved by a simple and cheap method without the need of using expensive surfactants or other organic materials. According to this invention increased brightness levels can be obtained at higher voltages (at least 10 V, preferably at least 15 V) in pulsed driving modes when at least partially neutralized PEDOT is used in combination with a PAV. Thus the invention also relates to a LED comprising pulsed mode driving means adapted for
providing a voltage of at least IO N, preferable at least 15 N. Neutralization can be effected by removal of protons from PEDOT and replacement by metal ions, for instance by addition of a base, such as a metal hydroxide, or by another material that is able to remove protons from PEDOT. The neutralization with sodium hydroxide as an example, and the structures of the polymers are given in Scheme 1.
To this end the invention relates to a previously mentioned LED wherein the hole conducting-injecting material comprises a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythioρhene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT), which is obtainable by at least partially neutralizing the PEDOT with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound, and the Ught-emitting material comprises a light-emitting p-arylene-vinylene polymer (PAN) thereof. The sodium or potassium compound is preferably sodium or potassium hydroxide, nitrate, carbonate, or hydrogen carbonate, and more preferably sodium hydroxide. The best results are obtained when PEDOT is neutralized to a pH of at least 3. Preferably, the pH is 3-7, more preferably 5.5-6.5. The neutralization of PEDOT can be obtained by a common base-acid reaction, for instance with sodium hydroxide, or in situ by capturing protons from PEDOT under the conditions used for removing the aqueous solvent, as is for instance the case with sodium nitrate that under these conditions forms a nitrate anion which captures a proton from PEDOT, that leaves the solution as gaseous nitric acid. The invention further relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of a light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting- injecting material, a light-ermtting polymer, and a cathode, wherein the hole conducting- injecting material comprises poly(3,4-emylenedioxvthiophene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT) and the light-enήtting material comprises light-emitting poly(p-arylene vinylene) (PAN), characterized in that the acidic hole conducting-injecting material is at least partially
neutralized with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound.
In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows schematically, in a cross-sectional view an embodiment of an LED in accordance with the invention.
A schematic view of a LED is given in Fig. 1. This figure shows a LED with a substrate 1, which is usually glass, an anode 2, which may be ITO, a layer 3 comprising PEDOT, a layer 4 comprising PPV, and a cathode 5. Particularly, reference is made to patent application WO 96/08047, which discloses various materials and methods of preparation thereof, and which contents are incorporated by reference. The material for use in the conductive transparent polymer (CTP) layer is the mixture of poly-3,4-emylenechoxythiophene and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT). The active layer is situated between two electrode layers of electroconductive materials. At least one of said electrode layers must be transparent or translucent to the emitted light in the active layer. One of the electrode layers serves as the (positive) electrode for injecting holes into the active layer. The material of this electrode layer has a high work function and is generally formed by a layer of indium oxide or indium-tin oxide (ITO). ha addition, such layers are transparent to the emitted light in the active layer. Particularly ITO is suitable because of its satisfactory electrical conductivity and high transparency. The other electrode layer serves as the (negative) electrode for injecting electrons into the active layer. The material for this layer has a lower work function and is generally formed from a layer of, for example, indium, calcium, barium, or magnesium. The electrode layer of ITO is provided by vacuum evaporation, sputtering, or a CVD process. This electrode layer and often also the negative electrode layer, for example, of calcium, are structured in accordance with a pattern by means of a customary photolithographic process or by partly covering it with a mask during the vacuum deposition process, which corresponds to the desired pattern for a display. I a typical example of a display, the electrodes of the first and second electrode layers have line structures, which
intersect each other at right angles and hence form a matrix of separately drivable rectangular LEDs. The rectangular LEDs constitute the pixels or picture elements of the display. If the electrodes of the first and second electrode layers are connected to an electrical source, light-emitting pixels are formed at the intersection of the electrodes. In this way a display can be formed in a simple manner. The pixel structure is not limited to a particular shape. Basically all pixel shapes are possible leading to a segmented display, e.g. for showing icons or simple figures. It should be noted that according to the present invention, apart from passive matrix structures also active matrix structures could be used. The light-emitting polymers, which term includes homopolymers, terpolymers, copolymers, block copolymers, oligomers (including low molecular weight compounds), and the like, may be any electroluminescent material of the poly (p-arylene vinylene) (PAN) type such as poly(p-phenylene vinylene), the phenylene group of which may be substituted, as disclosed in WO 98/27136. A poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV), more particular a phenyl-substituted PPN, is a preferred type of polymer to be used. PAN- type polymers contain at least two, the same or different, arylene-vinylene moieties. Thus the copolymers and the like according to this invention may further comprise other Ught-emitting moieties, such as fluorene or spirofluorene moieties. Preferably, soluble conjugated polymers are used because they can be easily applied, for example in a spin-coating process or by ink jetting. Preferable solubility is improved by substituting a conjugated PPN derivative with alkyl and/or alkoxy or phenyl groups. The light emitting material may also be a doped low molecular material, such as 8- hydroxyquinolin-aluminum doped with a dye, such as quinacridone, deposited in a vacuum process. Dependent upon the preparation of the conjugated polymer, said polymer may comprise 5 to 10 % non-conjugated units. It has been found that such non-conjugated units increase the electroluminescence efficiency, which is defined by the number of photons per injected electron in the active layer. The above-mentioned conjugated PAV derivatives can be dissolved in the customary organic solvents, for example halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, and optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylenes, anisole, chlorobenzene, and mesitylene. Methylbenzoate and tetrahydrofurane can also be used as solvents.
The degree of polymerization of the conjugated polymer ranges between 10 and 100,000. The layer thickness of the light enήtting layer of the conjugated polymer often ranges between 10 and 250 nm, in particular between 50 and 130 nm. The LED structure can be provided on a substrate, which is made, for example, from glass, quartz glass, ceramic, or synthetic resin material. Transistors or other electronic means may be present between the substrate and the transparent electrode forming a so-called active matrix substrate. Preferably, use is made of a translucent or transparent substrate. If a flexible elecfroluminescent device is desired, use is made of a transparent foil of a synthetic resin. Suitable transparent and flexible synthetic resins are, for example, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethene, and polyvinyl chloride. The invention is illustrated by the following example.
Efficacies of devices in cd/A at a given brightness. B AYTRON® P VP CH 8000 was neutralized with hydroxides of
Cs (comparison example) or Na. It was found that CsOH had no beneficial effect on the efficacy of the LED. Brightness above 100.000 cd/m2 could not be obtained in the pH range 1-7. NaOH, on the contrary had a beneficial effect on the efficacy. The higher the pH, the higher the efficacy was found. The use of NaOH as base further made it possible to obtain LEDs with brightness above 100.000 cdm2. At pH 4 and higher even brightness above 200.000 cd/m2 was possible. The device used to obtain the date in the table had a standard device configuration of ITO, 200 nm PEDOT, 80 nm SY-LEP, and Ba/Al cathode. It is driven in pulsed mode, 1 % pulse duty cycle at 200 Hz with a voltage indicated in the Table between brackets. SY-LEP was commercially obtained from Covion, Germany, which is a copolymer of at least the building blocks with the following structures:
Ref.: no addition of neutralizing compound Eff. = efficacy
Noltages at which the indicated brightness levels are obtained are indicated between brackets.
Claims
1. A light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting-injecting material, a light-emitting polymer, and a cathode, characterized in that the hole conducting-injecting material comprises a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT), which is obtainable by at least partially neutralizing the PEDOT with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound, and the light-emitting material comprises a light-emitting p-arylene-vinylene polymer (PAV).
2. The LED of claim 1 wherein the compound is sodium or potassium hydroxide, nitrate, carbonate, or hydrogen carbonate.
3. The LED of claim 2 wherein the compound is sodium hydroxide.
4. The LED of any one of claims 1-3 wherein the pH is greater than 3.
5. The LED of any one of claims 1 -4 wherein the pH is 3-7, preferably 5.5-6.5.
6. The LED of any one of claims 1 -5 wherein the PAV is a poly(p-phenylene vinylene).
7. The LED of any one of claims 1 -6 comprising pulsed mode driving means adapted for providing a voltage of at least 10 V, preferable at least 15 V.
8. A method of driving a LED according to claim 8 wherein the LED is pulsed mode driven at a voltage of at least 10 V, preferable at least 15 V.
9. Method for increasing the efficiency of a light-emitting diode (LED) comprising layers of an anode, an acidic hole conducting-injecting material, a light-emitting polymer, and a cathode, wherein the hole conducting-injecting material comprises poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT) and the light-emitting material comprises poly(p-arylene vinylene) (PAV), characterized in that the acidic hole conducting- injecting material is at least partially neutralized with an anion that is comprised or formed from a sodium or potassium compound.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP04744677A EP1656707A1 (en) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-07-29 | Light-emitting diode |
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EP03102446 | 2003-08-06 | ||
PCT/IB2004/051324 WO2005015654A1 (en) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-07-29 | Light-emitting diode |
EP04744677A EP1656707A1 (en) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-07-29 | Light-emitting diode |
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EP04744677A Withdrawn EP1656707A1 (en) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-07-29 | Light-emitting diode |
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JP (1) | JP2007501514A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20060061810A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1833323A (en) |
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WO (1) | WO2005015654A1 (en) |
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JP4381080B2 (en) * | 2003-09-29 | 2009-12-09 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Organic electroluminescence device and method for producing the same |
US20070077451A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Pierre-Marc Allemand | Neutralized anode buffer layers to improve processing and performances of organic electronic devices |
JP4301260B2 (en) | 2006-07-06 | 2009-07-22 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Method for manufacturing organic EL device and electronic device |
JP5037104B2 (en) * | 2006-12-11 | 2012-09-26 | 信越ポリマー株式会社 | Conductive laminate and method for producing the same |
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DE19652261A1 (en) * | 1996-12-16 | 1998-06-18 | Hoechst Ag | Aryl-substituted poly (p-arylenevinylenes), process for their preparation and their use in electroluminescent devices |
KR20030024690A (en) * | 2001-04-17 | 2003-03-26 | 코닌클리케 필립스 일렉트로닉스 엔.브이. | Led comprising a conductive transparent polymer layer with low sulfate and high metal ion content |
DE10123115B4 (en) * | 2001-05-07 | 2006-05-24 | Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Suwon | Hole injection layer of an organic light-emitting diode and method for its production |
-
2004
- 2004-07-29 EP EP04744677A patent/EP1656707A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-07-29 CN CNA2004800224280A patent/CN1833323A/en active Pending
- 2004-07-29 WO PCT/IB2004/051324 patent/WO2005015654A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2004-07-29 JP JP2006522466A patent/JP2007501514A/en active Pending
- 2004-07-29 KR KR1020067002239A patent/KR20060061810A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2004-08-03 TW TW093123158A patent/TW200510511A/en unknown
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CN1833323A (en) | 2006-09-13 |
JP2007501514A (en) | 2007-01-25 |
TW200510511A (en) | 2005-03-16 |
KR20060061810A (en) | 2006-06-08 |
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