JP2006080271A - Organic electroluminescence element, lighting system and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an organic electroluminescence element having high light emitting luminance, high external extraction quantum efficiency and long lifetime and to provide a lighting system and a display device. <P>SOLUTION: The organic electroluminescence element includes a configuration layer containing at least a phosphorescence property light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes, wherein at least one layer of the configuration layer contains a compound represented by a general formula (1), wherein Z is a nonmetallic atom group necessary to form an aromatic heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen atom, and R and R<SB>1</SB>is each a substituent. Moreover, the substituent may be incorporated at a position except R, R<SB>1</SB>. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element, a lighting device, and a display device.

  Conventionally, there is an electroluminescence display (ELD) as a light-emitting electronic display device. Examples of the constituent elements of ELD include inorganic electroluminescent elements and organic electroluminescent elements (hereinafter also referred to as organic EL elements). Inorganic electroluminescent elements have been used as planar light sources, but an alternating high voltage is required to drive the light emitting elements.

  On the other hand, an organic EL device has a structure in which a light emitting layer containing a compound that emits light is sandwiched between a cathode and an anode, and excitons (excitons) are generated by injecting electrons and holes into the light emitting layer and recombining them. The device emits light by utilizing the emission of light (fluorescence / phosphorescence) when the exciton is deactivated, and can emit light at a voltage of several volts to several tens of volts. Therefore, it has a wide viewing angle, high visibility, and since it is a thin-film type completely solid element, it has attracted attention from the viewpoints of space saving and portability.

  For the development of organic EL elements for practical use in the future, organic EL elements that emit light efficiently and with high luminance with lower power consumption are desired. For example, stilbene derivatives, distyrylarylene derivatives or A technique for doping a trisstyrylarylene derivative with a small amount of a phosphor to improve emission luminance and extend the lifetime of the device (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and using 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum complex as a host compound. A device having an organic light emitting layer doped with a trace amount of a phosphor (see, for example, Patent Document 2), a device having an organic light emitting layer doped with a quinacridone dye as a host compound using 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum complex ( For example, see Patent Document 3).

  In the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, when the emission from the excited singlet is used, the generation ratio of the singlet exciton and the triplet exciton is 1: 3, so the generation probability of the luminescent excited species is 25%. Since the light extraction efficiency is about 20%, the limit of the external extraction quantum efficiency (ηext) is set to 5%.

  However, since Princeton University has reported on organic EL devices that use phosphorescence emission from excited triplets (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1), research on materials that exhibit phosphorescence at room temperature has become active. (For example, see Non-Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 4.) When excited triplets are used, the upper limit of internal quantum efficiency is 100%, so in principle the luminous efficiency is four times that of excited singlets, and the performance is almost the same as that of cold cathode tubes. It can be applied to and attracts attention. For example, many compounds have been studied for synthesis centering on heavy metal complexes such as iridium complexes (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 3).

Further, studies using tris (2-phenylpyridine) iridium as a dopant have been made (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2). In addition, L ₂ Ir (acac), for example, (ppy) ₂ Ir (acac) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 4) as a dopant, and tris (2- (p-tolyl) pyridine) iridium (as a dopant) Studies using Ir (ptpy) ₃ ), tris (benzo [h] quinoline) iridium (Ir (bzq) ₃ ), Ir (bzq) ₂ ClP (Bu) _3, etc. (for example, see Non-Patent Document 5). Has been done.

  In order to obtain high luminous efficiency, a hole transporting compound is used as a host of the phosphorescent compound (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 6).

  Further, various electron transporting materials are used as phosphorescent compound hosts by doping them with a novel iridium complex (for example, see Non-Patent Document 4). Furthermore, high luminous efficiency is obtained by introducing a hole blocking layer (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 5).

  Further, a thermally stable hole transport material that includes a partial structure of a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring compound and extends in three or four directions around a nitrogen atom or aryl is disclosed ( For example, see Patent Document 5.) However, Patent Document 5 does not disclose any phosphorescent organic EL element.

  Further, a light-emitting material that is a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring compound and has high luminance is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 6). However, Patent Document 6 does not disclose any phosphorescent organic EL element.

Furthermore, an organic EL element (see, for example, Patent Document 7) having an organic compound layer doped with a metal functioning as a donor (electron donating) dopant at the interface with the cathode, and an organic layer in contact with the cathode An organic metal complex compound containing at least one of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, and rare earth metal ions and an electron transporting organic substance, and a metal ion contained in the organic metal complex compound in the organic layer as a cathode material An organic EL device using a metal that can be reduced to a metal in a vacuum (see, for example, Patent Document 8), an organic light emitting layer and an electron transport layer are disposed on the cathode side between the anode and the cathode And an organic EL element containing an organic compound having an electron mobility of 10 ⁻⁵ cm ² / Vs or more and cesium in the electron transport layer (for example, Patent Document 9) See.) Is known. Moreover, the organic EL element containing the compound of various novel structures is disclosed (for example, refer patent documents 10-12).

Currently, further improvement in light emission efficiency and longer life of organic EL devices using phosphorescence emission are being studied. However, for green light emission, an external extraction efficiency of nearly 20%, which is the theoretical limit, has been achieved. However, only the low current region (low luminance region), and the theoretical limit has not yet been achieved in the high current region (high luminance region). Furthermore, sufficient efficiency has not yet been obtained for other luminescent colors, and improvements are required, and organic EL elements that emit light efficiently and with high brightness with lower power consumption in the future for practical application. Development of devices is desired. In particular, there is a demand for an element that emits light with high efficiency in an organic EL element emitting blue phosphorescence.
Japanese Patent No. 3093796 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-264692 JP-A-3-255190 US Pat. No. 6,097,147 Japanese Patent Publication No.7-110940 JP 2001-160488 A JP-A-10-270171 JP 2000-182774 A JP 2003-347060 A JP-A-6-1972 JP 2003-238534 A International Publication No. 03/78541 Pamphlet M.M. A. Baldo et al. , Nature, 395, 151-154 (1998) M.M. A. Baldo et al. , Nature, 403, 17, 750-753 (2000) S. Lamansky et al. , J .; Am. Chem. Soc. , 123, 4304 (2001) M.M. E. Thompson et al. , The 10th International Works on Organic and Organic Electroluminescence (EL'00, Hamamatsu) Moon-Jae Youn. 0 g, Tsutsuo Tsutsui et al. , The 10th International Works on Organic and Organic Electroluminescence (EL'00, Hamamatsu) Ikai et al. , The 10th International Works on Organic and Organic Electroluminescence (EL'00, Hamamatsu)

  An object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescence element, an illumination device, and a display device that have high emission luminance, high external extraction quantum efficiency, and a long lifetime.

  The above object of the present invention has been achieved by the following constitution.

(Claim 1)
An organic electroluminescence device comprising a constituent layer including at least a phosphorescent light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes, wherein at least one of the constituent layers contains a compound represented by the following general formula (1) .

(Wherein, Z is represents a nonmetallic atomic group necessary for forming an aromatic heterocyclic ring, at least one containing a nitrogen atom, R, R ₁ represents a substituent. In addition, R, other than R ₁ (It may have a substituent at the position.)
(Claim 2)
2. The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein Z of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is a 6-membered ring.

(Claim 3)
The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) has a molecular weight of 450 or more.

(Claim 4)
The organic electroluminescent element according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-1).

(In the formula, R ₁₀ and R ₁₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₁₀ and R _11. )
(Claim 5)
The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-2).

(In the formula, R ₂₀ and R ₂₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₂₀ and R _21. )
(Claim 6)
The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-3).

(In the formula, R ₃₀ and R ₃₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₃₀ and R _31. )
(Claim 7)
The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-4).

(In the formula, R ₄₀ and R ₄₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₄₀ and R _41. )
(Claim 8)
The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-5).

(In the formula, R ₅₀ and R ₅₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₅₀ and R _51. )
(Claim 9)
The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-6).

(In the formula, R ₆₀ and R ₆₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₆₀ and R _61. )
(Claim 10)
Light emission is white, The organic electroluminescent element of any one of Claims 1-9 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Claim 11)
A display device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to claim 10.

(Claim 12)
An illuminating device comprising the organic electroluminescent element according to claim 10.

(Claim 13)
13. A display device comprising the illumination device according to claim 12 and a liquid crystal element as a display means.

  According to the present invention, an organic electroluminescence element, an illumination device, and a display device that have high emission luminance, high external extraction quantum efficiency, and a long lifetime can be provided.

  The organic electroluminescence device of the present invention has a constituent layer including at least a phosphorescent light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes of a cathode and an anode, and at least one of the constituent layers is represented by the general formula (1). It is characterized by containing a compound.

In the general formula (1), the aromatic heterocyclic ring containing at least one nitrogen atom represented by Z is a pyridine ring, pyridazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyrazine ring, triazine ring, benzimidazole ring, oxadiazole. Ring, triazole ring, imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, thiazole ring, indole ring, benzimidazole ring, benzothiazole ring, benzoxazole ring, quinoxaline ring, quinazoline ring, phthalazine ring, carbazole ring, carboline ring, diazacarbazole ring (carboline) A ring in which one of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon ring constituting the ring is further substituted with a nitrogen atom). Further, the aromatic heterocyclic ring may have a substituent represented by R and R ₁ described later.

Examples of the substituent represented by R and R ₁ include an alkyl group (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, tert-butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, octyl group, dodecyl group, tridecyl group, Tetradecyl group, pentadecyl group etc.), cycloalkyl group (eg cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group etc.), alkenyl group (eg vinyl group, allyl group etc.), alkynyl group (eg ethynyl group, propargyl group etc.), aryl group (For example, phenyl group, naphthyl group, etc.), aromatic heterocyclic group (for example, furyl group, thienyl group, pyridyl group, pyridazinyl group, pyrimidinyl group, pyrazinyl group, triazinyl group, imidazolyl group, pyrazolyl group, thiazolyl group, quinazolinyl Group, phthalazinyl group, etc.), heterocyclic group (for example, pyrrolidyl group, Midazolidyl group, morpholyl group, oxazolidyl group, etc.), alkoxyl group (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, propyloxy group, pentyloxy group, hexyloxy group, octyloxy group, dodecyloxy group, etc.), cycloalkoxyl group (for example, Cyclopentyloxy group, cyclohexyloxy group, etc.), aryloxy group (eg, phenoxy group, naphthyloxy group, etc.), alkylthio group (eg, methylthio group, ethylthio group, propylthio group, pentylthio group, hexylthio group, octylthio group, dodecylthio group) Etc.), a cycloalkylthio group (eg, cyclopentylthio group, cyclohexylthio group, etc.), an arylthio group (eg, phenylthio group, naphthylthio group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonyl group (eg, methyloxycarbonyl, etc.) Group, ethyloxycarbonyl group, butyloxycarbonyl group, octyloxycarbonyl group, dodecyloxycarbonyl group etc.), aryloxycarbonyl group (eg phenyloxycarbonyl group, naphthyloxycarbonyl group etc.), sulfamoyl group (eg aminosulfonyl) Group, methylaminosulfonyl group, dimethylaminosulfonyl group, butylaminosulfonyl group, hexylaminosulfonyl group, cyclohexylaminosulfonyl group, octylaminosulfonyl group, dodecylaminosulfonyl group, phenylaminosulfonyl group, naphthylaminosulfonyl group, 2-pyridylamino Sulfonyl groups, etc.), acyl groups (for example, acetyl group, ethylcarbonyl group, propylcarbonyl group, pentylcarbonyl group, cyclohexylcarbonyl) Octylcarbonyl group, 2-ethylhexylcarbonyl group, dodecylcarbonyl group, phenylcarbonyl group, naphthylcarbonyl group, pyridylcarbonyl group, etc.), acyloxy group (for example, acetyloxy group, ethylcarbonyloxy group, butylcarbonyloxy group, octylcarbonyl) Oxy group, dodecylcarbonyloxy group, phenylcarbonyloxy group, etc.), amide group (for example, methylcarbonylamino group, ethylcarbonylamino group, dimethylcarbonylamino group, propylcarbonylamino group, pentylcarbonylamino group, cyclohexylcarbonylamino group, 2-ethylhexylcarbonylamino group, octylcarbonylamino group, dodecylcarbonylamino group, phenylcarbonylamino group, naphthylcarbonylamino ), Carbamoyl group (for example, aminocarbonyl group, methylaminocarbonyl group, dimethylaminocarbonyl group, propylaminocarbonyl group, pentylaminocarbonyl group, cyclohexylaminocarbonyl group, octylaminocarbonyl group, 2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl group, dodecyl) Aminocarbonyl group, phenylaminocarbonyl group, naphthylaminocarbonyl group, 2-pyridylaminocarbonyl group, etc.), ureido group (for example, methylureido group, ethylureido group, pentylureido group, cyclohexylureido group, octylureido group, dodecylureido group) Phenylureido group, naphthylureido group, 2-pyridylaminoureido group, etc.), sulfinyl group (for example, methylsulfinyl group, ethylsulfinyl group, butyrate) Rusulfinyl group, cyclohexylsulfinyl group, 2-ethylhexylsulfinyl group, dodecylsulfinyl group, phenylsulfinyl group, naphthylsulfinyl group, 2-pyridylsulfinyl group, etc.), alkylsulfonyl group (for example, methylsulfonyl group, ethylsulfonyl group, butylsulfonyl) Group, cyclohexylsulfonyl group, 2-ethylhexylsulfonyl group, dodecylsulfonyl group, etc.), arylsulfonyl group (phenylsulfonyl group, naphthylsulfonyl group, 2-pyridylsulfonyl group etc.), amino group (for example, amino group, ethylamino group, Dimethylamino group, butylamino group, cyclopentylamino group, 2-ethylhexylamino group, dodecylamino group, anilino group, naphthylamino group, 2-pyridylamino group, etc.), halo Atom (for example, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom), fluorinated hydrocarbon group (for example, fluoromethyl group, trifluoromethyl group, pentafluoroethyl group, pentafluorophenyl group, etc.), cyano group, nitro group , Hydroxyl group, mercapto group, silyl group (for example, trimethylsilyl group, triisopropylsilyl group, triphenylsilyl group, phenyldiethylsilyl group, etc.). These substituents may be further substituted with the above substituents. In addition, a plurality of these substituents may be bonded to each other to form a ring. Preferred substituents are an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a fluorinated hydrocarbon group, an aryl group, and an aromatic heterocyclic group.

Also, R, examples of the substituent positions other than R _1, the R, and substituted groups R _1.

In the general formulas (1-1), (1-2), (1-3), (1-4), (1-5), and (1-6), R ₁₀ , R ₁₁ , R ₂₀ , R _The substituents represented by ₂₁ , R ₃₀ , R ₃₁ , R ₄₀ , R ₄₁ , R ₅₀ , R ₅₁ , R ₆₀ , R ₆₁ are the substituents represented by R and R ₁ in the general formula (1). It is synonymous with. Furthermore, as substituents at positions other than R ₁₀ , R ₁₁ , R ₂₀ , R ₂₁ , R ₃₀ , R ₃₁ , R ₄₀ , R ₄₁ , R ₅₀ , R ₅₁ , R ₆₀ , R ₆₁ , the above R, R ₁ The substituent of this is mentioned.

  Although the specific example of a compound represented by General formula (1) based on this invention below is shown, this invention is not limited to these.

  Although the typical synthesis example of the compound based on this invention is shown below, this invention is not limited to these.

  Synthesis Example 1 (Synthesis of Exemplified Compound 10)

  11.3 g of δ-carboline was dissolved in 200 ml of acetic acid, and bromine was added dropwise over 15 minutes under water cooling. Water cooling was canceled and the mixture was further stirred for 3 hours. The precipitated crystals were obtained by filtration under reduced pressure, washed with acetic acid, water and an aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, and then dried to obtain compound (2). Yield 14.9 g, pale yellow crystals.

  Next, 5.0 g of compound (2) was dissolved in 500 ml of THF, and then a solution of 3.0 of benzeneboronic acid and 6.7 of potassium carbonate in 20 ml of water was added. The reaction system was purged with nitrogen gas for 10 minutes, 2.3 g of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0) was added, and the mixture was heated to reflux for 30 hours. Insoluble matter was removed by filtration under reduced pressure, and the THF solution was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, developing solution: ethyl acetate / toluene / methylene chloride) to obtain compound (4). Yield 2.7 g, yellow crystals.

  Next, 0.091 g of palladium acetate and 3.1 ml of a 10% xylene solution of tri (t-butyl) phosphine were added under a nitrogen stream, and the mixture was stirred at 50 to 60 ° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, 0.015 g of sodium borohydride, 45 ml of dehydrated xylene, 1.3 g of compound (4), 1.8 g of 4,4′-diiodobiphenyl (5), and 0.78 g of sodium t-butylate were added for 8 hours. Heating to reflux was performed. After concentration under reduced pressure, THF was added and the insoluble portion was removed by filtration under reduced pressure, followed by concentration under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, developing solution: ethyl acetate / toluene / methylene chloride), and further recrystallized from THF to give Exemplary Compound (10). Yield 0.55 g, white crystals.

The structure was confirmed by ¹ H-NMR spectrum and mass spectrometry spectrum.

  Synthesis Example 2 (Synthesis of Exemplified Compound 7)

  Under a nitrogen stream, 0.051 g of palladium acetate and 1.8 ml of a 10% xylene solution of tri (t-butyl) phosphine were added and stirred at 50 to 60 ° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, a small amount of sodium borohydride, 20 ml of dehydrated xylene, 0.70 g of compound (11), 0.71 g of 4,4′-diiodobiphenyl (5) and 0.40 g of sodium t-butylate were added, and the mixture was heated to reflux for 8 hours. Went. After concentration under reduced pressure, THF was added and the insoluble portion was removed by filtration under reduced pressure, followed by concentration under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, developing solution: ethyl acetate / toluene / methylene chloride), and further recrystallized from THF to obtain Exemplary Compound (7). Yield 0.50 g, pale yellow crystals.

The structure was confirmed by ¹ H-NMR spectrum and mass spectrometry spectrum.

  Synthesis Example 3 (Synthesis of Exemplified Compound 8)

  Under a nitrogen stream, 0.051 g of palladium acetate and 1.8 ml of a 10% xylene solution of tri (t-butyl) phosphine were added and stirred at 50-60 ° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, a small amount of sodium borohydride, 20 ml of dehydrated xylene, 0.70 g of compound (21), 0.71 g of 4,4′-diiodobiphenyl (5) and 0.40 g of sodium t-butylate were added, and the mixture was heated under reflux for 8 hours. Went. After concentration under reduced pressure, THF was added and the insoluble portion was removed by filtration under reduced pressure, followed by concentration under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, developing solution: ethyl acetate / toluene / methylene chloride), and further recrystallized from THF to obtain Exemplary Compound (8). Yield 0.40 g, pale yellow crystals.

The structure was confirmed by ¹ H-NMR spectrum and mass spectrometry spectrum.

  Synthesis Example 4 (Synthesis of Exemplary Compound 32)

  To a mixed solution obtained by adding 4.8 g of compound (32) and 5.4 g of compound (31) in 50 ml of N, N-dimethylacetamide, 2.5 g of copper powder and 4.1 g of potassium carbonate were added and heated to reflux for 10 hours. . Chloroform was added after standing_to_cool, and the insoluble matter was removed by filtration. The organic layer was washed with water and saturated brine, and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, developing solution: ethyl acetate / toluene / methylene chloride), and further recrystallized from THF to give Exemplary Compound (32). Yield 3.8 g, white crystals.

The structure was confirmed by ¹ H-NMR spectrum and mass spectrometry spectrum.

  The compound according to the present invention preferably has a molecular weight of 450 or more, more preferably 600 or more, and still more preferably a molecular weight of 800 or more. As a result, the glass transition temperature is raised, the thermal stability is improved, and the life can be further extended.

  The compound represented by the general formula (1) according to the present invention is composed of organic EL element materials (backlight, flat panel display, illumination light source, display element, electrophotographic light source, recording light source, exposure light source, reading light source, It is used for applications such as signs, signboards, interiors, optical communication devices, etc., but other uses include organic semiconductor laser materials (recording light sources, exposure light sources, reading light source optical communication devices, electrophotographic light sources, etc.) Wide range of materials for electrophotographic photoreceptors, materials for organic TFT elements (organic memory elements, organic computing elements, organic switching elements), materials for organic wavelength conversion elements, materials for photoelectric conversion elements (solar cells, photosensors, etc.) Available in the field.

Next, the constituent layers of the organic EL device of the present invention will be described in detail. In this invention, although the preferable specific example of the layer structure of an organic EL element is shown below, this invention is not limited to these.
(I) Anode / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode (ii) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode (iii) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron Transport layer / cathode (iv) anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode (v) anode / anode buffer layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole Blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode << Anode >>
As the anode in the organic EL element, an electrode material made of a metal, an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, or a mixture thereof having a high work function (4 eV or more) is preferably used. Specific examples of such electrode materials include metals such as Au, and conductive transparent materials such as CuI, indium tin oxide (ITO), SnO ₂ and ZnO. Alternatively, an amorphous material such as IDIXO (In ₂ O ₃ —ZnO) capable of forming a transparent conductive film may be used. For the anode, these electrode materials may be formed into a thin film by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering, and a pattern having a desired shape may be formed by a photolithography method, or when the pattern accuracy is not required (about 100 μm or more) ), A pattern may be formed through a mask having a desired shape when the electrode material is deposited or sputtered. When light emission is extracted from the anode, it is desirable that the transmittance be greater than 10%, and the sheet resistance as the anode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less. Further, although the film thickness depends on the material, it is usually selected in the range of 10 to 1000 nm, preferably 10 to 200 nm.

"cathode"
On the other hand, as the cathode, a material having a low work function (4 eV or less) metal (referred to as an electron injecting metal), an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, and a mixture thereof as an electrode material is used. Specific examples of such electrode materials include sodium, sodium-potassium alloy, magnesium, lithium, magnesium / copper mixture, magnesium / silver mixture, magnesium / aluminum mixture, magnesium / indium mixture, aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) Mixtures, indium, lithium / aluminum mixtures, rare earth metals and the like. Among these, from the point of durability against electron injection and oxidation, etc., a mixture of an electron injecting metal and a second metal which is a stable metal having a larger work function than this, for example, a magnesium / silver mixture, Suitable are a magnesium / aluminum mixture, a magnesium / indium mixture, an aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) mixture, a lithium / aluminum mixture, aluminum and the like. The cathode can be produced by forming a thin film of these electrode materials by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering. The sheet resistance as the cathode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less, and the film thickness is usually selected in the range of 10 nm to 5 μm, preferably 50 to 200 nm. In order to transmit the emitted light, if either one of the anode or the cathode of the organic EL element is transparent or translucent, the emission luminance is advantageously improved.

  Moreover, after producing the said metal with a film thickness of 1-20 nm on a cathode, a transparent or semi-transparent cathode can be produced by producing the electroconductive transparent material quoted by description of the anode on it, By applying this, an element in which both the anode and the cathode are transmissive can be manufactured.

  Next, an injection layer, a blocking layer, an electron transport layer, and the like used as a constituent layer of the organic EL element of the present invention will be described.

<< Injection layer: electron injection layer, hole injection layer >>
The injection layer is provided as necessary, and there are an electron injection layer and a hole injection layer, and as described above, it exists between the anode and the light emitting layer or the hole transport layer and between the cathode and the light emitting layer or the electron transport layer. May be.

  An injection layer is a layer provided between an electrode and an organic layer in order to reduce drive voltage and improve light emission luminance. “Organic EL element and its forefront of industrialization (issued by NTT Corporation on November 30, 1998) 2), Chapter 2, “Electrode Materials” (pages 123 to 166) in detail, and includes a hole injection layer (anode buffer layer) and an electron injection layer (cathode buffer layer).

  The details of the anode buffer layer (hole injection layer) are described in JP-A-9-45479, JP-A-9-260062, JP-A-8-288069 and the like. As a specific example, copper phthalocyanine is used. Examples thereof include a phthalocyanine buffer layer represented by an oxide, an oxide buffer layer represented by vanadium oxide, an amorphous carbon buffer layer, and a polymer buffer layer using a conductive polymer such as polyaniline (emeraldine) or polythiophene.

  The details of the cathode buffer layer (electron injection layer) are described in JP-A-6-325871, JP-A-9-17574, JP-A-10-74586, and the like. Specifically, strontium, aluminum, etc. Metal buffer layer typified by lithium, alkali metal compound buffer layer typified by lithium fluoride, alkaline earth metal compound buffer layer typified by magnesium fluoride, oxide buffer layer typified by aluminum oxide, etc. . The buffer layer (injection layer) is preferably a very thin film, and the film thickness is preferably in the range of 0.1 nm to 5 μm although it depends on the material.

<Blocking layer: hole blocking layer, electron blocking layer>
As described above, the blocking layer is provided as necessary in addition to the basic constituent layer of the organic compound thin film. For example, it is described in JP-A Nos. 11-204258, 11-204359, and “Organic EL elements and their forefront of industrialization” (issued by NTT, Inc. on November 30, 1998). There is a hole blocking (hole blocking) layer.

  The hole blocking layer is an electron transport layer in a broad sense, and is made of a hole blocking material that has a function of transporting electrons but has a very small ability to transport holes, and blocks holes while transporting electrons. Thus, the probability of recombination of electrons and holes can be improved.

  The hole blocking layer of the organic EL device of the present invention is provided adjacent to the light emitting layer.

  In this invention, it is preferable to contain the compound which concerns on this invention mentioned above as a hole blocking material of a hole blocking layer. Thereby, it can be set as an organic EL element with much higher luminous efficiency. Further, the lifetime can be further increased.

  On the other hand, the electron blocking layer is a hole transport layer in a broad sense, made of a material that has a function of transporting holes and has a very small ability to transport electrons, and blocks electrons while transporting holes. Thus, the probability of recombination of electrons and holes can be improved.

<Light emitting layer>
The light emitting layer according to the present invention is a layer that emits light by recombination of electrons and holes injected from the electrode, the electron transport layer, or the hole transport layer, and the light emitting portion is in the layer of the light emitting layer. May be the interface between the light emitting layer and the adjacent layer.

(Host compound)
The light-emitting layer of the organic EL device of the present invention preferably contains the following host compound and phosphorescent compound (also referred to as a phosphorescent compound). Preference is given to using the compounds according to the invention. Thereby, the luminous efficiency can be further increased. Moreover, you may contain compounds other than the compound which concerns on said this invention as a host compound.

  Here, in the present invention, the host compound is defined as a compound having a phosphorescence quantum yield of phosphorescence emission of less than 0.01 at room temperature (25 ° C.) among compounds contained in the light emitting layer.

  Further, a plurality of known host compounds may be used in combination. By using a plurality of types of host compounds, it is possible to adjust the movement of charges, and the organic EL element can be made highly efficient. In addition, by using a plurality of phosphorescent compounds, it is possible to mix different light emission, thereby obtaining an arbitrary emission color. White light emission is possible by adjusting the kind of phosphorescent compound and the amount of doping, and can also be applied to illumination and backlight.

  As these known host compounds, compounds having a hole transporting ability and an electron transporting ability, preventing the emission of longer wavelengths, and having a high Tg (glass transition temperature) are preferable.

  Specific examples of known host compounds include compounds described in the following documents.

  JP-A-2001-257076, 2002-308855, 2001-313179, 2002-319491, 2001-357777, 2002-334786, 2002-8860, 2002-334787, 2002-15871, 2002-334788, 2002-43056, 2002-334789, 2002-75645, 2002-338579, 2002-105445 gazette, 2002-343568 gazette, 2002-141173 gazette, 2002-352957 gazette, 2002-203683 gazette, 2002-363227 gazette, 2002-231453 gazette, No. 003-3165, No. 2002-234888, No. 2003-27048, No. 2002-255934, No. 2002-286061, No. 2002-280183, No. 2002-299060, No. 2002. -302516, 2002-305083, 2002-305084, 2002-308837, and the like.

  The light emitting layer may further contain a host compound having a fluorescence maximum wavelength as a host compound. In this case, the energy transfer from the other host compound and the phosphorescent compound to the fluorescent compound allows electroluminescence as an organic EL element to be emitted from the other host compound having a fluorescence maximum wavelength. A host compound having a fluorescence maximum wavelength is preferably a compound having a high fluorescence quantum yield in a solution state. Here, the fluorescence quantum yield is preferably 10% or more, particularly preferably 30% or more. Specific host compounds having a maximum fluorescence wavelength include coumarin dyes, pyran dyes, cyanine dyes, croconium dyes, squalium dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, fluorescein dyes, rhodamine dyes, and pyrylium dyes. Perylene dyes, stilbene dyes, polythiophene dyes, and the like. The fluorescence quantum yield can be measured by the method described in 362 (1992, Maruzen) of Spectroscopic II of the Fourth Edition Experimental Chemistry Course 7.

(Phosphorescent compound (phosphorescent compound))
The material used for the light emitting layer (hereinafter referred to as the light emitting material) preferably contains a phosphorescent compound at the same time as the host compound. Thereby, it can be set as an organic EL element with higher luminous efficiency.

  The phosphorescent compound according to the present invention is a compound in which light emission from an excited triplet is observed, is a compound that emits phosphorescence at room temperature (25 ° C.), and has a phosphorescence quantum yield of 0.01 at 25 ° C. These compounds. The phosphorescence quantum yield is preferably 0.1 or more. The phosphorescence quantum yield can be measured by the method described in Spectroscopic II, page 398 (1992 edition, Maruzen) of Experimental Chemistry Course 4 of the 4th edition. Although the phosphorescence quantum yield in a solution can be measured using various solvents, the phosphorescence quantum yield used in the present invention only needs to achieve the above phosphorescence quantum yield in any solvent.

  There are two types of light emission of the phosphorescent compound in principle. One is the recombination of the carrier on the host compound to which the carrier is transported to generate an excited state of the host compound, and this energy is transferred to the phosphorescent compound. The energy transfer type is to obtain light emission from the phosphorescent compound by moving to the other, and the other is that the phosphorescent compound becomes a carrier trap, and carrier recombination occurs on the phosphorescent compound, and the phosphorescent compound emits light. Although it is a carrier trap type in which light emission is obtained, in any case, it is a condition that the excited state energy of the phosphorescent compound is lower than the excited state energy of the host compound.

  The phosphorescent compound can be appropriately selected from known compounds used for the light emitting layer of the organic EL device.

  The phosphorescent compound used in the present invention is preferably a complex compound containing a group 8-10 metal in the periodic table of elements, more preferably an iridium compound, an osmium compound, or a platinum compound (platinum complex). System compounds), rare earth complexes, and most preferred are iridium compounds.

  Although the specific example of a phosphorescent compound is shown below, this invention is not limited to these. These compounds are described, for example, in Inorg. Chem. 40, 1704-1711, and the like.

  In the present invention, the phosphorescence emission maximum wavelength of the phosphorescent compound is not particularly limited, and can be obtained in principle by selecting a central metal, a ligand, a ligand substituent, and the like. Although the emission wavelength can be changed, it is preferable that the phosphorescent compound has a maximum phosphorescence emission wavelength of 380 to 480 nm. With such a blue phosphorescent organic EL element and a white phosphorescent organic EL element, the luminous efficiency can be further increased.

  The light emission color of the organic EL device of the present invention and the compound according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4.16 on page 108 of “New Color Science Handbook” (edited by the Japan Color Society, University of Tokyo Press, 1985). It is determined by the color when the result measured with the total CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Sensing) is applied to the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

  The light emitting layer can be formed by forming the above compound by a known thinning method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, an LB method, or an ink jet method. Although the film thickness as a light emitting layer does not have a restriction | limiting in particular, Usually, 5 nm-5 micrometers, Preferably it is chosen in the range of 5-200 nm. This light emitting layer may have a single layer structure in which these phosphorescent compounds and host compounds are composed of one or more kinds, or may have a laminated structure composed of a plurality of layers having the same composition or different compositions.

《Hole transport layer》
The hole transport layer is made of a hole transport material having a function of transporting holes, and in a broad sense, a hole injection layer and an electron blocking layer are also included in the hole transport layer. The hole transport layer can be provided as a single layer or a plurality of layers.

  The hole transport material has any one of hole injection or transport and electron barrier properties, and may be either organic or inorganic. For example, triazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, polyarylalkane derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives and pyrazolone derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, arylamine derivatives, amino-substituted chalcone derivatives, oxazole derivatives, styrylanthracene derivatives, fluorenone derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, Examples thereof include stilbene derivatives, silazane derivatives, aniline copolymers, and conductive polymer oligomers, particularly thiophene oligomers.

  The above-mentioned materials can be used as the hole transport material, but it is preferable to use a porphyrin compound, an aromatic tertiary amine compound and a styrylamine compound, particularly an aromatic tertiary amine compound.

  Representative examples of aromatic tertiary amine compounds and styrylamine compounds include N, N, N ′, N′-tetraphenyl-4,4′-diaminophenyl; N, N′-diphenyl-N, N′— Bis (3-methylphenyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl] -4,4′-diamine (TPD); 2,2-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) propane; 1,1-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) cyclohexane; N, N, N ′, N′-tetra-p-tolyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl; 1,1-bis (4-di-p-tolyl) Aminophenyl) -4-phenylcyclohexane; bis (4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl) phenylmethane; bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) phenylmethane; N, N'-diphenyl-N, N ' − (4-methoxyphenyl) -4,4'-diaminobiphenyl; N, N, N ', N'-tetraphenyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether; 4,4'-bis (diphenylamino) quadriphenyl; N, N, N-tri (p-tolyl) amine; 4- (di-p-tolylamino) -4 '-[4- (di-p-tolylamino) styryl] stilbene; 4-N, N-diphenylamino- (2-diphenylvinyl) benzene; 3-methoxy-4′-N, N-diphenylaminostilbenzene; N-phenylcarbazole, and also two of those described in US Pat. No. 5,061,569. Having a condensed aromatic ring in the molecule, for example, 4,4'-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl (NPD), JP-A-4-3086 4,4 ', 4 "-tris [N- (3-methylphenyl) -N-phenylamino] triphenylamine in which three triphenylamine units described in Japanese Patent No. 8 are linked in a starburst type ( MTDATA) and the like.

  Furthermore, a polymer material in which these materials are introduced into a polymer chain or these materials are used as a polymer main chain can also be used. In addition, inorganic compounds such as p-type-Si and p-type-SiC can also be used as the hole injection material and the hole transport material.

  The hole transport layer is formed by thinning the hole transport material by a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, a printing method including an ink jet method, or an LB method. Can do. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the film thickness of a positive hole transport layer, Usually, 5 nm-about 5 micrometers, Preferably it is 5-200 nm. The hole transport layer may have a single layer structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

《Electron transport layer》
The electron transport layer is made of a material having a function of transporting electrons, and in a broad sense, an electron injection layer and a hole blocking layer are also included in the electron transport layer. The electron transport layer can be provided as a single layer or a plurality of layers.

  Conventionally, in the case of a single electron transport layer and a plurality of layers, an electron transport material (also serving as a hole blocking material) used for an electron transport layer adjacent to the light emitting layer on the cathode side is injected from the cathode. As long as it has a function of transferring electrons to the light-emitting layer, any material can be selected and used from among conventionally known compounds. For example, nitro-substituted fluorene derivatives, diphenylquinone derivatives Thiopyrandioxide derivatives, carbodiimides, fluorenylidenemethane derivatives, anthraquinodimethane and anthrone derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives and the like. Furthermore, in the above oxadiazole derivative, a thiadiazole derivative in which the oxygen atom of the oxadiazole ring is substituted with a sulfur atom, and a quinoxaline derivative having a quinoxaline ring known as an electron withdrawing group can also be used as an electron transport material. Furthermore, a polymer material in which these materials are introduced into a polymer chain or these materials are used as a polymer main chain can also be used.

  In addition, metal complexes of 8-quinolinol derivatives such as tris (8-quinolinol) aluminum (Alq), tris (5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5,7-dibromo-8-quinolinol) aluminum Tris (2-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, bis (8-quinolinol) zinc (Znq), and the like, and the central metals of these metal complexes are In, Mg, Metal complexes replaced with Cu, Ca, Sn, Ga or Pb can also be used as the electron transport material. In addition, metal-free or metal phthalocyanine, or those having terminal ends substituted with an alkyl group or a sulfonic acid group can be preferably used as the electron transporting material. In addition, the distyrylpyrazine derivative exemplified as the material of the light emitting layer can also be used as an electron transport material, and similarly to the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer, inorganic such as n-type-Si and n-type-SiC can be used. A semiconductor can also be used as an electron transport material.

  The electron transport layer can be formed by thinning the electron transport material by a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, a printing method including an ink jet method, or an LB method. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the film thickness of an electron carrying layer, Usually, 5 nm-about 5 micrometers, Preferably it is 5-200 nm. The electron transport layer may have a single layer structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

<Substrate>
The organic EL device of the present invention is preferably formed on a substrate.

  The substrate (hereinafter also referred to as a substrate, substrate, support, etc.) that can be used in the organic EL device of the present invention is not particularly limited in the type of glass, plastic, etc. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular, As a board | substrate used preferably, glass, quartz, and a transparent resin film can be mentioned, for example. A particularly preferable substrate is a resin film that can give flexibility to the organic EL element.

  Examples of the resin film include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide, polycarbonate (PC), and cellulose. Examples include films made of triacetate (TAC), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), and the like. On the surface of the resin film, an inorganic film, an organic film, or a hybrid film of both may be formed.

  The external extraction efficiency at room temperature of light emission of the organic EL device of the present invention is preferably 1% or more, more preferably 5% or more. Here, the external extraction quantum efficiency (%) = the number of photons emitted to the outside of the organic EL element / the number of electrons sent to the organic EL element × 100.

  In addition, a hue improvement filter such as a color filter may be used in combination, or a color conversion filter that converts the emission color from the organic EL element into multiple colors using a phosphor. In the case of using a color conversion filter, the λmax of light emission of the organic EL element is preferably 480 nm or less.

<< Method for producing organic EL element >>
As an example of the method for producing the organic EL device of the present invention, a method for producing an organic EL device comprising an anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / electron injection layer / cathode will be described.

  First, a thin film made of a desired electrode material, for example, a material for an anode is formed on a suitable substrate by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering so as to have a film thickness of 1 μm or less, preferably 10 to 200 nm to produce an anode. . Next, an organic compound thin film of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, and a hole blocking layer, which are organic EL element materials, is formed thereon.

As a method for thinning the organic compound thin film, there are a vapor deposition method and a wet process (spin coating method, casting method, ink jet method, printing method) as described above, but it is easy to obtain a uniform film and a pinhole. From the point of being difficult to form, a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, an ink jet method, and a printing method are particularly preferable. Further, a different film forming method may be applied for each layer. When employing a vapor deposition method for film formation, the vapor deposition conditions vary depending on the type of compound used, but generally a boat heating temperature of 50 to 450 ° C., a degree of vacuum of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² Pa, and a vapor deposition rate of 0.01 to It is desirable to select appropriately within the range of 50 nm / second, substrate temperature −50 to 300 ° C., film thickness 0.1 nm to 5 μm, preferably 5 to 200 nm.

  After forming these layers, a thin film made of a cathode material is formed thereon by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering so as to have a film thickness of 1 μm or less, preferably in the range of 50 to 200 nm, and a cathode is provided. Thus, a desired organic EL element can be obtained. The organic EL element is preferably produced from the hole injection layer to the cathode consistently by a single evacuation, but may be taken out halfway and subjected to different film forming methods. At that time, it is necessary to consider that the work is performed in a dry inert gas atmosphere.

  The multicolor display device of the present invention is provided with a shadow mask only at the time of forming a light emitting layer, and the other layers are common, so patterning such as a shadow mask is unnecessary, and a vapor deposition method, a casting method, a spin coating method, an ink jet method on one side. A film can be formed by a printing method or the like. In the case of patterning only the light emitting layer, the method is not limited, but the vapor deposition method, the ink jet method, and the printing method are preferable. In the case of using a vapor deposition method, patterning using a shadow mask is preferable.

  In addition, it is also possible to reverse the production order and produce the cathode, the electron injection layer, the electron transport layer, the light emitting layer, the hole transport layer, the hole injection layer, and the anode in this order. When a DC voltage is applied to the multicolor display device thus obtained, light emission can be observed by applying a voltage of about 2 to 40 V with the positive polarity of the anode and the negative polarity of the cathode. An alternating voltage may be applied. The alternating current waveform to be applied may be arbitrary.

  The display device of the present invention can be used as a display device, a display, and various light emission sources. In a display device or a display, full-color display is possible by using three types of organic EL elements of blue, red, and green light emission. Examples of the display device and display include a television, a personal computer, a mobile device, an AV device, a character broadcast display, and an information display in an automobile. In particular, it may be used as a display device for reproducing still images and moving images, and the driving method when used as a display device for reproducing moving images may be either a simple matrix (passive matrix) method or an active matrix method.

  The lighting device of the present invention includes household lighting, interior lighting, clock and liquid crystal backlights, billboard advertisements, traffic lights, light sources of optical storage media, light sources of electrophotographic copying machines, light sources of optical communication processors, light sources of optical sensors. However, it is not limited to this.

  Moreover, you may use as an organic EL element which gave the organic EL element of this invention the resonator structure. Examples of the purpose of use of the organic EL element having such a resonator structure include a light source of an optical storage medium, a light source of an electrophotographic copying machine, a light source of an optical communication processing machine, and a light source of an optical sensor. It is not limited. Moreover, you may use for the said use by making a laser oscillation.

<Display device>
The organic EL element of the present invention may be used as one kind of lamp for illumination or exposure light source, a projection device for projecting an image, or a display for directly viewing a still image or a moving image. It may be used as a device (display). The driving method when used as a display device for moving image reproduction may be either a simple matrix (passive matrix) method or an active matrix method. Alternatively, a full-color display device can be manufactured by using three or more organic EL elements of the present invention having different emission colors. Alternatively, it is possible to change the color of one emission color, for example, white emission to BGR using a color filter, and to achieve full color. Further, it is possible to convert the emission color of the organic EL to another color by using a color conversion filter to make it full color. In that case, it is preferable that the λmax of the organic EL emission is 480 nm or less.

  An example of a display device composed of organic EL elements will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display device including organic EL elements. It is a schematic diagram of a display such as a mobile phone that displays image information by light emission of an organic EL element.

  The display 1 includes a display unit A having a plurality of pixels, a control unit B that performs image scanning of the display unit A based on image information, and the like.

  The control unit B is electrically connected to the display unit A, and sends a scanning signal and an image data signal to each of the plurality of pixels based on image information from the outside. The pixels for each scanning line are converted into image data signals by the scanning signal. In response to this, light is sequentially emitted and image scanning is performed to display image information on the display unit A.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the display unit A.

  The display unit A includes a wiring unit including a plurality of scanning lines 5 and data lines 6, a plurality of pixels 3 and the like on a substrate. The main members of the display unit A will be described below. FIG. 2 shows a case where the light emitted from the pixel 3 is extracted in the direction of the white arrow (downward).

  The scanning lines 5 and the plurality of data lines 6 in the wiring portion are each made of a conductive material, and the scanning lines 5 and the data lines 6 are orthogonal to each other in a grid pattern and are connected to the pixels 3 at orthogonal positions (details are shown in FIG. Not shown).

  When a scanning signal is applied from the scanning line 5, the pixel 3 receives an image data signal from the data line 6 and emits light according to the received image data. Full color display is possible by appropriately arranging pixels in the red region, the green region, and the blue region that emit light on the same substrate.

  Next, the light emission process of the pixel will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a pixel.

  The pixel includes an organic EL element 10, a switching transistor 11, a driving transistor 12, a capacitor 13, and the like. A full color display can be performed by using red, green, and blue light emitting organic EL elements as the organic EL elements 10 in a plurality of pixels, and juxtaposing them on the same substrate.

  In FIG. 3, an image data signal is applied from the control unit B to the drain of the switching transistor 11 through the data line 6. When a scanning signal is applied from the control unit B to the gate of the switching transistor 11 via the scanning line 5, the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned on, and the image data signal applied to the drain is supplied to the capacitor 13 and the driving transistor 12. Is transmitted to the gate.

  By transmitting the image data signal, the capacitor 13 is charged according to the potential of the image data signal, and the drive of the drive transistor 12 is turned on. The drive transistor 12 has a drain connected to the power supply line 7 and a source connected to the electrode of the organic EL element 10, and the power supply line 7 connects to the organic EL element 10 according to the potential of the image data signal applied to the gate. Current is supplied.

  When the scanning signal is moved to the next scanning line 5 by the sequential scanning of the control unit B, the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned off. However, even if the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned off, the capacitor 13 maintains the potential of the charged image data signal, so that the driving of the driving transistor 12 is kept on and the next scanning signal is applied. Until then, the light emission of the organic EL element 10 continues. When the scanning signal is next applied by sequential scanning, the driving transistor 12 is driven according to the potential of the next image data signal synchronized with the scanning signal, and the organic EL element 10 emits light.

  That is, the organic EL element 10 emits light by the switching transistor 11 and the drive transistor 12 that are active elements for the organic EL element 10 of each of the plurality of pixels, and the light emission of the organic EL element 10 of each of the plurality of pixels 3. It is carried out. Such a light emitting method is called an active matrix method.

  Here, the light emission of the organic EL element 10 may be light emission of a plurality of gradations by a multi-value image data signal having a plurality of gradation potentials, or on / off of a predetermined light emission amount by a binary image data signal. But you can.

  The potential of the capacitor 13 may be held continuously until the next scanning signal is applied, or may be discharged immediately before the next scanning signal is applied.

  In the present invention, not only the active matrix method described above, but also a passive matrix light emission drive in which the organic EL element emits light according to the data signal only when the scanning signal is scanned.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a passive matrix display device. In FIG. 4, a plurality of scanning lines 5 and a plurality of image data lines 6 are provided in a lattice shape so as to face each other with the pixel 3 interposed therebetween.

  When the scanning signal of the scanning line 5 is applied by sequential scanning, the pixels 3 connected to the applied scanning line 5 emit light according to the image data signal. In the passive matrix system, the pixel 3 has no active element, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The organic EL material according to the present invention can also be applied to an organic EL element that emits substantially white light as a lighting device. A plurality of light emitting colors are simultaneously emitted by a plurality of light emitting materials to obtain white light emission by color mixing. The combination of a plurality of emission colors may include three emission maximum wavelengths of the three primary colors of blue, green, and blue, or two using the relationship of complementary colors such as blue and yellow, blue green and orange, etc. The thing containing the light emission maximum wavelength may be used.

  In addition, a combination of light emitting materials for obtaining a plurality of emission colors includes a combination of a plurality of phosphorescent or fluorescent materials (light emitting dopants), a light emitting material that emits fluorescent or phosphorescent light, and the light emission. Any combination of a dye material that emits light from the material as excitation light may be used, but in the white organic electroluminescence device according to the present invention, a method of combining a plurality of light-emitting dopants is preferable.

  As a layer structure of an organic electroluminescence device for obtaining a plurality of emission colors, a method of having a plurality of emission dopants in one emission layer, a plurality of emission layers, and an emission wavelength in each emission layer And a method of forming minute pixels emitting light having different wavelengths in a matrix.

  In the white organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention, patterning may be performed by a metal mask, an ink jet printing method, or the like at the time of film formation, if necessary. When patterning, only the electrode may be patterned, the electrode and the light emitting layer may be patterned, or the entire element layer may be patterned.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a luminescent material used for a light emitting layer, For example, if it is a backlight in a liquid crystal display element, the platinum complex which concerns on this invention so that it may correspond to the wavelength range corresponding to CF (color filter) characteristic, Any one of known luminescent materials may be selected and combined to whiten.

  As described above, the light-emitting organic EL element of the present invention that emits white light is used as a kind of lamp such as a home lighting, an interior lighting, and an exposure light source as various light emitting sources and lighting devices in addition to the display device and the display. Further, it is also useful for display devices such as backlights for liquid crystal display devices.

  Others such as backlights for watches, billboard advertisements, traffic lights, optical storage media, light sources for electrophotographic copying machines, light sources for optical communication processors, light sources for optical sensors, etc. There are a wide range of uses such as household appliances.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention, this invention is not limited to these.

Example 1
<< Production of Organic EL Elements 1-1 to 1-21 >>
A transparent substrate provided with this ITO transparent electrode after patterning a substrate (NA45 manufactured by NH Techno Glass Co., Ltd.) formed by depositing ITO (indium tin oxide) 100 nm on a glass substrate of 100 mm × 100 mm × 1.1 mm as an anode. The support substrate was ultrasonically cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, dried with dry nitrogen gas, and UV ozone cleaned for 5 minutes. This transparent support substrate is fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum deposition apparatus, while 200 mg of α-NPD is put into a molybdenum resistance heating boat, and 200 mg of CBP as a host compound is put into another molybdenum resistance heating boat. 200 mg of bathocuproine (BCP) was put in a resistance heating boat, 100 mg of Ir-12 was put in another resistance heating boat made of molybdenum, and 200 mg of Alq ₃ was put in another resistance heating boat made of molybdenum, and attached to a vacuum deposition apparatus.

Next, after the pressure in the vacuum chamber was reduced to 4 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, the heating boat containing α-NPD was energized and heated, and deposited on the transparent support substrate at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second. A hole transport layer was provided. Further, the heating boat containing CBP and Ir-12 was energized and heated, and co-evaporated on the first hole transport layer at a deposition rate of 0.2 nm / second and 0.012 nm / second, respectively, to form a light emitting layer. Provided. In addition, the substrate temperature at the time of vapor deposition was room temperature. Further, the heating boat containing BCP was energized and heated, and was deposited on the light emitting layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to provide a hole blocking layer having a thickness of 10 nm. Furthermore, the heating boat containing Alq ₃ is further energized and heated, deposited on the hole blocking layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second, and further provided with an electron transport layer having a thickness of 40 nm. It was. In addition, the substrate temperature at the time of vapor deposition was room temperature. Then, 0.5 nm of lithium fluoride and 110 nm of aluminum were vapor-deposited, the cathode was formed, and the organic EL element 1-1 was produced.

  In the production of the organic EL element 1-1, the organic EL element was prepared in the same manner as the organic EL element 1-1 except that the CBP used as the host compound of the light emitting layer was replaced with each compound shown in Table 1 to obtain a host compound. 1-2 to 1-21 were produced. The structure of the compound used above is shown below.

<< Evaluation of Organic EL Elements 1-1 to 1-21 >>
The organic EL elements 1-1 to 1-21 produced as follows were evaluated.

(Luminance)
The luminance (cd / m ² ) was determined using the luminance measured with a spectral radiance meter CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Sensing).

(External extraction quantum efficiency)
The produced organic EL device was measured for external extraction quantum efficiency (%) when a ^2.5 mA / cm ² constant current was applied at 23 ° C. in a dry nitrogen gas atmosphere. For the measurement, a spectral radiance meter CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Sensing) was used in the same manner.

  The measurement results of the luminance and the external extraction quantum efficiency described in the following table were expressed as relative values when the measured value of the organic EL element 1-1 was 100.

  As is clear from the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that the organic EL device of the present invention has high luminance and is very excellent in external extraction quantum efficiency as compared with the comparison.

Example 2
<< Production of Organic EL Elements 2-1 to 2-20 >>
A transparent substrate provided with this ITO transparent electrode after patterning a substrate (NA45 manufactured by NH Techno Glass Co., Ltd.) formed by depositing ITO (indium tin oxide) 100 nm on a glass substrate of 100 mm × 100 mm × 1.1 mm as an anode. The support substrate was ultrasonically cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, dried with dry nitrogen gas, and UV ozone cleaned for 5 minutes. This transparent support substrate is fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum evaporation apparatus, while 200 mg of α-NPD is placed in a molybdenum resistance heating boat, 200 mg of CBP is placed in another molybdenum resistance heating boat, and another molybdenum resistance heating is performed. As a hole blocking material, 200 mg of BCP was put in a boat, 100 mg of Ir-1 was put in another molybdenum resistance heating boat, and 200 mg of Alq ₃ was put in another resistance heating boat made of molybdenum, and attached to a vacuum deposition apparatus.

The vacuum chamber was then depressurized to 4 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, heated by energizing the heating boat containing α-NPD, and deposited on a transparent support substrate at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second. A transport layer was provided. Further, the heating boat containing CBP and Ir-1 was energized and heated, and co-evaporated on the hole transport layer at a deposition rate of 0.2 nm / second and 0.012 nm / second, respectively, to provide a light emitting layer. . In addition, the substrate temperature at the time of vapor deposition was room temperature. Further, the heating boat containing BCP was energized and heated, and deposited on the light emitting layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to provide a 10 nm thick hole blocking layer. Further, the heating boat containing Alq ₃ was further energized and heated, and deposited on the hole blocking layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second, and an electron transport layer having a thickness of 40 nm was further provided. . In addition, the substrate temperature at the time of vapor deposition was room temperature. Subsequently, 0.5 nm of lithium fluoride and 110 nm of aluminum were vapor-deposited to form a cathode, and an organic EL element 2-1 was produced.

  In the production of the organic EL element 2-1, the organic EL elements 2-2 to 2-2 were prepared in the same manner as the organic EL element 2-1, except that the BCP used as the hole blocking material was replaced with the compounds shown in the table below. 20 was produced.

<< Evaluation of Organic EL Elements 2-1 to 2-20 >>
In the same manner as in Example 1, the luminance of the organic EL elements 2-1 to 2-20 and the external extraction quantum efficiency were evaluated. Furthermore, the lifetime was evaluated according to the measurement method shown below.

(lifespan)
When driving at a constant current of ^2.5 mA / cm ² , the time required for the luminance to drop to half of the luminance immediately after the start of light emission (initial luminance) was measured, and this was calculated as the half-life time (τ 0.5). As an index of life. For the measurement, a spectral radiance meter CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Sensing) was used.

  The results obtained as described above are shown in the table below. In addition, the measurement result of the brightness | luminance, external extraction quantum efficiency, and lifetime which are described in the following table was represented by the relative value when the organic EL element 2-1 is set to 100.

  As is clear from the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that the organic EL device of the present invention has higher luminance, better external extraction quantum efficiency, and longer life than the comparison.

Example 3
<< Production of Organic EL Elements 3-1 to 3-8 >>
In the production of the organic EL device 1-1 described in Example 1, the host compound of the light emitting layer was changed to the compound shown in the table below, Ir-12 was changed to Ir-1, and BCP was changed to B-Alq. Organic EL elements 3-1 to 3-8 were produced in the same manner except for the change.

<< Evaluation of Organic EL Elements 3-1 to 3-8 >>
The storage stability was evaluated according to the measurement method shown below.

(Storability)
After each organic EL element was stored at 85 ° C. for 24 hours, each brightness at a constant current drive of ^2.5 mA / cm ² before and after storage was measured, and each brightness ratio was determined according to the following formula, which was measured as a measure of storage stability. It was.

Storage stability (%) = luminance after storage ( ^2.5 mA / cm ² ) / luminance before storage ( ^2.5 mA / cm ² ) × 100
The results obtained as described above are shown in the table below.

  As is clear from the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that the organic EL device of the present invention is superior in storage stability as compared with the comparison.

Example 4
<< Production of Organic EL Elements 4-1 to 4-8 >>
In the production of the organic EL device 1-1 described in Example 1, the host compound of the light emitting layer was changed to the compound shown in the table below, Ir-12 was changed to Ir-1, and BCP was changed to B-Alq. Organic EL elements 4-1 to 4-8 were produced in the same manner except that the changes were made.

<< Evaluation of Organic EL Elements 4-1 to 4-8 >>
The 50 ° C. driving life was evaluated according to the measurement method shown below.

(50 ° C drive life)
Each organic EL element is driven at a constant current with a current that gives an initial luminance of 1000 cd / m ² under a constant condition of 50 ° C., and a time that is ½ of the initial luminance (500 cd / m ² ) is obtained. A measure of lifespan. The 50 ° C. driving life is expressed as a relative value when the comparative organic EL element 4-1 is 100.

  The results obtained as described above are shown in the table below.

  As is clear from the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that the organic EL device of the present invention has an excellent 50 ° C. driving life as compared with the comparison.

Example 5
<< Production of Organic EL Elements 5-1 to 5-8 >>
In the production of the organic EL device 2-1 described in Example 2, the host compound (CBP) of the light emitting layer was changed to the exemplified compound 10, and the BCP of the hole blocking layer was changed to the hole blocking material described in the table below. Organic EL elements 5-1 to 5-8 were produced in the same manner except that the changes were made.

<< Evaluation of Organic EL Elements 5-1 to 5-8 >>
The storage stability of the organic EL elements 5-1 to 5-8 was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3, and the obtained results are shown in the following table.

  As is clear from the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that the organic EL device of the present invention is superior in storage stability as compared with the comparison.

Example 6
<< Production of Organic EL Elements 6-1 to 6-8 >>
In the production of the organic EL device 2-1 described in Example 2, the host compound (CBP) of the light emitting layer was changed to the exemplary compound 10, and the BCP of the hole blocking layer was changed to the hole blocking material described in the table below. Organic EL elements 6-1 to 6-8 were produced in the same manner except that the changes were made.

<< Evaluation of Organic EL Elements 6-1 to 6-8 >>
The organic EL elements 6-1 to 6-8 were evaluated for 50 ° C. driving life in the same manner as in Example 4, and the obtained results are shown in the following table.

  As is clear from the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that the organic EL device of the present invention has an excellent 50 ° C. driving life as compared with the comparison.

Example 7
The phosphorescent compound of the organic EL element 1-6 of the present invention produced in Example 1, the organic EL element 2-7 of the present invention produced in Example 2, and the organic EL element 2-7 of the present invention is Ir. A red light-emitting organic EL element produced in the same manner except that it was replaced with -9 was juxtaposed on the same substrate to produce an active matrix type full-color display device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows only a schematic diagram of the display portion A of the produced full-color display device. That is, a plurality of pixels 3 (light emission color is a red region pixel, a green region pixel, a blue region pixel, etc.) juxtaposed with a wiring portion including a plurality of scanning lines 5 and data lines 6 on the same substrate. Each of the scanning lines 5 and the plurality of data lines 6 in the wiring portion is made of a conductive material, and the scanning lines 5 and the data lines 6 are orthogonal to each other in a lattice shape and are connected to the pixels 3 at the orthogonal positions (details). Is not shown). The plurality of pixels 3 are driven by an active matrix system provided with an organic EL element corresponding to each emission color, a switching transistor as an active element, and a driving transistor, and a scanning signal is applied from a scanning line 5. Then, an image data signal is received from the data line 6 and light is emitted according to the received image data. In this way, full-color display is possible by appropriately juxtaposing the red, green, and blue pixels.

  By driving a full-color display device, a clear full-color moving image display with high external extraction quantum efficiency and good durability was obtained.

It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the display apparatus comprised from an organic EL element. It is a schematic diagram of a display part. It is a schematic diagram of a pixel. It is a schematic diagram of a passive matrix type full-color display device. It is the schematic of an illuminating device. It is sectional drawing of an illuminating device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display 3 Pixel 5 Scan line 6 Data line 7 Power supply line 10 Organic EL element 11 Switching transistor 12 Drive transistor 13 Capacitor A Display part B Control part 107 Glass substrate with a transparent electrode 106 Organic EL layer 105 Cathode 102 Glass cover 103 Power supply line ( anode)
104 Power line (cathode)
108 Nitrogen gas 109 Water catching agent

Claims (13)

An organic electroluminescence device comprising a constituent layer including at least a phosphorescent light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes, wherein at least one of the constituent layers contains a compound represented by the following general formula (1) .

(Wherein, Z is represents a nonmetallic atomic group necessary for forming an aromatic heterocyclic ring, at least one containing a nitrogen atom, R, R ₁ represents a substituent. In addition, R, other than R ₁ (It may have a substituent at the position.) 2. The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein Z of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is a 6-membered ring. The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) has a molecular weight of 450 or more. The organic electroluminescent element according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-1).

(In the formula, R ₁₀ and R ₁₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₁₀ and R _11. ) The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-2).

(In the formula, R ₂₀ and R ₂₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₂₀ and R _21. ) The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-3).

(In the formula, R ₃₀ and R ₃₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₃₀ and R _31. ) The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-4).

(In the formula, R ₄₀ and R ₄₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₄₀ and R _41. ) The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-5).

(In the formula, R ₅₀ and R ₅₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₅₀ and R _51. ) The organic electroluminescent element according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the general formula (1) is represented by the following general formula (1-6).

(In the formula, R ₆₀ and R ₆₁ represent a substituent, and may have a substituent at a position other than R ₆₀ and R _61. ) Light emission is white, The organic electroluminescent element of any one of Claims 1-9 characterized by the above-mentioned. A display device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to claim 10. An illuminating device comprising the organic electroluminescent element according to claim 10. 13. A display device comprising the illumination device according to claim 12 and a liquid crystal element as a display means.

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