JP2013089524A - Organic electroluminescent panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an organic EL panel for use for lighting that can suppress color shading and achieves lighting control and color matching.SOLUTION: There is provided the organic EL panel having a transparent electrode layer formed in stripes, a light emission layer formed in dots on the transparent electrode layer and having a plurality of kinds of light emission parts different in light emission color arranged in a plane, and a counter electrode layer formed in a pattern on the light emission layer, and extending in a direction obliquely crossing a length direction of the transparent electrode layer, the organic EL panel being characterized in that the light emission parts are arranged such that other kinds of light emission parts are arranged on upper and lower, and right and left sides of one kind of light emission part, and the counter electrode layer is arranged for each kind of light emission part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence panel used in a lighting device.

Organic electroluminescent devices that sandwich an organic layer such as a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes and emit light by applying voltage between both electrodes are highly visible due to self-coloring, and are all solid-state devices unlike liquid crystal devices. It has advantages such as excellent impact resistance, fast response speed, little influence from temperature changes, and a large viewing angle. Display device, light source of display device, illumination device The use as is attracting attention. In particular, the organic electroluminescence element is also characterized by the fact that it emits surface light, and is suitable for lighting applications.
Hereinafter, electroluminescence may be abbreviated as EL.

  In recent years, development of organic EL elements that emit white light has been promoted for lighting applications. Conventionally, as an organic EL element that emits white light, (1) a plurality of types of light emitting layers such as red, green, and blue are stacked, and (2) a plurality of types of light emitting layers such as red, green, and blue are planarly formed. It has been proposed that (3) a plurality of types of light emitting materials, for example, red, green, and blue light emitting materials are mixed, and (4) a compound that exhibits white light emission is used as the light emitting material.

As a method for forming the light emitting layer, a wet process is desired because it does not require a vacuum process and has advantages of high production efficiency, low cost, large area, and simplicity. On the other hand, the wet process has a problem that it is difficult to stack light emitting layers.
In addition, when a plurality of types of light emitting layers are stacked, there is a problem that a color shift occurs between the light emission color viewed from the front and the light emission color viewed from an oblique direction due to the relationship of the optical film thickness.

  In addition, fluorescent materials and phosphorescent materials are known as the light emitting materials, and energy transfer may occur between the fluorescent materials and the phosphorescent materials. Therefore, when the fluorescent materials and the phosphorescent materials are mixed, all the light emitting materials emit light. In some cases, white color cannot be obtained. In addition, among the light emitting materials such as red, green, and blue, the blue light emitting material has a high energy level. Therefore, energy transfer may occur between the blue light emitting material and the light emitting material of other colors, and the blue light emitting material. When materials and light emitting materials of other colors are mixed, all the light emitting materials may not emit light and white may not be obtained.

  Furthermore, a compound that emits white light is a special material, and it is difficult to adjust the emission color.

Therefore, it has been attempted to produce an organic EL element that emits white light by arranging a plurality of types of light emitting layers in a plane.
Various arrangements of the light emitting layers are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5).

JP-A-8-227276 JP 2002-056772 A JP 2004-235138 A JP 2006-294319 A JP 2006-294320 A

When an organic EL element is used as a display device, a light emitting layer is arranged according to a pixel, so that the light emitting layer is generally arranged in a fine pattern. In order to display a good image, it is preferable that no color mixing occurs between pixels.
On the other hand, when an organic EL element is used for a lighting device, the light emitting layers are generally arranged in a relatively large pattern. In order to obtain a uniform emission color, it can be said that color mixing is likely to occur.
However, if the light emitting layers are arranged in a relatively large pattern, color mixing is unlikely to occur and color unevenness is likely to occur. In order to suppress the occurrence of color unevenness, the light emitting layer may be arranged in a fine pattern. However, in an organic EL element driven by a passive matrix, it is necessary to make the electrode a fine pattern. Become. Further, if the light emitting layer has a fine pattern, sufficient luminance cannot be obtained, and it is not particularly suitable for a lighting device.

In recent years, lighting devices are required to be capable of light control and color control.
However, in an organic EL element for illumination use, when electrodes are formed on the entire surface, it is considered that light control can be performed by controlling the voltage, but color adjustment is impossible.
In addition, in a passive matrix driving organic EL element, it is considered that toning is possible by arranging the same type of light emitting layer along the stripe-shaped electrodes. Since they are arranged adjacent to each other, color mixing is unlikely to occur and color unevenness is likely to occur compared to a case where the same type of light emitting layers are arranged so as not to be adjacent. Furthermore, in order to suppress the occurrence of color unevenness, it is preferable to arrange different types of light emitting layers alternately on the top, bottom, left and right, but in that case, stripe electrodes cannot be arranged for each type of light emitting layer. Toning is impossible.
In addition, if the organic EL element is driven by an active matrix, it becomes possible to control each type of light emitting layer and toning is possible. However, since the drive element needs to be provided separately, the configuration becomes complicated and the cost is reduced. Becomes higher.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its main purpose to provide an organic EL panel for illumination that can suppress color unevenness and can perform light control and color control. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transparent electrode layer formed in a stripe shape, and a plurality of types of light emitting portions that are formed in a dot shape on the transparent electrode layer and have different emission colors. An organic EL panel having a light emitting layer and a counter electrode layer formed in a pattern on the light emitting layer and extending in a direction obliquely intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer, The parts are arranged such that another type of the light emitting part is arranged on the top, bottom, left and right of one type of the light emitting part, and the counter electrode layer is arranged for each type of the light emitting part. An organic EL panel is provided.

  According to the present invention, since the light emitting units are arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit, color mixing can be easily performed, and color unevenness occurs. Can be suppressed. Further, according to the present invention, the counter electrode layer extends in a direction obliquely intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer and is arranged for each type of light emitting unit, so that it is controlled for each type of light emitting unit. Can be dimmed and toned.

  In the invention, an insulating layer that is formed in a lattice shape on the transparent electrode layer and demarcates the pattern of the light emitting portion, and a partition wall that is formed in a pattern on the insulating layer and demarcates the pattern of the counter electrode layer It is preferable to further have. This is because the pattern of the light emitting portion and the counter electrode layer can be easily formed.

  In the present invention, the light emitting layer includes a first light emitting portion and a second light emitting portion having different emission colors, the first light emitting portion has a maximum light emission wavelength in a wavelength region of 450 nm to 495 nm, and the second light emitting portion. It is preferable that a light emission part has an average wavelength of the maximum light emission wavelength in a wavelength range of 580 nm to 620 nm. When a blue light-emitting material and a light-emitting material of another color are mixed, energy transfer occurs between the blue light-emitting material and the light-emitting material of another color, and all the light-emitting materials do not emit light and white may not be obtained. If the first light emitting part has the above maximum emission wavelength, the first light emitting part can be formed using a blue light emitting material without mixing with other color light emitting materials, and the first light emitting part can emit light efficiently. It is because it can be set as 1 light emission part.

  In the present invention, a plurality of types of light emitting parts having different emission colors are arranged in a predetermined arrangement, the counter electrode layer is formed obliquely with respect to the transparent electrode layer, and is arranged for each type of light emitting part. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of color unevenness and to perform light control and color control.

It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows the other example of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the other example of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the other example of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the other example of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the organic EL panel of the present invention will be described in detail.

  The organic EL panel of the present invention includes a transparent electrode layer formed in a stripe shape, a light emitting layer formed in a dot shape on the transparent electrode layer, and a plurality of types of light emitting portions having different emission colors arranged in a plane. An organic EL panel having a counter electrode layer formed in a pattern on the light emitting layer and extending in a direction obliquely intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer, Other types of the light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of the light emitting units, and the counter electrode layer is disposed for each type of the light emitting unit. is there.

The organic EL panel of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the organic EL panel of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
The organic EL panel 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a transparent substrate 2, a transparent electrode layer 3 formed in a stripe shape on the transparent substrate 2, and an insulating layer formed in a lattice shape on the transparent electrode layer 3. 4, a light emitting layer 5 formed in a dot shape on the transparent electrode layer 3, and two kinds of first light emitting portions 5 a and second light emitting portions 5 b having different emission colors arranged in a plane, and on the light emitting layer 5 The counter electrode layer 6 is formed in a pattern and obliquely intersects the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3. In the first light emitting unit 5a and the second light emitting unit 5b, the second light emitting unit 5b is arranged on the top, bottom, left and right of the first light emitting unit 5a, and the first light emitting unit 5a is arranged on the top, bottom, left and right of the second light emitting unit 5b. Are arranged. The patterns of the first light emitting part 5 a and the second light emitting part 5 b are defined by the insulating layer 4. In addition, the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3 and the extending direction Q of the counter electrode layer 6 cross each other obliquely, and the counter electrode layer 6 is provided for each type of the first light emitting unit 5a and the second light emitting unit 5b. Has been placed.
In FIG. 1, a part of the counter electrode layer is indicated by a broken line.

  According to the present invention, since the light emitting units are arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit, color mixing can be easily performed, and color unevenness occurs. Can be suppressed. Further, according to the present invention, the counter electrode layer extends in a direction obliquely intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer and is arranged for each type of light emitting unit, so that it is controlled for each type of light emitting unit. Can be dimmed and toned. Furthermore, since the light emitting layer has a plurality of types of light emitting portions having different emission colors and does not have to mix a plurality of types of light emitting materials, each light emitting portion can emit light efficiently.

  Hereinafter, each structure of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention is demonstrated.

1. Light emitting layer The light emitting layer in the present invention is formed in a dot shape on the transparent electrode layer, and a plurality of types of light emitting portions having different emission colors are arranged in a plane. The light emitting units are arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit.

  There are two or more types of light emitting units. For example, two types of first light emitting unit 5a and second light emitting unit 5b as shown in FIG. 1, or first light emitting unit 5a as shown in FIG. Three types of the second light emitting unit 5b and the third light emitting unit 5c can be used. Among these, two types are preferable. This is because it is easy to arrange the light emitting sections so that color mixing occurs effectively.

Each type of light-emitting portion only needs to have a different emission color, and is appropriately selected according to the emission color required for the organic EL panel for illumination use of the present invention. For example, when the light emission color of the organic EL panel of the present invention is white, it can be set as two types of light emitting portions of blue and orange, three types of light emitting portions of blue, green, and red. In addition, for example, when the organic EL panel of the present invention is orange, the light emitting section can be two types of green and red.
Especially, it is preferable that the luminescent color of each kind of light emission part is adjusted so that the luminescent color of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention may become white.

  In particular, the light emitting layer has two types of first light emitting part and second light emitting part, the first light emitting part has a maximum light emission wavelength in a wavelength region of 450 nm to 495 nm, and the second light emitting part is 580 nm to 620 nm. It is preferable to have an average wavelength of the maximum emission wavelength in the wavelength region. Since the blue light emitting material has a higher energy level than light emitting materials such as red, orange, yellow, and green, energy transfer may occur between the blue light emitting material and the light emitting material of other colors. When a blue light-emitting material and a light-emitting material of another color are mixed, there are cases where all the light-emitting materials do not emit light and a white color cannot be obtained. In addition, phosphorescent materials are more efficient than phosphorescent materials in light-emitting materials, but blue phosphorescent materials are often less efficient. Therefore, phosphorescent materials are used for blue light-emitting materials, and phosphorescent materials are used for light-emitting materials of other colors. Tend to use. Since energy transfer may occur between the fluorescent material and the phosphorescent material, when the blue fluorescent material and the phosphorescent material of another color are mixed, all the light emitting materials may not emit light and white may not be obtained. On the other hand, if the first light emitting part has the maximum light emission wavelength, the first light emitting part can be formed using a blue light emitting material without being mixed with light emitting materials of other colors, and efficiently. It can be set as the 1st light emission part which light-emits.

The “average wavelength of the maximum light emission wavelength” refers to the maximum light emission wavelength of the light emitting material when the second light emitting portion includes one type of light emitting material, and the second light emitting portion includes a plurality of types of light emitting materials. In this case, it means the average value of the maximum emission wavelengths of the light emitting materials.
For example, when the second light emitting unit includes two types of light emitting materials, a red light emitting material and a green light emitting material, the average value of the maximum light emitting wavelength of the red light emitting material and the maximum light emitting wavelength of the green light emitting material is the maximum. The average wavelength of the emission wavelength. Further, for example, when the second light emitting unit includes one kind of light emitting material of orange light emitting material, the maximum light emitting wavelength of the orange light emitting material is an average wavelength of the maximum light emitting wavelength.

As a pattern of the light emitting part, the light emitting part may be formed in a dot shape on the transparent electrode layer.
Note that “formed in the form of dots” means that a plurality of dot-like light emitting portions 5 a and 5 b are formed for one striped transparent electrode layer 3 as illustrated in FIG. 1. .
The shape of the pattern of the light emitting part can be an arbitrary shape such as a rectangle or a circle.

As an arrangement of the light emitting units, the light emitting units may be arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit.
Here, “the light emitting units are arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit” means that the same type of light emitting units are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer. If the same type of light emitting part is not adjacent in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer, and not adjacent, and the same type of light emitting part is not adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer, This includes the case where the same type of light emitting portions overlap at 30% or less in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer.
For example, in FIG. 1, the first light emitting portions 5a are not adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3, and the second light emitting portions 5b are not adjacent to each other. Further, the first light emitting parts 5a are not adjacent to each other in the direction R perpendicular to the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3, and the second light emitting parts 5b are not adjacent to each other.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the first light emitting portions 5 a are not adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3, and the second light emitting portions 5 b are not adjacent to each other. On the other hand, in the direction R orthogonal to the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3, the first light emitting parts 5a partially overlap each other, and the second light emitting parts 5b also partially overlap. The present invention includes a case where the same type of light emitting portion overlaps within the above range in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer.
Note that the ratio of overlapping of the same type of light emitting portion in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer corresponds to the transparent electrode with respect to the length X of the light emitting portion in the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3, as illustrated in FIG. It can be obtained by calculating the ratio of the length Y of the transparent electrode layer 3 in the longitudinal direction P at the portion where the same type of light emitting portion overlaps in the direction R perpendicular to the longitudinal direction P of the layer 3.

  In particular, the light emitting portions are arranged so that the same type of light emitting portions are not adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer and the same type of light emitting portions are not adjacent to each other in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer. Is preferred. This is because such an arrangement of the light emitting portions makes it easier for color mixing to occur and a uniform light emission color can be obtained.

  Usually, the light emitting units are regularly arranged. The light emitting unit may be arranged as described above so that the light emitting unit is arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit. For example, as shown in FIG. The positions of the light emitting portions 5a and 5b may be aligned in a direction R perpendicular to the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3, and each of the light emitting portions 5a and 5b is aligned in the direction R perpendicular to the longitudinal direction P of the transparent electrode layer 3 as shown in FIG. The positions of the light emitting units 5a and 5b may be shifted. Especially, it is preferable that the position of each light emission part is aligned in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of a transparent electrode layer from the ease of color mixing.

  The size of the light emitting part is appropriately selected according to the luminance required for the organic EL panel of the present invention. For example, when the pattern shape of the light emitting part is rectangular, the size is 0.5 mm square to 3 mm square. Can be about. This is because if the light emitting portion is small, sufficient luminance may not be obtained or it may be difficult to form a patterned counter electrode layer. In addition, if the light emitting portion is large, color mixing is difficult to occur and color unevenness may occur.

  The size of each type of light emitting unit may be the same or different for each type. For example, in FIG. 1, the first light emitting unit 5a and the second light emitting unit 5b have the same size. In FIG. 5, the first light emitting unit 5a is larger than the second light emitting unit 5b. In the case where the size of the light emitting unit is different for each type, the light emission color of the organic EL panel can be adjusted depending on the size of each type of light emitting unit.

  The light emitting material used for each type of light emitting portion is not particularly limited as long as a plurality of types of light emitting portions having different emission colors can be obtained, and may be a fluorescent material or a phosphorescent material. These are appropriately selected according to the emission color required for the light emitting part.

  The light emitting material may be any material that emits fluorescence or phosphorescence, and examples thereof include a dye material, a metal complex material, and a polymer material.

  Examples of dye-based materials include cyclopentadiene derivatives, tetraphenylbutadiene derivatives, triphenylamine derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, pyrazoloquinoline derivatives, distyrylbenzene derivatives, distyrylarylene derivatives, silole derivatives, thiophene ring compounds, pyridine Examples thereof include a ring compound, a perinone derivative, a perylene derivative, an oligothiophene derivative, a coumarin derivative, an oxadiazole dimer, and a pyrazoline dimer.

  Examples of the metal complex material include an aluminum quinolinol complex, a benzoquinolinol beryllium complex, a benzoxazole zinc complex, a benzothiazole zinc complex, an azomethyl zinc complex, a porphyrin zinc complex, a europium complex, or a central metal such as Al, Zn, Be, etc. Alternatively, a metal complex having a rare earth metal such as Tb, Eu, or Dy and having a oxadiazole, thiadiazole, phenylpyridine, phenylbenzimidazole, quinoline structure, or the like as a ligand can be given. Specifically, tris (8-quinolinolato) aluminum complex (Alq3) can be used.

  Examples of the polymer material include polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives, polythiophene derivatives, polyparaphenylene derivatives, polysilane derivatives, polyacetylene derivatives, polyvinylcarbazole, polyfluorenone derivatives, polyfluorene derivatives, polyquinoxaline derivatives, polydialkylfluorene derivatives, and Examples thereof include copolymers thereof. Moreover, what polymerized said pigment-type material and metal complex-type material as a polymeric material can also be used.

  As the phosphorescent material, for example, an iridium complex, a platinum complex, or a metal complex having a heavy metal having a large spin-orbit interaction such as Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, or Au as a central metal is used. Can do. Specific examples include iridium complexes having platinum pyridine, thienyl pyridine and the like as ligands, platinum porphyrin derivatives, and the like.

  These luminescent materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Further, a dopant that emits fluorescence or phosphorescence may be added to the light emitting material for the purpose of improving the light emission efficiency and changing the light emission wavelength. Examples of such dopants include perylene derivatives, coumarin derivatives, rubrene derivatives, quinacridone derivatives, squalium derivatives, porphyrin derivatives, styryl dyes, tetracene derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, decacyclene, phenoxazone, quinoxaline derivatives, carbazole derivatives, and fluorene derivatives. Can be mentioned.

  The thickness of the light emitting portion is not particularly limited as long as it can provide a function of emitting light by providing a recombination field of electrons and holes, and may be, for example, about 10 nm to 500 nm. it can.

  The method of forming the light emitting part is not particularly limited as long as it is a method capable of forming a plurality of types of light emitting parts in a predetermined arrangement. For forming a light emitting layer in which the above-described light emitting material or the like is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. It may be a wet process for applying a coating solution, or may be a dry process such as a vacuum deposition method. Among these, a wet process is preferable from the viewpoint of efficiency and cost.

  The application method of the light emitting layer forming coating liquid is not particularly limited as long as it is a method capable of forming a plurality of types of light emitting portions in a predetermined arrangement. For example, an ink jet method, a gravure printing method, a screen printing method. , Flexographic printing method, offset printing method, nozzle printing method and the like.

2. Counter electrode layer The counter electrode layer in the present invention is formed in a pattern on the light emitting layer, and extends in a direction obliquely intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer, and is arranged for each type of light emitting section. It is what is done.

  The angle between the extending direction of the counter electrode layer and the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer is such that the counter electrode layer extends in a direction obliquely intersecting the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer, and the counter electrode layer is If it can arrange | position for every kind of light emission part, it will not specifically limit, It selects suitably according to the arrangement | sequence etc. of a light emission part. Specifically, the angle formed between the extending direction of the counter electrode layer and the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer can be set within a range of 35 degrees to 45 degrees.

  As the pattern of the counter electrode layer, the counter electrode layer is formed in a pattern on the light emitting layer, and the counter electrode layer extends in a direction obliquely intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer. Can be arranged for each type of light emitting part, for example, the counter electrode layers positioned on the same type of light emitting part are connected to each other, and the counter electrode layer positioned on one type of light emitting part is It can be set as the pattern which is not in contact with the counter electrode layer located on another kind of light emission part.

  As a disposition of the counter electrode layer, it is sufficient that the counter electrode layer is disposed for each type of light emitting section. The patterned counter electrode layers are usually arranged in parallel.

  The counter electrode layer may or may not have light transparency. However, in the present invention, light is extracted from the transparent electrode layer side, and therefore it is normally assumed not to have light transparency. .

  The counter electrode layer may be either an anode or a cathode.

The anode preferably has a low resistance, and a metal material that is a conductive material is generally used, but an organic compound or an inorganic compound may be used.
For the anode, a conductive material having a large work function is preferably used so that holes can be easily injected. For example, metals such as Au, Ta, W, Pt, Ni, Pd, Cr, Cu, Mo, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals; oxides of these metals; Al alloys such as AlLi, AlCa, AlMg, MgAg, etc. Mg alloys, Ni alloys, Cr alloys, alkali metal alloys, alkaline earth metal alloys, etc .; inorganic such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide Oxides; conductive polymers such as metal-doped polythiophene, polyaniline, polyacetylene, polyalkylthiophene derivatives, polysilane derivatives; α-Si, α-SiC; and the like. These conductive materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types are used, layers made of each material may be stacked.

The cathode preferably has a low resistance, and a metal material that is a conductive material is generally used, but an organic compound or an inorganic compound may be used.
For the cathode, it is preferable to use a conductive material having a low work function so that electrons can be easily injected. Examples thereof include magnesium alloys such as MgAg, aluminum alloys such as AlLi, AlCa, and AlMg, and alloys of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as Li, Cs, Ba, Sr, and Ca.

The method for forming the counter electrode layer is not particularly limited as long as it can be formed in a predetermined pattern. For example, a method using a partition that defines the pattern of the counter electrode layer, a so-called cathode separator, a metal Examples thereof include a vapor deposition method using a mask and a photolithography method. These methods are appropriately selected according to the order of lamination of the transparent electrode layer, the light emitting layer, the counter electrode layer, and the like.
As a method for forming the material of the counter electrode layer, a general electrode forming method can be applied, for example, a PVD method such as a vacuum evaporation method, a sputtering method, an EB evaporation method, an ion plating method, or a CVD method. The law etc. can be mentioned. In addition, a metal foil can be used as the counter electrode layer.

3. Transparent electrode layer The transparent electrode layer in this invention is formed in stripe form.

  As a pattern of the transparent electrode layer, the transparent electrode layer may be formed in a stripe shape. The striped transparent electrode layers are usually arranged in parallel.

  The transparent electrode layer has optical transparency, and light is extracted from the transparent electrode layer side in the organic EL panel of the present invention.

The transparent electrode layer may be either an anode or a cathode.
Note that the anode and the cathode are the same as those described in the section of the counter electrode layer, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

As a method for forming the transparent electrode layer, any method that can be formed in a stripe shape may be used, and examples thereof include a vapor deposition method using a metal mask, a photolithography method, and the like.
As a film forming method for the material of the transparent electrode layer, a general electrode forming method can be applied. For example, a PVD method such as a vacuum evaporation method, a sputtering method, an EB evaporation method, an ion plating method, or CVD. The law etc. can be mentioned.

4). Insulating Layer In the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the insulating layer 4 may be formed in a lattice shape on the transparent electrode layer 3. The insulating layer is formed so as to define the pattern of the light emitting portion.

  The pattern of the insulating layer may be a lattice shape, and is appropriately selected according to the arrangement of the light emitting portions.

As a material of the insulating layer, a material of a general insulating layer in an organic EL panel can be used. For example, a photocurable resin such as a photosensitive polyimide resin or an acrylic resin, a thermosetting resin, an inorganic material, or the like. Can be mentioned.
The thickness of the insulating layer is not particularly limited as long as the pattern of the light emitting portion can be defined and the transparent electrode layer and the counter electrode layer can be insulated.
As a method for forming the insulating layer, a general method for forming an insulating layer in an organic EL panel can be applied, and examples thereof include a photolithography method.

5. Partition Wall In the present invention, the partition wall 7 may be formed in a pattern on the insulating layer 4 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The barrier ribs are formed so as to define a pattern of the counter electrode layer. In the case where the partition walls are formed, the counter electrode layer can be formed in a pattern without using a metal mask or the like.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a part of the counter electrode layer is indicated by a broken line and a part thereof is omitted.

  The pattern of the partition is appropriately selected according to the pattern of the counter electrode layer.

As a material for the partition, a general partition material in an organic EL panel can be used. For example, a photo-curable resin such as a photosensitive polyimide resin or an acrylic resin, a thermosetting resin, an inorganic material, or the like. Can be mentioned.
When the light emitting portion is formed in a pattern, the partition wall may be subjected in advance to a surface treatment that changes the surface energy (wetting property).
The height of the partition wall is not particularly limited as long as it can define the pattern of the counter electrode layer and insulate the counter electrode layers located on different types of light emitting portions.
As a method for forming the partition, a general method for forming a partition in an organic EL panel can be applied, and examples thereof include a photolithography method.

6). Hole Injecting and Transporting Layer In the present invention, a hole injecting and transporting layer may be formed between the light emitting layer and the anode.
The hole injection transport layer may be a hole injection layer having a hole injection function, or a hole transport layer having a hole transport function, and the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer are laminated. And may have both a hole injection function and a hole transport function.

  The material used for the hole injecting and transporting layer is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that can stabilize injection and transportation of holes to the light emitting layer, and is exemplified in the light emitting material of the light emitting layer. In addition to compounds, phenylamine, starburst amine, phthalocyanine, vanadium oxide, molybdenum oxide, ruthenium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide and other oxides, amorphous carbon, polyaniline, polythiophene, polyphenylene vinylene and their derivatives The conductive polymer can be used. Specifically, bis (N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenyl) benzidine (α-NPD), 4,4,4-tris (3-methylphenylphenylamino) triphenylamine (MTDATA), poly-3 , 4 ethylenedioxythiophene-polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT-PSS), polyvinylcarbazole and the like.

  The thickness of the hole injecting and transporting layer is not particularly limited as long as the hole injecting function and the hole transporting function are sufficiently exhibited. Specifically, the thickness is in the range of 0.5 nm to 1000 nm, particularly 10 nm to It is preferable to be in the range of 500 nm.

  The formation method of the hole injection transport layer may be a wet process in which a coating liquid for forming a hole injection transport layer in which the above-described materials or the like are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent may be applied. It may be a process and is appropriately selected according to the type of material.

7). Electron Injection / Transport Layer In the present invention, an electron injection / transport layer may be formed between the light emitting layer and the cathode.
The electron injection / transport layer may be an electron injection layer having an electron injection function, may be an electron transport layer having an electron transport function, or may be a laminate of an electron injection layer and an electron transport layer. It may have both an electron injection function and an electron transport function.

  The material used for the electron injection layer is not particularly limited as long as it can stabilize the injection of electrons into the light emitting layer. In addition to the compounds exemplified as the light emitting material for the light emitting layer, aluminum may be used. Alkali metals such as lithium alloys, strontium, calcium, lithium, cesium, lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, strontium fluoride, calcium fluoride, barium fluoride, cesium fluoride, magnesium oxide, strontium oxide, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, and Alkaline earth metal metals, alloys, compounds, organic complexes, and the like can be used.

  Alternatively, a metal doped layer in which an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal is doped on an electron transporting organic material may be formed and used as an electron injection layer. Examples of the electron-transporting organic material include bathocuproine, bathophenanthroline, and phenanthroline derivatives. Examples of the metal to be doped include Li, Cs, Ba, and Sr.

  The material used for the electron transport layer is not particularly limited as long as it can transport electrons injected from the cathode to the light emitting layer. For example, bathocuproin, bathophenanthroline, phenanthroline derivative, triazole derivative Oxadiazole derivatives, tris (8-quinolinolato) aluminum complex (Alq3) derivatives, and the like.

  The thickness of the electron injection / transport layer is not particularly limited as long as the electron injection function and the electron transport function are sufficiently exhibited.

  The method for forming the electron injecting and transporting layer may be a wet process in which a coating liquid for forming an electron injecting and transporting layer in which the above-described materials or the like are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent may be applied, or by a dry process such as a vacuum evaporation method. There may be, and it chooses suitably according to the kind etc. of material.

8). Transparent substrate In the present invention, a transparent electrode layer may be formed on a transparent substrate. When laminating the transparent electrode layer, the light emitting layer, and the counter electrode layer in this order, the transparent electrode layer is preferably formed on the transparent substrate.
The transparent substrate supports the transparent electrode layer, the light emitting layer, and the counter electrode layer.

  The transparent substrate is light transmissive, and light is extracted from the transparent substrate side in the organic EL panel of the present invention.

As the transparent substrate, for example, a glass substrate such as soda lime glass, alkali glass, lead alkali glass, borosilicate glass, aluminosilicate glass, or silica glass, or a resin substrate that can be formed into a film can be used.
The resin used for the resin substrate is preferably one having relatively high solvent resistance and heat resistance. Specifically, fluorine resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, polystyrene, ABS resin, polyamide, polyacetal, polyester, polycarbonate, modified polyphenylene ether, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyetherimide, polyether mon Phon, Polyamideimide, Polyimide, Polyphenylene sulfide, Liquid crystalline polyester, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polybutylene terephthalate, Polyethylene naphthalate, Polymicroxylene dimethylene terephthalate, Polyoxymethylene, Polyethersulfone, Polyetheretherketone, Polyacrylate, Acrylonitrile -Styrene resin, phenol resin, urea resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester resin, Poxy resin, polyurethane, silicone resin, amorphous polyolefin and the like can be mentioned. Moreover, these copolymers can also be used. Further, if necessary, a substrate having a gas barrier property that blocks gas such as moisture and oxygen may be used.

  The thickness of the transparent substrate is appropriately selected depending on the material of the transparent substrate and the use of the organic EL panel. Specifically, the thickness of the substrate is about 0.005 mm to 5 mm.

9. Substrate In the present invention, a substrate may be formed on the counter electrode layer. When laminating the counter electrode layer, the light emitting layer, and the transparent electrode layer in this order, it is preferable that the counter electrode layer be formed on the substrate.
The substrate supports the counter electrode layer, the light emitting layer, and the transparent electrode layer.

The substrate may or may not have optical transparency.
In addition, about a board | substrate, since it can be the same as that of the said transparent substrate, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

10. Organic EL Panel The organic EL panel of the present invention can be suitably used for a lighting device. In the present invention, since color matching is possible, for example, an illumination device with good color rendering can be provided.

The emission color of the organic EL panel of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is in the visible light region, and can be any color.
Especially, it is preferable that the luminescent color of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention is white. In the present invention, since light control and color adjustment are possible, a lighting device capable of changing the color temperature and illuminance according to the season, time, use environment, purpose, and the like can be provided.

In the organic EL panel of the present invention, since the counter electrode layer is formed for each type of light emitting part, control is possible for each type of light emitting part. At this time, for the same type of light emitting unit, the counter electrode layer may be controlled for each column, or may be controlled for a plurality of columns such as two or three columns, and may be positioned on the same type of light emitting unit. All the counter electrode layers may be controlled simultaneously. When controlling the counter electrode layer for multiple columns for the same type of light emitting unit, and simultaneously controlling all the counter electrode layers located on the same type of light emitting unit, the time required for control is reduced. can do.
Further, when the control is performed, the control may be performed by turning on / off the voltage, or by the magnitude of the voltage.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The above-described embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention has substantially the same configuration as the technical idea described in the claims of the present invention, and any device that exhibits the same function and effect is the present invention. It is included in the technical scope of the invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described using examples and comparative examples.

[Example 1]
On a transparent substrate on which transparent electrode layers made of ITO were formed in a stripe shape, an insulating layer made of photoresist and having a thickness of 1 μm was formed by spin coating. The insulating layer was patterned by photolithography, and the insulating layer was patterned by exposure and development using a mask pattern having a light emitting area of 0.8 mm square.

  Next, a cathode separator layer made of a photoresist and having a thickness of 2 μm was formed on a transparent substrate on which an insulating layer and a transparent electrode layer were formed by a spin coating method. The cathode separator is patterned by photolithography in the same manner as the insulating layer, and a mask pattern having a predetermined shape is used so that the angle between the extending direction of the counter electrode layer and the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer is 45 degrees. The cathode separator was formed on the insulating layer by exposure and development.

Next, a hole transport layer was formed on the transparent electrode layer on which the cathode separator and the insulating layer were formed by a gravure printing method so as to have a thickness of 80 nm.
Next, a light-emitting layer having a thickness of 80 nm was formed on the hole transport layer by an inkjet method using an organic light-emitting material exhibiting blue as the first light-emitting portion and an organic light-emitting material exhibiting orange as the second light-emitting portion. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit are arranged so that other types of light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of one type of light emitting unit. In addition, ADS232GE (made by American Dye Source, Inc.) which shows fluorescence is used for the organic light emitting material which shows blue, The maximum light emission wavelength was 452 nm. As the organic light emitting material exhibiting orange, ADS200RE (manufactured by American Dye Source, Inc.) that exhibits single fluorescence was used, and its maximum light emission wavelength was 585 nm.

  Subsequently, a 10-nm-thick metal calcium and a 500-nm-thick silver were laminated on the light-emitting layer by a vacuum deposition method to form a counter electrode layer.

[Comparative Example 1]
In the same manner as in Example 1, patterning was performed up to the insulating layer.
Next, a cathode separator layer made of a photoresist and having a thickness of 2 μm was formed on a transparent substrate on which an insulating layer and a transparent electrode layer were formed by a spin coating method. The cathode separator is patterned by photolithography, and a mask pattern having a predetermined shape is formed on the insulating layer surrounding the light emitting region so that the angle between the extending direction of the counter electrode layer and the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer is 90 degrees. Was exposed and developed to form a cathode separator on the insulating layer.

Next, a hole transport layer was formed on the transparent electrode layer on which the cathode separator and the insulating layer were formed by a gravure printing method so as to have a thickness of 80 nm.
Next, a light-emitting layer having a thickness of 80 nm was formed on the hole transport layer by an inkjet method using an organic light-emitting material exhibiting blue as the first light-emitting portion and an organic light-emitting material exhibiting orange as the second light-emitting portion. At this time, the first light emitting units and the second light emitting units were alternately arranged for each column along the transparent electrode layer. Note that the organic light emitting material exhibiting blue color and the organic light emitting material exhibiting orange color were the same as in Example 1.

  Subsequently, a 10-nm-thick metal calcium and a 500-nm-thick silver were laminated on the light-emitting layer by a vacuum deposition method to form a counter electrode layer.

[Evaluation]
The organic EL panels of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were confirmed for light emission with a two-dimensional luminance meter.
In the organic EL panel of Example 1, the blue color of the first light-emitting part and the orange color of the second light-emitting part were easy to be mixed, and showed uniform light emission without light emission unevenness. On the other hand, in the organic EL panel of Comparative Example 1, the blue color of the first light-emitting part and the orange color of the second light-emitting part were difficult to mix, resulting in uneven light emission.
Further, in the organic EL panel of Example 1, when any blue pixel line is turned off from the state where all the pixels emit light, warm white light emission is shown, and from the state where all pixels emit light, any arbitrary light is emitted. When the orange pixel line was extinguished, cold white light was emitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Organic EL panel 2 ... Transparent substrate 3 ... Transparent electrode layer 4 ... Insulating layer 5 ... Light emitting layer 5a ... 1st light emission part 5b ... 2nd light emission part 5c ... 3rd light emission part 6 ... Counter electrode layer 7 ... Partition electrode P ... Longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer Q: Extension direction of the counter electrode layer R: Direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer

Claims (3)

A transparent electrode layer formed in a stripe shape;
A light-emitting layer formed in a dot shape on the transparent electrode layer, and a plurality of types of light-emitting portions having different emission colors are arranged in a plane;
An organic electroluminescence panel having a counter electrode layer formed in a pattern on the light emitting layer and extending in a direction obliquely intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode layer,
The light emitting units are arranged such that the other types of the light emitting units are arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right of the one type of the light emitting units,
The said counter electrode layer is arrange | positioned for every kind of the said light emission part, The organic electroluminescent panel characterized by the above-mentioned. An insulating layer formed in a lattice shape on the transparent electrode layer and defining a pattern of the light emitting portion;
The organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a partition wall formed on the insulating layer in a pattern and defining a pattern of the counter electrode layer. The light emitting layer has a first light emitting portion and a second light emitting portion having different emission colors,
The first light emitting unit has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm, and the second light emission unit has an average wavelength of a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength range of 580 nm to 620 nm. The organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 2.

Images