JP2020017377A - Organic el element - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an organic EL element which can improve sealing performance.SOLUTION: An organic EL element 1 substantially comprises: an organic light-emitting layer 14; a positive electrode part 16 and a negative electrode part 17 electrically connected to the organic light-emitting layer 14; an insulating layer 4 which electrically insulates the positive electrode part 16 from the negative electrode part 17; a first barrier film 11 and a second barrier film 12 which sandwich the organic light-emitting layer 14, the positive electrode part 16, and the negative electrode part 17 via the insulating layer 4; a first contact part 21 and a second contact part 22 each of which has one end serving as a terminal and the other end arranged in the insulating layer 4; and a first indirect connection part 23 and a second indirect connection part 24, arranged in a layer different from that of the first contact part 21 and the second contact part 22, which electrically and indirectly connect the negative electrode part 17 to the first contact part 21 and the positive electrode part 16 to the second contact part 22, respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic EL device.

  As a conventional technique, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device including an element substrate having an anode wiring, a cathode wiring, and an organic light emitting layer disposed between the anode wiring and the cathode wiring is known. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this organic EL display device, an element substrate is cut so as to surround a display area to be cut out, and is separated into a plurality of organic EL elements.

JP 2006-331812 A

  However, in the conventional organic EL display device, since the organic light emitting layer is sandwiched between the anode wiring and the cathode wiring which are exposed to the outside by cutting, a liquid or a gas reaches the organic light emitting layer through the anode wiring or the cathode wiring. There is a possibility that erosion will occur and light emission failure such as a dark spot will occur.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL device capable of improving sealing performance.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, an organic light-emitting layer, a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion electrically connected to the organic light-emitting layer, and a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion are electrically connected to each other. An insulating layer, an organic light emitting layer, a first base and a second base sandwiching the first electrode and the second electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, one end serving as a terminal, and the other end serving as a terminal. The first contact portion and the second contact portion disposed in the insulating layer, and the second contact portion and the second electrode portion are disposed in a different layer from the first contact portion and the second contact portion. Provided is an organic EL element comprising: a first contact portion; and a first indirect connection portion and a second indirect connection portion for electrically connecting the first electrode portion and the second contact portion.

  According to the present invention, sealing performance can be improved.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view illustrating an example of the organic EL device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is cut along a line I (b) -I (b) in FIG. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of an example of the organic EL element viewed from a direction of an arrow. FIG. 1C is an example of the organic EL element cut along a line I (c) -I (c) in FIG. It is sectional drawing which looked at the cross section from the arrow direction. FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an example of the organic EL element according to the embodiment on the first contact portion side in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the organic EL element taken along line II (b) -II (b), viewed from the direction of the arrow.

(Summary of Embodiment)
The organic EL element according to the embodiment includes an organic light-emitting layer, a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion electrically connected to the organic light-emitting layer, a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion. An organic light emitting layer, a first base and a second base sandwiching the organic light emitting layer, the first electrode part and the second electrode part through the insulating layer, and one end becomes a terminal. A first contact portion and a second contact portion whose other ends are disposed in an insulating layer; and a second electrode indirectly disposed on a layer different from the first contact portion and the second contact portion. And a first contact portion, and a first indirect connection portion and a second indirect connection portion for electrically connecting the first electrode portion and the second contact portion.

  In this organic EL element, a first contact portion and a second contact portion serving as terminals are not directly connected to the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, but a first indirect connection portion arranged in a different layer. And the first and second electrode portions are connected to each other through the second indirect connection portion, so that the liquid or the gas travels along the first contact portion and the like, and the The sealing performance can be improved without reaching the light emitting layer.

[Embodiment]
(Overview of Organic EL Element 1)
FIG. 1A is a schematic view illustrating an example of the organic EL device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is cut along a line I (b) -I (b) in FIG. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of an example of the organic EL element viewed from a direction of an arrow. FIG. 1C is an example of the organic EL element cut along a line I (c) -I (c) in FIG. It is sectional drawing which looked at the cross section from the arrow direction. FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an example of the organic EL element according to the embodiment on the first contact portion side in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the organic EL element taken along line II (b) -II (b), viewed from the direction of the arrow. In FIG. 2A, for the sake of explanation, the gap 5 is formed without hatching in the cross section.

  In addition, in each drawing according to the embodiment described below, the ratio between figures may be different from the actual ratio.

  The organic EL element 1 is formed of, for example, a material having flexibility and has flexibility so that it can be used in a bent state. Further, the organic EL element 1 may be used alone, or a plurality of the organic EL elements may be arranged to constitute an organic EL device.

  The organic EL element 1 includes, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, an organic light emitting layer 14 and a first electrode portion (a positive electrode portion) electrically connected to the organic light emitting layer 14. 16) and the second electrode portion (negative electrode portion 17), the insulating layer 4 for electrically insulating the positive electrode portion 16 from the negative electrode portion 17, the organic light emitting layer 14, the positive electrode portion 16, and the negative electrode portion. 17, a first base (first barrier film 11) and a second base (second barrier film 12) sandwiching the insulating layer 4 with the insulating layer 4 interposed therebetween, with one end serving as a terminal and the other end serving as an insulating layer. 4, the first contact part 21 and the second contact part 22 disposed in a different layer from the first contact part 21 and the second contact part 22, and indirectly connected to the negative electrode part 17 and the second contact part 22. The first contact part 21 and the positive electrode part 16 are electrically connected to the second contact part 22. It is schematically configured to include a first indirect connection portion 23 and the second indirect connection portion 24, a.

  The organic EL element 1 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a first relay that relays an electrical connection between the first indirect connection portion 23 and the first contact portion 21. It includes a relay portion 27a, and a second relay portion 27b that relays an electrical connection between the second indirect connection portion 24 and the second contact portion 22.

  The organic EL element 1 further includes, for example, a third indirect connection portion 25 for electrically connecting the first indirect connection portion 23 and the negative electrode portion 17 as shown in FIGS. A third relay portion 27c for relaying an electrical connection between the first indirect connection portion 23 and the third indirect connection portion 25; and an electrical connection between the third indirect connection portion 25 and the negative electrode portion 17. Relay portion 27d for relaying the second indirect connection portion, the fourth indirect connection portion 26 for electrically connecting the second indirect connection portion 24 and the positive electrode portion 16, the fourth indirect connection portion 24 and the fourth indirect connection And a fifth relay section 27e for electrically connecting the connection section 26.

  The first contact part 21 to the fifth relay part 27e constitute the wiring part 2. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, one end of the first contact portion 21 and one end of the second contact portion 22 are exposed, and the wiring portion 2 is externally connected via this terminal. It is electrically connected to the device.

  Note that, as a modification, the first base and the second base are not limited to the first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12, but may be, for example, a transparent resin that transmits light.

(Structure of the first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12)
The first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12 are configured to have, for example, a gas barrier property for suppressing intrusion of a liquid or gas from the outside. Since the first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12 are rich in flexibility, the organic EL element 1 has high flexibility. The first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12 are formed using the same transparent material that transmits light output from the organic light emitting layer 14.

  The first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12 include, for example, a core material film and a gas barrier layer provided on the core material film. The first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12 are bonded so that their gas barrier layers face each other.

  The core material film is formed in a film shape using, for example, PET (polyethyleneterephtalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), or the like.

  The gas barrier layer is formed by alternately laminating an inorganic material and an organic material, for example. As an example of the inorganic material, an oxide or nitride of Si or Al, an oxide of Zn or Sn, or the like is used. As an example of the organic material, a thermosetting resin material such as an epoxy resin or a silicon resin is used.

  The thickness of the core material film and the gas barrier layer is arbitrary.

(Structure of the organic light emitting layer 14)
The organic light emitting layer 14 has, for example, at least a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, and an electron transport layer laminated in this order from the positive electrode portion 16 side. The hole transport layer is formed using, for example, α-NPD (diphenylnaphthyldiamine), TPD (Triphenyldiamine), or the like. The light emitting layer is formed using, for example, an aluminum quinolinol complex (Alq3) or a beryllium quinolinol complex (BeBq2). The electron transport layer is formed using, for example, an aluminum quinolinol complex.

  The organic light emitting layer 14 is formed by, for example, a coating method or a printing method. The thickness of the organic light emitting layer 14 is arbitrary.

(Configuration of the positive electrode part 16 and the negative electrode part 17)
The positive electrode section 16 is configured as a transparent electrode that transmits light. Therefore, the light generated by the organic light emitting layer 14 is output to the lower side of the paper of FIGS. 1B and 1C, that is, to the outside through the positive electrode portion 16 and the first barrier film 11. The positive electrode part 16 is for injecting holes into the organic light emitting layer 14. The negative electrode part 17 is for injecting electrons into the organic light emitting layer 14.

  The positive electrode portion 16 is formed of, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) that transmits light output from the organic light emitting layer 14 by a vacuum evaporation method, a sputtering method, or the like.

  The negative electrode portion 17 is formed of a material that reflects the light output from the organic light emitting layer 14 in order to increase the efficiency of extracting the light. The negative electrode portion 17 is formed by using a metal material such as Al, Ag, or Mg or an alloy material thereof by, for example, a vacuum evaporation method. The negative electrode portion 17 may be, for example, ITO which is a transparent electrode.

  The thicknesses of the positive electrode part 16 and the negative electrode part 17 are arbitrary.

(Configuration of Wiring Unit 2)
The first contact portion 21 to the fifth relay portion 27e of the wiring portion 2 are formed using a conductive metal material such as Cu by, for example, a vacuum evaporation method or a sputtering method.

  The fourth indirect connection portion 26 that is directly connected to the positive electrode portion 16 as a modified example is formed using, for example, a metal material or an alloy material having a lower resistance value than the positive electrode portion 16. In the organic EL element 1, the positive electrode portion 16 cannot be sufficiently heated and crystallized, that is, annealed due to heat resistance restrictions of the first barrier film 11, so that the positive electrode portion 16 is a conductive film having high resistance. When the positive electrode section 16 has a high resistance, the power consumption of the organic EL element 1 increases. Therefore, the fourth indirect connection unit 26 is configured to reduce the resistance value. The fourth indirect connection portion 26 in this case is formed using, for example, Cr, Mo-Nd, Mo-Al-Mo (MAM: laminated composite material), or the like.

  The first contact part 21, the second contact part 22, the third indirect connection part 25, and the fourth indirect connection part 26 are, for example, as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. The first barrier film 11 is formed on the formation surface 110. In addition, the first indirect connection portion 23 and the second indirect connection portion 24 are formed on the interlayer insulating layer 41, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Therefore, the first indirect connection part 23 and the second indirect connection part 24 are different from the first contact part 21, the second contact part 22, the third indirect connection part 25, and the fourth indirect connection part 26. Formed in layers.

  The first to fifth relay portions 27a to 27e connecting the wirings formed in different layers are formed, for example, in holes formed in the interlayer insulating layer 41. The first to fifth relay portions 27a to 27e have, for example, a cylindrical shape.

  Also, at least one of the side surfaces of the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22, the first indirect connection portion 23 and the second indirect connection portion 24, and the third indirect connection portion 25 have a tapered shape. are doing. In the present embodiment, the first contact portion 21, the second contact portion 22, the first indirect connection portion 23, the second indirect connection portion 24, the third indirect connection portion 25, and the fourth indirect connection portion Although a tapered shape is formed on the side surface of 26, it is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the first contact portion 21 has tapered lateral sides 21a and 21b, and longitudinal sides 21c and 21d. As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the second contact portion 22 has tapered lateral sides 22a and 22b and longitudinal side faces 22c and 22d.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the first indirect connection portion 23 has tapered lateral sides 23 a and 23 b and lateral sides 23 c and 23 d in a longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the second indirect connection portion 24 has tapered lateral sides 24a and 24b, and longitudinal lateral sides 24c and 24d. As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the third indirect connection portion 25 has tapered lateral sides 25 a and 25 b and longitudinal side faces 25 c and 25 d. As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the fourth indirect connection portion 26 has tapered side surfaces 26 a and 26 b in the short direction and side surfaces 26 c and 26 d in the long direction.

  The tapered shape provided on the side surface of the first contact portion 21 or the like is formed by, for example, etching when forming the first contact portion 21 or the like. The tapered shape is provided to increase the area in contact with the insulating layer 4, that is, to increase the adhesion to the insulating layer 4. However, even when the side surface has a tapered shape, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a gap 5 may be generated between the insulating layer 4 and the insulating layer 4.

  For example, when the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 are directly connected to the positive electrode portion 16 and the negative electrode portion 17, the liquid or gas reaches the organic light emitting layer 14 through the gap 5. there is a possibility. When the liquid or gas reaches the organic light emitting layer 14, the organic light emitting layer 14 is deteriorated, and a light emission failure such as a dark spot occurs.

  However, in the organic EL element 1 of the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 are formed in different layers. It is electrically connected to the positive electrode part 16 and the negative electrode part 17 via the first indirect connection part 23 and the second indirect connection part 24 and the like. Therefore, in the organic EL element 1, since the gap 5 is not continuously connected to the organic light emitting layer 14, the organic light emitting layer 14 is not exposed to a liquid or gas, and has high sealing performance.

(Configuration of insulating layer 4)
The insulating layer 4 includes, for example, an interlayer insulating layer 41, an adhesive layer 42, and a desiccant layer 43, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The adhesive layer 42 and the desiccant layer 43 are formed in the same layer, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. That is, the insulating layer 4 has, for example, at least a two-layer structure of a layer of the interlayer insulating layer 41, and a layer of the adhesive layer 42 and the desiccant layer 43.

  The insulating layer 4 protects the organic light emitting layer 14 by, for example, insulating the positive electrode portion 16, the negative electrode portion 17, the wiring portion 2, and the like, and preventing the intrusion of liquid or gas into the organic light emitting layer 14.

When the interlayer insulating layer 41 is formed using, for example, an organic insulating material such as polyimide, a coating method or a printing method is used, and the interlayer insulating layer 41 is formed using silicon dioxide (SiO ₂ ), silicon nitride (SiN), or the like. In this case, a thermal oxidation method, a sputtering method, a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method, or the like is used. The interlayer insulating layer 41 of the present embodiment is, for example, silicon dioxide (SiO ₂ ). The thickness of the interlayer insulating layer 41 is arbitrary.

  The adhesive layer 42 is a layer formed by curing the adhesive used for bonding the first barrier film 11 and the second barrier film 12 together. The adhesive layer 42 is formed of, for example, an epoxy or acrylic adhesive. The thickness of the adhesive layer 42 is arbitrary.

  The desiccant layer 43 is made of, for example, calcium oxide (CaO) and is configured to absorb moisture. The desiccant layer 43 is provided so as to cover the negative electrode portion 17 exposed on the interlayer insulating layer 41, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c). Therefore, the organic light emitting layer 14 is covered with the desiccant layer 43 via the negative electrode portion 17. The thickness of the insulating layer 4 is a thickness according to the adhesive layer 42.

  Hereinafter, an example of a method for manufacturing the organic EL element 1 will be described.

(Method of Manufacturing Organic EL Element 1)
First, the positive electrode part 16 is formed on the formation surface 110 of the first barrier film 11. Subsequently, a first contact portion 21, a second contact portion 22, a third indirect connection portion 25, and a fourth indirect connection portion 26 are formed on the formation surface 110 of the first barrier film 11. When the first contact portion 21 and the like are etched, their side surfaces are processed into a tapered shape.

  Next, an interlayer insulating layer 41 is formed on the first barrier film 11. Subsequently, after a desired pattern is formed on the interlayer insulating layer 41 using a photolithography method, an etching method, or the like, the organic light emitting layer 14 is formed according to the pattern.

  Next, using photolithography, the end portions of the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22, both end portions of the third indirect connection portion 25, and part of the end portions of the fourth indirect connection portion 26 Is formed on the interlayer insulating layer 41.

  Next, a precursor film is formed using a vacuum deposition method, and the first indirect connection portion 23, the second indirect connection portion 24, and the negative electrode portion 17 are formed using a photolithography method, an etching method, or the like. At this time, a tapered shape is formed on the side surfaces of the first indirect connection portion 23 and the second indirect connection portion 24, and a first relay portion 27a to a fifth relay portion 27e are formed.

  Next, an adhesive is applied to the second barrier film 12 on which the desiccant layer 43 is disposed, and the second barrier film 12 and the first barrier film 11 are bonded to each other. The adhesive layer 42 is formed by photocuring, and the organic EL element 1 is obtained.

(Effects of Embodiment)
The organic EL element 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the sealing performance. Specifically, in the organic EL element 1, the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 serving as terminals are not directly connected to the positive electrode portion 16 and the negative electrode portion 17, but are arranged in different layers. Since it is connected to the positive electrode part 16 and the negative electrode part 17 via the first indirect connection part 23 and the second indirect connection part 24, gas and liquid are more likely to be in contact with the first contact part than when directly connected. The sealing performance can be improved without reaching the organic light-emitting layer 14 through 21 or the like. Further, since the sealing performance of the organic EL element 1 is improved, the life as a product is longer as compared with the case where the sealing performance is low.

  Since the side surface of the wiring portion 2 such as the first contact portion 21 has a tapered shape, the organic EL element 1 has a larger contact area with the insulating layer 4 as compared with a case where the wiring portion 2 does not have a tapered shape. High adhesion. Therefore, the organic EL element 1 has high sealing performance.

  Since the organic EL element 1 has a high sealing property, the space between the wirings can be reduced, and the space can be saved.

  While some embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples, and do not limit the invention according to the claims. These new embodiments and modified examples can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments and modified examples are necessarily indispensable as means for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments and modified examples are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Organic EL element, 2 ... Wiring part, 4 ... Insulating layer, 5 ... Gap, 11 ... First barrier film, 12 ... Second barrier film, 14 ... Organic light emitting layer, 16 ... Positive electrode part, 17 ... Negative electrode portion, 21 first contact portion, 21a to 21d side surface, 22 second contact portion, 22a to 22d side surface, 23 first indirect connection portion, 23a to 23d side surface, 24th 2 indirect connection parts, 24a to 24d ... side surfaces, 25 ... third indirect connection parts, 25a to 25d ... side surfaces, 26 ... fourth indirect connection parts, 26a to 26d ... side surfaces, 27a to 27e ... first relays Section to fifth relay section, 41 ... interlayer insulating layer, 42 ... adhesive layer, 43 ... desiccant layer, 110 ... forming surface

Claims (4)

An organic light emitting layer,
A first electrode unit and a second electrode unit electrically connected to the organic light emitting layer;
An insulating layer that electrically insulates the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit;
A first base and a second base sandwiching the organic light emitting layer, the first electrode part and the second electrode part with the insulating layer interposed therebetween;
A first contact portion and a second contact portion each having one end serving as a terminal and the other end disposed in the insulating layer;
The first contact part and the second contact part are disposed on a different layer from the second contact part, and the second electrode part and the first contact part, and the first electrode part and the second contact are indirectly arranged. A first indirect connection portion and a second indirect connection portion for electrically connecting the portions,
An organic EL device comprising: A first relay unit that relays an electrical connection between the first indirect connection unit and the first contact unit;
A second relay unit that relays an electrical connection between the second indirect connection unit and the second contact unit;
With
The organic EL device according to claim 1. A third indirect connection portion for electrically connecting the first indirect connection portion and the second electrode portion;
A third relay unit that relays an electrical connection between the first indirect connection unit and the third indirect connection unit;
A fourth relay unit that relays an electrical connection between the third indirect connection unit and the second electrode unit;
A fourth indirect connection unit for electrically connecting the second indirect connection unit and the first electrode unit,
A fifth relay section for electrically connecting the second indirect connection section and the fourth indirect connection section,
With
The organic EL device according to claim 2. At least one of the side surfaces of the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the first indirect connection portion, the second indirect connection portion, and the third indirect connection portion has a tapered shape. ,
The organic EL device according to claim 3.

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