JP5001745B2 - Organic electroluminescence device and manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an organic EL element) and a method for producing the same.

  Organic EL elements can be driven at a lower voltage than inorganic EL elements, and have various advantages such as high brightness and easy emission of a large number of colors, so that higher performance elements can be obtained. Therefore, various studies have been made so far. In particular, many attempts have been reported regarding the material of each layer constituting the device.

  In particular, use of a metal oxide as a layer such as an electron injection layer or a hole injection layer has been studied. For example, Patent Document 1 describes providing an inorganic oxide layer such as molybdenum oxide on an electron injection electrode as a highly efficient electron injection layer.

  Currently, as one of the major issues in the development of organic EL elements, it is required to develop an element that can be driven with a long life even when light is emitted with high luminance. Therefore, there is still a search for what contributes to the solution of such problems in each layer constituting the element.

JP 2002-367784 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL device which can be easily manufactured and has a good lifetime characteristic, and a manufacturing method thereof.

  In the course of various studies in view of such circumstances, the present inventors perform a relatively simple process of heat-treating the metal oxide layer constituting the element, thereby improving the lifetime characteristics of the organic EL element. The inventors have found that a metal oxide layer that can be improved can be produced, and have reached the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, the following is provided:
[1] An organic electroluminescence device having an anode, a light emitting layer, a cathode, and a metal oxide layer provided between the anode and the light emitting layer or between the light emitting layer and the cathode, An oxide layer: (A) depositing a metal oxide on another layer constituting the device to obtain an untreated metal oxide layer; and (B) heating the gold untreated metal oxide layer. An organic electroluminescence device which is a layer obtained by the process.
[2] The organic electroluminescence device, wherein the metal oxide layer is a hole injection layer, or is provided in direct contact with the light emitting layer or the hole injection layer.
[3] The organic electroluminescence device, wherein the metal oxide layer has a visible light transmittance of 50% or more.
[4] The organic electroluminescence device, wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, tantalum oxide, and a mixture thereof.
[5] The organic electroluminescence element, wherein the metal oxide is deposited by vacuum evaporation, sputtering, or ion plating.
[6] The organic electroluminescence element, wherein the heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 50 to 350 ° C.
[7] The organic electroluminescence element, wherein the heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere having a humidity of 0.01 to 95% and an oxygen concentration of 0.01 to 30%.
[8] The organic electroluminescence device, wherein the metal oxide layer includes metal oxide microcrystals.
[9] A method for producing the organic electroluminescence device, comprising depositing a metal oxide on another layer constituting the device to obtain an untreated metal oxide layer; and the gold untreated metal oxide layer; The manufacturing method including the process of heat-processing.

  Since the organic EL element of the present invention can be easily manufactured and has a long lifetime, it can be preferably used as a planar light source as a backlight, a device such as a flat panel display.

  The organic EL device of the present invention has an anode, a light emitting layer, and a cathode. The organic EL device of the present invention may further have another layer between the anode and the light emitting layer and / or between the light emitting layer and the cathode, and at least one of these layers. As, it has a metal oxide layer as an essential component.

Preferred examples of the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide layer include molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, tantalum oxide, and mixtures thereof. Of these, molybdenum oxide is particularly preferable. . As the molybdenum oxide, molybdenum trioxide, that is, MoO ₃ is preferable. The vanadium oxide is preferably divanadium pentoxide, that is, V ₂ O ₅ . The tungsten oxide is preferably tungsten trioxide or WO ₃ . As the tantalum oxide, tantalum pentoxide, that is, Ta ₂ O ₅ is preferable. When MoO ₃ is formed by the process defined in the present invention, the composition ratio of Mo and O may not be maintained in the formed metal oxide layer, but even in that case, it is preferably used in the present invention. Can do.
The metal oxide layer contains a metal oxide such as those mentioned above, and preferably consists essentially of a metal oxide such as those mentioned above. More specifically, when the metal oxide layer is formed as a single layer, the proportion of the metal oxide in the total amount of substances constituting the layer is preferably 98% by mass or more, more preferably 99% by mass or more, More preferably, it can be 99.9 mass% or more.

The metal oxide layer is preferably a hole injection layer or provided directly in contact with the light emitting layer or the hole injection layer. More specifically:
(Ii) provided in contact with the anode and the hole transport layer (ii) provided in contact with the anode and the electron blocking layer (iii) provided in contact with the hole injection layer and the light emitting layer (iv) the hole injection layer and It is preferable that either (v) provided in contact with the electron blocking layer or provided in contact with the light emitting layer. In the case of a bottom emission structure, (i) or (ii) is more preferable, and the metal oxide layer usually functions as a hole injection layer. In the case of a top emission structure, (iii) or (iv) is more preferable, and the metal oxide layer usually functions as a hole transport layer.

  The visible light transmittance of the metal oxide layer is preferably 50% or more. By having a visible light transmittance of 50% or more, it can be suitably used for an organic EL element that emits light through the metal oxide layer.

  The thickness of the metal oxide layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 nm to 50 nm.

In the organic EL device of the present invention, the metal oxide layer is:
(A) a layer obtained by depositing a metal oxide on another layer constituting the element to obtain an untreated metal oxide layer; and (B) a step obtained by heating the untreated metal oxide layer. is there.

  In the step (A), the other layer constituting the element may be any layer constituting the organic EL element, and can be appropriately selected according to the production process and the laminated structure of the obtained organic EL element. For example, deposition can be performed on an anode or cathode layer provided on a substrate to obtain a metal oxide layer in direct contact with the electrode. Alternatively, after providing an electrode on the substrate, one or more other layers such as a light-emitting layer, a charge injection layer, a charge transport layer, or a charge blocking layer are provided on the electrode, and deposition is further performed on the layer. A metal oxide layer in direct contact can be obtained.

Deposition can be performed by vacuum evaporation, molecular beam evaporation, sputtering or ion plating, ion beam evaporation, coating, or the like. By introducing plasma into the film formation chamber, a plasma assisted vacuum deposition method with improved reactivity and film formability can be used. Examples of the evaporation source of the vacuum deposition method include resistance heating, electron beam heating, high frequency induction heating, and laser beam heating. As a simpler method, resistance heating, electron beam heating, and high frequency induction heating are preferable. The sputtering method includes a DC sputtering method, an RF sputtering method, an ECR sputtering method, a conventional sputtering method, a magnetron sputtering method, an ion beam sputtering method, an opposed target sputtering method, and any method can be used. In order not to damage the lower layer, it is preferable to use magnetron sputtering, ion beam sputtering, or counter target sputtering. Note that during film formation, vapor deposition can be performed by introducing a gas containing oxygen or an oxygen element into the atmosphere. Further, as the metal oxide, not only one kind of oxide but also a plurality of oxides or non-oxidized metals can be used in combination. For example, MoO ₃ is usually used as the molybdenum oxide material, but Mo metal, MoO ₂ , or a mixture thereof can be used.

  The step (B) can be performed after obtaining the untreated metal oxide layer in the step (A) and before forming another layer on the layer. Specifically, after the step (A) is completed, the untreated metal oxide layer can be heated together with the substrate.

  The temperature of the heat treatment in the step (B) is preferably 50 to 350 ° C, more preferably 70 to 300 ° C, and still more preferably 100 to 250 ° C. The heating time is preferably 30 seconds to 120 minutes, more preferably 3 to 60 minutes. As a device for performing such heat treatment, a hot plate, a clean oven, an infrared heating device, an induction heating device, a microwave heating device, or the like can be used.

  The heat treatment is preferably performed in an atmosphere where oxygen and / or water vapor is present. Specifically, for example, it is preferably performed in an atmosphere with a humidity of 0.01 to 95% and an oxygen concentration of 0.01 to 30%. Examples of such an atmosphere include a normal air atmosphere.

  The metal oxide layer obtained through the step (B) preferably contains metal oxide microcrystals. The microcrystal is a crystal, a crystal grain, or a collection of crystal grains having a size that can be confirmed using a microscope having a magnification of about 10 to 1000 times. The metal oxide layer having such microcrystals can be obtained by appropriately adjusting the heating conditions. By having such a microcrystal, the process resistance of the metal oxide layer is increased. That is, when another layer is formed on the metal oxide layer after forming the metal oxide layer, a process such as application of a solution containing water or an organic solvent may be performed. By including, it can be made durable with respect to such a process.

In the present invention, in obtaining the metal oxide layer, in addition to the steps (A) and (B), other steps may be optionally performed before or after each step. For example, other steps such as UV-O ₃ treatment and exposure to the atmosphere may be optionally performed before or after the step (B), and then another layer stacking step may be performed.

The UV-O ₃ treatment can be performed by irradiating with ultraviolet rays at an intensity of 1 to 100 mW / cm ² for 5 seconds to 30 minutes and in an atmosphere having an ozone concentration of 0.001 to 99%. The exposure to the atmosphere can be performed by leaving it in the atmosphere at a humidity of 40 to 95% and a temperature of 20 to 50 ° C. for 1 to 20 days.

  Next, the structure of the layer of the organic EL element of the present invention will be described more specifically.

  In addition to having an anode, a light emitting layer and a cathode as essential components, the organic EL device of the present invention has another layer between the anode and the light emitting layer and / or between the light emitting layer and the cathode. Can have.

  Examples of the layer that can be provided between the cathode and the light emitting layer include an electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, and a hole blocking layer. When both the electron injection layer and the electron transport layer are provided, the layer close to the cathode is the electron injection layer, and the layer close to the light emitting layer is the electron transport layer.

The electron injection layer is a layer having a function of improving electron injection efficiency from the cathode, and the electron transport layer is a layer having a function of improving electron injection from the cathode, the electron injection layer or the electron transport layer closer to the cathode. is there. In addition, when the electron injection layer or the electron transport layer has a function of blocking hole transport, these layers may also serve as the hole blocking layer.
Having the function of blocking hole transport makes it possible, for example, to produce an element that allows only hole current to flow, and confirm the blocking effect by reducing the current value.

  Examples of what is provided between the anode and the light emitting layer include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, and an electron block layer. When both the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer are provided, the layer close to the anode is the hole injection layer, and the layer close to the light emitting layer is the hole transport layer.

The hole injection layer is a layer having a function of improving the hole injection efficiency from the anode, and the hole transport layer is a hole injection layer from the anode, the hole injection layer or the hole transport layer closer to the anode. It is a layer having a function of improving. In addition, when the hole injection layer or the hole transport layer has a function of blocking electron transport, these layers may also serve as an electron block layer.
Having the function of blocking electron transport makes it possible, for example, to manufacture an element that allows only electron current to flow and to confirm the blocking effect by reducing the current value.

  In the organic EL device of the present invention, one light emitting layer is usually provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more light emitting layers may be provided. In that case, two or more light-emitting layers can be stacked in direct contact with each other, and a metal oxide layer or the like used in the present invention can be provided between the layers.

  Note that the electron injection layer and the hole injection layer may be collectively referred to as a charge injection layer, and the electron transport layer and the hole transport layer may be collectively referred to as a charge transport layer.

More specifically, the organic EL device of the present invention can have any of the following layer configurations:
a) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / cathode b) Anode / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode c) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode d) Anode / charge injection layer / Emissive layer / cathode e) anode / emission layer / charge injection layer / cathode f) anode / charge injection layer / emission layer / charge injection layer / cathode g) anode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / emission layer / cathode h ) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / charge injection layer / cathode i) Anode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / charge injection layer / cathode j) Anode / charge injection layer / light emitting layer / charge transport Layer / cathode k) anode / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / cathode l) anode / charge injection layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / cathode m) anode / charge injection layer / hole transport Layer / light emitting layer / charge transport layer / cathode n) anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / cathode o) anode / charge injection layer / Hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transporting layer / charge injection layer / cathode (wherein, / indicates that each layer is laminated adjacently. Hereinafter the same.)

  In each example of the layer configuration, the metal oxide layer is provided as at least one of a charge injection layer (a hole injection layer or an electron injection layer), a hole transport layer, or an electron transport layer.

Furthermore, the organic EL device of the present invention may have two or more light emitting layers.
Specifically, as an organic EL element having two light emitting layers,
p) Layer structure of anode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / electrode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / cathode The thing which has is mentioned.
Further, as an organic EL device having three or more light emitting layers, specifically, an electrode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / light emission layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer are formed as one repeating unit (hereinafter referred to as “ As repeat unit A))
q) Layer structure including anode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / repeating unit A / repeating unit A... / cathode and two or more repeating units A The thing which has.
In the layer structures p and q, each layer other than the anode, the electrode, the cathode, and the light emitting layer can be omitted as necessary.
Here, the electrode is a layer that generates holes and electrons by applying an electric field. Examples of the material constituting the electrode include vanadium oxide, indium / tin / oxide, and molybdenum oxide.
In each example of the layer configurations p and q, the metal oxide layer is provided as at least one of a charge injection layer, a hole transport layer, or an electrode.

  The organic EL device of the present invention can further have a substrate, and each of the layers can be provided on the substrate. The organic EL device of the present invention can further have a sealing member on the opposite side of the substrate with the above layers interposed therebetween. The organic EL device having the substrate and the above layer structure usually has a substrate on the anode side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the substrate may be on either the anode or cathode side.

  In the organic EL device of the present invention, in order to emit light from the light emitting layer, all the layers on either side of the light emitting layer are usually transparent. Specifically, for example, in the case of an organic EL device having a configuration of substrate / anode / charge injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / charge injection layer / cathode / sealing member, the substrate, anode, charge All of the injection layer and hole transport layer are transparent, so-called bottom emission type elements, or all of the electron transport layer, charge injection layer, cathode and sealing member are transparent, so-called top emission Type element. In the case of an organic EL device having the structure of substrate / cathode / charge injection layer / electron transport layer / light emitting layer / hole transport layer / charge injection layer / anode / sealing member, the substrate, cathode, charge injection layer and electrons All of the transport layers are transparent, so-called bottom emission type elements, or the hole transport layer, the charge injection layer, the anode and the sealing member are all transparent, so-called top emission type elements. can do. Here, the term “transparent” means that the visible light transmittance from the light emitting layer to the light emitting layer is 40% or more. In the case of an element that requires light emission in the ultraviolet region or infrared region, a device having a transmittance of 40% or more in the region is preferable.

In the organic EL device of the present invention, the charge injection layer or an insulating layer having a thickness of 2 nm or less may be provided adjacent to the electrode in order to improve adhesion with the electrode or improve charge injection from the electrode. In addition, a thin buffer layer may be inserted at the interface between the charge transport layer and the light emitting layer in order to improve the adhesion of the interface or prevent mixing.
The order and number of layers to be laminated, and the thickness of each layer can be appropriately used in consideration of light emission efficiency and element lifetime.

  Next, the material and forming method of each layer constituting the organic EL element of the present invention will be described more specifically.

<Board>
The substrate constituting the organic EL device of the present invention may be any substrate as long as it does not change when an electrode is formed and an organic layer is formed, for example, glass, plastic, polymer film, silicon substrate, or a laminate of these. Etc. are used. A commercially available substrate is available as the substrate, or can be manufactured by a known method.

<Anode>
As the anode of the organic EL element of the present invention, it is preferable to use a transparent or translucent electrode because an element that emits light through the anode can be configured. As such a transparent electrode or a semi-transparent electrode, a metal oxide, metal sulfide or metal thin film having high electrical conductivity can be used, and a high transmittance can be suitably used. And use. Specifically, indium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, and a composite film made of conductive glass made of indium / tin / oxide (ITO), indium / zinc / oxide, etc. (NESA) Etc.), gold, platinum, silver, copper and the like are used, and ITO, indium / zinc / oxide, and tin oxide are preferable. Examples of the production method include a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, an ion plating method, a plating method, and the like. Further, an organic transparent conductive film such as polyaniline or a derivative thereof, polythiophene or a derivative thereof may be used as the anode.
A material that reflects light may be used for the anode, and the material is preferably a metal, metal oxide, or metal sulfide having a work function of 3.0 eV or more.

  The film thickness of the anode can be appropriately selected in consideration of light transmittance and electrical conductivity, and is, for example, 10 nm to 10 μm, preferably 20 nm to 1 μm, more preferably 50 nm to 500 nm. is there.

<Hole injection layer>
The hole injection layer can be provided between the anode and the hole transport layer or between the anode and the light emitting layer. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metal oxide layer can be used as the hole injection layer.
In the organic EL device of the present invention, in the case where the metal oxide layer is provided as a layer other than the hole injection layer, the material for forming the hole injection layer is phenylamine, starburst amine, or phthalocyanine. And oxides such as vanadium oxide, tantalum oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, ruthenium oxide, and aluminum oxide, amorphous carbon, polyaniline, and polythiophene derivatives.

<Hole transport layer>
As the hole transport layer, the metal oxide layer may be used. In other cases, the material constituting the hole transport layer may be polyvinyl carbazole or a derivative thereof, polysilane or a derivative thereof, a side chain, Polysiloxane derivative having aromatic amine in the main chain, pyrazoline derivative, arylamine derivative, stilbene derivative, triphenyldiamine derivative, polyaniline or derivative thereof, polythiophene or derivative thereof, polyarylamine or derivative thereof, polypyrrole or derivative thereof, poly Examples thereof include (p-phenylene vinylene) or a derivative thereof, or poly (2,5-thienylene vinylene) or a derivative thereof.

  Among these, as a hole transport material used for the hole transport layer, polyvinyl carbazole or a derivative thereof, polysilane or a derivative thereof, a polysiloxane derivative having an aromatic amine compound group in a side chain or a main chain, polyaniline or a derivative thereof, Polymeric hole transport materials such as polythiophene or derivatives thereof, polyarylamine or derivatives thereof, poly (p-phenylene vinylene) or derivatives thereof, or poly (2,5-thienylene vinylene) or derivatives thereof are preferred, and more preferred Is polyvinyl carbazole or a derivative thereof, polysilane or a derivative thereof, and a polysiloxane derivative having an aromatic amine in a side chain or a main chain. In the case of a low-molecular hole transport material, it is preferably used by being dispersed in a polymer binder.

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in the film-forming method of a positive hole transport layer, In the low molecular hole transport material, the method by the film-forming from a mixed solution with a polymer binder is illustrated. In the case of a polymer hole transport material, a method of film formation from a solution is exemplified.

  The solvent used for film formation from a solution is not particularly limited as long as it can dissolve a hole transport material. Examples of the solvent include chlorine solvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, and dichloroethane; ether solvents such as tetrahydrofuran; aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene and xylene; ketone solvents such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone; ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, An ester solvent such as ethyl cellosolve acetate is exemplified.

  Examples of film formation methods from solution include spin coating from solution, casting method, micro gravure coating method, gravure coating method, bar coating method, roll coating method, wire bar coating method, dip coating method, slit coating method, capillary Coating methods such as coating methods, spray coating methods, nozzle coating methods, etc., gravure printing methods, screen printing methods, flexographic printing methods, offset printing methods, reverse printing methods, printing methods such as inkjet printing methods, etc. may be used. it can. A printing method such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, a flexographic printing method, an offset printing method, a reversal printing method, and an inkjet printing method is preferable in that the pattern formation is easy.

  As the polymer binder to be mixed, those not extremely disturbing charge transport are preferable, and those showing no strong absorption against visible light are suitably used. Examples of the polymer binder include polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polysiloxane.

  The film thickness of the hole transport layer differs depending on the material used, and may be selected so that the drive voltage and the light emission efficiency are appropriate. However, at least a thickness that does not cause pinholes is required. If it is too thick, the driving voltage of the element becomes high, which is not preferable. Therefore, the film thickness of the hole transport layer is, for example, 1 nm to 1 μm, preferably 2 nm to 500 nm, and more preferably 5 nm to 200 nm.

<Light emitting layer>
In the present invention, the light emitting layer is preferably an organic light emitting layer, and usually has organic substances (low molecular compounds and high molecular compounds) that mainly emit fluorescence or phosphorescence. Further, a dopant material may be further included. Examples of the material for forming the light emitting layer that can be used in the present invention include the following.

The dye material dye material, for example, cyclopropyl derivatives, tetraphenyl butadiene derivative compounds, triphenylamine derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, pyrazoloquinoline derivatives, distyryl benzene derivatives, distyryl arylene derivatives, pyrrole derivatives, Examples include a thiophene ring compound, a pyridine ring compound, a perinone derivative, a perylene derivative, an oligothiophene derivative, a trifumanylamine derivative, an oxadiazole dimer, and a pyrazoline dimer.

As the metal complex based material metal complex materials, for example, iridium complexes, metal complexes having light emission from a triplet excited state, such as platinum complexes, an aluminum quinolinol complex, a benzoquinolinol beryllium complex, a benzoxazolyl zinc complexes, benzothiazole Zinc complex, azomethylzinc complex, porphyrin zinc complex, europium complex, etc., the central metal has Al, Zn, Be etc. or rare earth metal such as Tb, Eu, Dy etc., and the ligand is oxadiazole, thiadiazole, phenyl Examples thereof include metal complexes having pyridine, phenylbenzimidazole, quinoline structure, and the like.

High molecular weight materials High molecular weight materials include polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives, polythiophene derivatives, polyparaphenylene derivatives, polysilane derivatives, polyacetylene derivatives, polyfluorene derivatives, polyvinylcarbazole derivatives, the above chromophores and metal complex light emitting materials. Examples include molecules.
Among the light emitting materials, examples of the material that emits blue light include distyrylarylene derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, and polymers thereof, polyvinylcarbazole derivatives, polyparaphenylene derivatives, and polyfluorene derivatives. Of these, polymer materials such as polyvinyl carbazole derivatives, polyparaphenylene derivatives, and polyfluorene derivatives are preferred.
Examples of materials that emit green light include quinacridone derivatives, coumarin derivatives, and polymers thereof, polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives, polyfluorene derivatives, and the like. Of these, polymer materials such as polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives and polyfluorene derivatives are preferred.
Examples of materials that emit red light include coumarin derivatives, thiophene ring compounds, and polymers thereof, polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives, polythiophene derivatives, and polyfluorene derivatives. Among these, polymer materials such as polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives, polythiophene derivatives, and polyfluorene derivatives are preferable.

A dopant can be added to the light emitting layer of the dopant 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, pyrazolone derivatives, decacyclene, phenoxazone, and the like. In addition, the thickness of such a light emitting layer is about 20-2000 mm normally.

<Method for forming light emitting layer>
As a method for forming a light emitting layer containing an organic substance, a method of applying a solution containing a light emitting material on or above a substrate, a vacuum deposition method, a transfer method, or the like can be used. Specific examples of the solvent used for the film formation from the solution include the same solvents as those for dissolving the hole transport material when forming the hole transport layer from the above solution.
As a method for applying a solution containing a light emitting material on or above a substrate, a spin coating method, a casting method, a micro gravure coating method, a gravure coating method, a bar coating method, a roll coating method, a wire bar coating method, a dip coating method Coating methods such as slit coating method, capillary coating method, spray coating method, nozzle coating method, gravure printing method, screen printing method, flexographic printing method, offset printing method, reversal printing method, inkjet printing method, etc. A coating method can be used. A printing method such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, a flexographic printing method, an offset printing method, a reversal printing method, and an ink jet printing method is preferable in that pattern formation and multi-coloring are easy. In the case of a sublimable low-molecular compound, a vacuum deposition method can be used. Furthermore, a method of forming a light emitting layer only at a desired place by laser transfer or thermal transfer can be used.

<Electron transport layer>
As the electron transport layer, the metal oxide layer may be used, but in other cases, known materials can be used as the material constituting the electron transport layer, such as oxadiazole derivatives, anthraquinodimethane. Or derivatives thereof, benzoquinone or derivatives thereof, naphthoquinone or derivatives thereof, anthraquinones or derivatives thereof, tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane or derivatives thereof, fluorenone derivatives, diphenyldicyanoethylene or derivatives thereof, diphenoquinone derivatives, or 8-hydroxyquinoline or derivatives thereof. And metal complexes, polyquinoline or a derivative thereof, polyquinoxaline or a derivative thereof, polyfluorene or a derivative thereof, and the like.

  Of these, oxadiazole derivatives, benzoquinone or derivatives thereof, anthraquinones or derivatives thereof, or metal complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline or derivatives thereof, polyquinoline or derivatives thereof, polyquinoxaline or derivatives thereof, polyfluorene or derivatives thereof are preferred, 2- (4-biphenylyl) -5- (4-t-butylphenyl) -1,3,4-oxadiazole, benzoquinone, anthraquinone, tris (8-quinolinol) aluminum, and polyquinoline are more preferable.

  There are no particular restrictions on the method of forming the electron transport layer, but in the case of a low molecular electron transport material, a vacuum deposition method from powder or a method by film formation from a solution or a molten state is used. Each method is exemplified by film formation from a molten state. When forming a film from a solution or a molten state, a polymer binder may be used in combination. Examples of the method for forming an electron transport layer from a solution include the same film formation method as the method for forming a hole transport layer from a solution described above.

  The film thickness of the electron transport layer varies depending on the material used, and may be selected so that the drive voltage and the light emission efficiency are appropriate. However, at least a thickness that does not cause pinholes is required. If the thickness is too thick, the driving voltage of the element increases, which is not preferable. Therefore, the thickness of the electron transport layer is, for example, 1 nm to 1 μm, preferably 2 nm to 500 nm, and more preferably 5 nm to 200 nm.

<Electron injection layer>
The electron injection layer is provided between the electron transport layer and the cathode or between the light emitting layer and the cathode. As the electron injection layer, the metal oxide layer may be used. In other cases, the electron injection layer may be an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or the metal depending on the type of the light emitting layer. Or an alloy containing one or more of the above, an oxide, halide and carbonate of the metal, or a mixture of the substances. Examples of alkali metals or oxides, halides and carbonates thereof include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, lithium oxide, lithium fluoride, sodium oxide, sodium fluoride, potassium oxide, potassium fluoride, rubidium oxide. , Rubidium fluoride, cesium oxide, cesium fluoride, lithium carbonate and the like. Examples of alkaline earth metals or oxides, halides and carbonates thereof include magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, magnesium oxide, magnesium fluoride, calcium oxide, calcium fluoride, barium oxide, barium fluoride, Examples include strontium oxide, strontium fluoride, and magnesium carbonate. The electron injection layer may be a laminate of two or more layers. Specifically, LiF / Ca etc. are mentioned. The electron injection layer is formed by vapor deposition, sputtering, printing, or the like. The thickness of the electron injection layer is preferably about 1 nm to 1 μm.

<Cathode material>
As a material for the cathode used in the organic EL device of the present invention, a material having a small work function and easy electron injection into the light emitting layer and / or a material having high electrical conductivity and / or a material having high visible light reflectivity are preferable. As the metal, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, or a group III-B metal can be used. For example, a metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum, scandium, vanadium, zinc, yttrium, indium, cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, ytterbium, or the above metal Or an alloy of one or more of them with one or more of gold, silver, platinum, copper, manganese, titanium, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, tin, or a graphite or graphite layer A compound or the like is used. Examples of the alloy include magnesium-silver alloy, magnesium-indium alloy, magnesium-aluminum alloy, indium-silver alloy, lithium-aluminum alloy, lithium-magnesium alloy, lithium-indium alloy, calcium-aluminum alloy, and the like. Moreover, a transparent conductive electrode can be used as a cathode, for example, a conductive metal oxide, a conductive organic substance, etc. can be used. Specifically, indium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide and indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO) which are composites thereof as conductive metal oxides, and polyaniline as conductive organic substances Alternatively, an organic transparent conductive film such as a derivative thereof, polythiophene or a derivative thereof may be used. Note that the cathode may have a laminated structure of two or more layers. In some cases, the electron injection layer is used as a cathode.

  The thickness of the cathode can be appropriately selected in consideration of electric conductivity and durability, but is, for example, 10 nm to 10 μm, preferably 20 nm to 1 μm, and more preferably 50 nm to 500 nm.

  As a method for producing the cathode, a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, a laminating method for bonding a metal thin film, or the like is used.

<Insulating layer>
An insulating layer having a film thickness of 2 nm or less that can be optionally included in the organic EL device of the present invention has a function of facilitating charge injection. Examples of the material for the insulating layer include metal fluorides, metal oxides, and organic insulating materials. Organic EL elements having an insulating layer having a thickness of 2 nm or less are provided with an insulating layer having a thickness of 2 nm or less adjacent to the cathode, and those having an insulating layer having a thickness of 2 nm or less adjacent to the anode. Can be mentioned.

  The organic EL element of the present invention can be used as a backlight for a planar light source, a segment display device, a dot matrix display device, and a liquid crystal display device.

  In order to obtain planar light emission using the organic EL element of the present invention, the planar anode and cathode may be arranged so as to overlap each other. In addition, in order to obtain pattern-like light emission, a method of installing a mask provided with a pattern-like window on the surface of the planar light-emitting element, an organic material layer of a non-light-emitting portion is formed extremely thick and substantially non- There are a method of emitting light and a method of forming either one of the anode or the cathode or both electrodes in a pattern. By forming a pattern by any of these methods and arranging some electrodes so that they can be turned on / off independently, a segment type display element capable of displaying numbers, letters, simple symbols and the like can be obtained. Further, in order to obtain a dot matrix element, both the anode and the cathode may be formed in a stripe shape and arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other. Partial color display and multicolor display are possible by a method of separately coating a plurality of types of light emitting materials having different emission colors or a method using a color filter or a fluorescence conversion filter. The dot matrix element can be driven passively or may be driven actively in combination with TFTs. These display elements can be used as display devices for computers, televisions, mobile terminals, mobile phones, car navigation systems, video camera viewfinders, and the like.

  Furthermore, the planar light-emitting element is thin and self-luminous, and can be suitably used as a planar light source for a backlight of a liquid crystal display device or a planar illumination light source. If a flexible substrate is used, it can be used as a curved light source or display device.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

<Example 1>
(1-1: Preparation of interlayer material)
2,7-bis (1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl) -9,9-dioctyl was added to a separable flask equipped with a stirring blade, baffle, length-adjustable nitrogen inlet tube, cooling tube and thermometer. 158.29 parts by weight of fluorene, 136.11 parts by weight of bis- (4-bromophenyl) -4- (1-methylpropyl) -benzenamine, 27 parts by weight of tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336 manufactured by Henkel), toluene 1800 parts by weight were charged, and the temperature was raised to 90 ° C. with stirring while flowing nitrogen from the nitrogen introduction tube. After adding 0.066 parts by weight of palladium (II) acetate and 0.45 parts by weight of tri (o-toluyl) phosphine, 573 parts by weight of a 17.5% aqueous sodium carbonate solution was added dropwise over 1 hour. After completion of the dropwise addition, the nitrogen inlet tube was lifted from the liquid surface and kept under reflux for 7 hours, then 3.6 parts by weight of phenylboric acid was added, kept under reflux for 14 hours, and cooled to room temperature. After removing the reaction solution aqueous layer, the reaction solution oil layer was diluted with toluene and washed with 3% acetic acid aqueous solution and ion-exchanged water. 13 parts by weight of sodium N, N-diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate was added to the separated oil layer, stirred for 4 hours, and then passed through a mixed column of activated alumina and silica gel, and toluene was passed through to wash the column. . The filtrate and washings were mixed and then added dropwise to methanol to precipitate the polymer. The obtained polymer precipitate was separated by filtration, washed with methanol, and then dried with a vacuum dryer to obtain 192 parts by weight of polymer. The resulting polymer is referred to as polymer compound 1. When the polystyrene equivalent weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight of the polymer compound 1 were determined by the following GPC analysis method, the polystyrene equivalent weight average molecular weight was 3.7 × 10 ⁵ and the number average molecular weight was 8.9 × 10 ⁴ .

(GPC analysis method)
The polystyrene equivalent weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Standard polystyrene made by Polymer Laboratories was used to prepare a GPC calibration curve. The polymer to be measured was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran to a concentration of about 0.02% by weight, and 10 μL was injected into the GPC apparatus.
The GPC apparatus used was LC-10ADvp manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation. As the column, two PLgel 10 μm MIXED-B columns (300 × 7.5 mm) manufactured by Polymer Laboratories were used in series, and tetrahydrofuran was flowed at 25 ° C. and a flow rate of 1.0 mL / min as a mobile phase. The detector used a UV detector to measure the absorbance at 228 nm.

(1-2: Production of organic EL element: MoO ₃ layers)
A glass substrate having an ITO thin film patterned on the surface was used as a substrate, and a MoO ₃ layer having a thickness of 100 mm was deposited on the ITO thin film by a vacuum deposition method according to the following procedure.
The surface of the glass substrate having the ITO thin film was partially covered with a vapor deposition mask, and attached to the vapor deposition chamber using a substrate holder.
MoO ₃ powder (manufactured by Aldrich, purity 99.99%) was packed in a tungsten board for a box-type sublimation substance, covered with a cover with holes so that the material would not scatter, and set in a vapor deposition chamber.
The degree of vacuum in the vapor deposition chamber was set to 3 × 10 ⁻⁵ Pa or less, and MoO ₃ was gradually heated by a resistance heating method and sufficiently degassed before being subjected to vapor deposition. The degree of vacuum during vapor deposition was 9 × 10 ⁻⁵ Pa or less. The film thickness and the deposition rate were constantly monitored with a crystal resonator. When the deposition rate of MoO ₃ reached about 2.8 Å / sec, the main shutter was opened and film formation on the substrate was started. During deposition, the substrate was rotated so that the film thickness was uniform. Film formation was performed for about 36 seconds while controlling the vapor deposition rate to the above speed, and a substrate provided with a vapor deposition film having a film thickness of about 100 mm was obtained.

  The obtained substrate was taken out into the atmosphere, and the deposited film was heat-treated for 45 minutes at 200 ° C. with a hot plate (program hot stirrer DP-2S manufactured by ASONE), and then cooled to room temperature.

(1-3: Preparation of organic EL element: preparation and sealing of other layers)
Next, on the obtained heat-treated MoO ₃ layer, the interlayer material obtained in the above (1-1) was formed by a spin coating method to form an interlayer layer having a thickness of 20 nm. The interlayer layer formed on the extraction electrode portion and the sealing area was removed, and baking was performed at 200 ° C. for 20 minutes on a hot plate.
Thereafter, a polymer light-emitting organic material (manufactured by RP158 Summation Co., Ltd.) was formed on the interlayer layer by a spin coating method to form a light-emitting layer having a thickness of 90 nm. The light emitting layer formed on the extraction electrode portion and the sealing area was removed.
The subsequent processes up to the sealing were performed in vacuum or nitrogen so that the elements in the process were not exposed to the atmosphere.
The substrate was heated at a substrate temperature of about 100 ° C. for 60 minutes in a vacuum heating chamber. Thereafter, the substrate was transferred to a vapor deposition chamber, and a cathode mask was aligned on the surface of the light emitting layer so that a cathode was formed on the light emitting portion and the extraction electrode portion. Further, the cathode was deposited while rotating the mask and the substrate. As a cathode, metal Ba is heated by a resistance heating method and evaporated at a deposition rate of about 2 mm / second and a film thickness of 50 mm, and Al is deposited thereon by an electron beam deposition method at an evaporation rate of about 2 mm / second and a film thickness of 150 nm. Vapor deposition.
Thereafter, the substrate is bonded to a prepared sealing glass coated with UV curable resin around the substrate, kept in vacuum, then returned to atmospheric pressure, fixed by irradiation with UV, and light emitting region Produced a 2 × 2 mm organic EL device. The obtained organic EL device had a layer structure of glass substrate / ITO film / MoO ₃ layer / interlayer layer / light emitting layer / Ba layer / Al layer / sealing glass.

(1-4: Evaluation of organic EL element: life characteristics)
The lifetime of light emission when the device was energized to 2000 cd / m ² was measured. The results are shown in Table 1. It was observed that the emission lifetime was significantly longer than that of Comparative Example 1 described later.

<Example 2>
A substrate having a heat-treated MoO ₃ layer was obtained in the same manner as in step (1-2) of Example 1 except that the temperature of the heat treatment was 250 ° C. When the surface of the MoO ₃ layer was observed with an optical microscope (100 times), the crystal grains were dispersed at a density of about 1/3 of the observation range, and it was confirmed that microcrystals were formed.
When the obtained substrate was exposed to pure water for 1 minute and observed again with an optical microscope, there was no change and the surface was not dissolved. In either case, the substrate was further exposed to pure water for 3 minutes, or the film was wiped with a non-woven fabric (trade name “Bencot”, manufactured by Ozu Sangyo Co., Ltd.) containing pure water and then visually observed. The membrane remained unchanged.
When another substrate obtained was exposed to acetone for 1 minute and observed with an optical microscope, there was no change and the surface was not dissolved. The substrate was further exposed to acetone for 3 minutes, or the film was wiped with a non-woven fabric containing acetone and visually confirmed. In either case, the film remained unchanged.

<Comparative Example 1>
An organic EL device was produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the heat treatment was not performed in the step (1-2). The results are shown in Table 1.

Claims (2)

A method for producing an organic electroluminescence device comprising an anode, a light emitting layer, a cathode, and a metal oxide layer provided between the anode and the light emitting layer or between the light emitting layer and the cathode,
(A) A metal oxide selected from the group consisting of molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, tantalum oxide, and mixtures thereof is deposited on the other layers constituting the device by vacuum deposition, sputtering, or ion plating. Depositing by plating to obtain an untreated metal oxide layer ;
(B) a step of heat-treating the untreated metal oxide layer in an atmosphere having a temperature of 50 to 350 ° C., a humidity of 0.01 to 95%, and an oxygen concentration of 0.01 to 30% to obtain a metal oxide layer ;
(C) applying a solution containing water or an organic solvent on the metal oxide layer ,
The metal oxide layer is a hole injection layer, or is provided in direct contact with the light emitting layer or the hole injection layer,
The metal oxide layer has a visible light transmittance of 50% or more, and includes metal oxide microcrystals.
Manufacturing method of organic electroluminescent element.   The manufacturing method of the organic electroluminescent element of Claim 1 in which the said untreated metal oxide layer does not contain the microcrystal of a metal oxide.