JP6119606B2 - Organic electroluminescence panel and method for manufacturing organic electroluminescence panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence panel and a method for manufacturing the organic electroluminescence panel.

Conventionally, an organic electroluminescence element (hereinafter also referred to as an organic EL element) is known as a planar light emitting element which is a planar light source body. The organic EL element has a configuration including an organic functional layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes on a support substrate, and the organic functional layer includes a plurality of layers having different functions, for example, a hole injection layer, A hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, and the like are provided.
Since such an organic EL element emits light when a DC voltage is supplied, a connection part (feeding part) for applying a DC voltage from the outside to the electrode part of the organic EL element is required.
Various systems are disclosed as the structure of such a power feeding unit. For example, in the organic EL element 20 shown in FIG. 5, the organic functional layer 23 is sandwiched between the pair of electrodes 22 and 24 on the support substrate 21, and the organic functional layer 23 is covered in such an organic EL element 20. A sealing member 27 is provided via an adhesive layer 25 so that side end portions of the anode 22 and the cathode 24 are exposed. And the technique by which the anode power supply part 28 and the cathode power supply part 29 are arrange | positioned on the anode 22 and the cathode 24 exposed from the side edge part of the sealing member 27 is disclosed.
In addition, for example, a technique is disclosed in which an anode power supply unit and a cathode power supply unit are arranged on the transparent substrate along two parallel sides of a rectangular light emitting unit formed on the transparent substrate. (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-198980 A

However, as described in FIG. 5 and Patent Document 1 described above, since there is no organic functional layer that is a light emitting unit above the anode power supply unit and the cathode power supply unit, light is emitted from the power supply unit. I can't take it out. For this reason, when the area of the power feeding portion is large, the ratio of the portion from which the emitted light can be extracted with respect to the substrate area of the organic EL element becomes a problem. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 above, when the power feeding portion is provided on the anode or the cathode exposed from the side edge portion of the sealing member, or along the two side ends of the light emitting portion as in Patent Document 1 above. In the case where the power supply unit is provided on the transparent substrate, it is necessary to secure an area necessary for connection of the power supply wiring (FPC, etc.), and a region where the emitted light cannot be extracted (non-light emitting area E (see FIG. 5)) is large. turn into.
In addition, when such organic EL elements are applied to a large luminaire or the like and light is emitted side by side on a plane, the non-light emitting area between the organic EL elements as a whole becomes conspicuous, and the non-light emitting area is large. There is a problem that the size of the luminaire itself must be increased in order to obtain the illumination brightness.
This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the manufacturing method of the organic electroluminescent panel which can make the non-light-emitting area in planar view small, and an organic electroluminescent panel.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an organic electroluminescence element in which at least a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode are formed in this order on a supporting substrate is provided on the second electrode. An organic electroluminescence panel sealed with a flat insulating sealing member through a conductive adhesive layer,
A part of the side end portion of the insulating adhesive layer is provided with a conductive member for the first electrode that covers the side end portion in close contact with and contacts the first electrode,
The side edge of the insulating adhesive layer is covered with a part of the side edge that is different from the conductive member side for the first electrode, and the side edge is covered, and the second electrode is covered. A conductive member for the second electrode to be contacted is provided;
The first electrode is supplied with power through the conductive member for the first electrode,
The second electrode is fed via a conductive member for the second electrode,
An organic electroluminescence panel is provided in which the conductive member can be electrically connected to a conductive member of another organic electroluminescence panel.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an organic electroluminescent element in which at least a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode are formed in this order on a support substrate is provided on the second electrode. An organic electroluminescence panel manufacturing method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence panel sealed with a flat insulating sealing member via an insulating adhesive layer,
A part of the side end portion of the insulating adhesive layer is provided with a conductive member for the first electrode that covers the side end portion in close contact with and contacts the first electrode,
The side edge of the insulating adhesive layer is covered with a part of the side edge that is different from the conductive member side for the first electrode, and the side edge is covered, and the second electrode is covered. Providing a conductive member for the second electrode in contact;
Power is supplied to the first electrode through the conductive member for the first electrode, Power is supplied to the second electrode through the conductive member for the second electrode,
Provided is a method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence panel, wherein the conductive member can be electrically connected to a conductive member of another organic electroluminescence panel.

  According to the present invention, the non-light emitting area in plan view can be reduced.

The top view of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention for showing 1st Embodiment. The top view of the organic EL element of this invention for showing 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing in the II line | wire of FIG. 1A. The figure for demonstrating the state which arrayed the some organic EL panel. The figure which showed the modification of the organic electroluminescent panel of FIG. 1C. The top view of the organic electroluminescent panel of this invention for showing 2nd Embodiment. The top view of the organic EL element of this invention for showing 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing in the II-II line | wire of FIG. 4A. Sectional drawing of an organic EL element for showing a prior art example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these.
[First Embodiment]
<< Organic EL panel >>
1A is a plan view of the organic EL panel of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the organic EL element, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 1A.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the organic EL panel 100 includes a first electrode (anode 2), an organic functional layer 3 including a light emitting layer, a second electrode (cathode 4), and a support substrate 1. An insulating adhesive layer 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as an adhesive layer) and an insulating sealing member 7 are provided in this order. In the present embodiment, the first electrode is described as the anode 2 and the second electrode is described as the cathode 4. In the following description, the side of the support substrate 1 on which the organic functional layer 3 is formed is the upper side, and the opposite side is the lower side. One direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is the left-right direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1C), and the direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the left-right direction is the front-rear direction (in FIG. 1C, the front side and the back side of the page). Direction).

The anode 2 is provided on the upper surface of the support substrate 1 so as to cover the support substrate 1 except for one side end portion (hereinafter referred to as a right end portion) of the support substrate 1. It extends to the side end (hereinafter referred to as the left end).
The organic functional layer 3 is provided so as to cover the anode 2 except for the left end portion of the anode 2 from a part of the exposed upper surface of the support substrate 1 that is not covered with the anode 2.
The cathode 4 is provided so as to cover the organic functional layer 3 except for the left end portion of the organic functional layer 3 from the exposed upper surface of the support substrate 1 that is not covered with the anode 2 and the organic functional layer 3. , Extending to the right end of the support substrate 1.
Such a support substrate 1, anode 2, organic functional layer 3, and cathode 4 have an adhesion sealing structure sealed with an adhesive layer 5, an insulating sealing member 7, and conductive members 13 and 14 described later. It has become.
In the present invention, the state in which the cathode 4 is sealed (covered) by the insulating sealing member 7 is called an organic EL panel 100, and the state in which the support substrate 1 to the cathode 4 are formed is an organic EL element. Say ten.

On the organic EL element 10 formed from the support substrate 1 to the cathode 4, an insulating sealing member 7 is provided via an adhesive layer 5.
The adhesive layer 5 is formed by applying an adhesive to the upper surfaces of the anode 2, the organic functional layer 3, and the cathode 4.
The adhesive forming the adhesive layer 5 is an insulating material, and for example, a thermosetting adhesive resin made of a thermoplastic resin, an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a silicone resin, or the like can be used. . More specifically, photo-curing and thermosetting adhesives having reactive vinyl groups such as acrylic acid oligomers and methacrylic acid oligomers, and moisture-curing adhesives such as 2-cyanoacrylates can be mentioned. . Moreover, heat | fever and chemical curing types (two-component mixing), such as an epoxy type, can be mentioned. Moreover, hot-melt type polyamide, polyester, and polyolefin can be mentioned. Moreover, a cationic curing type ultraviolet curing epoxy resin adhesive can be mentioned.

  In addition, since the organic EL element 10 may be deteriorated by heat treatment, an element that can be adhesively cured from room temperature to 80 ° C. is preferable. A desiccant may be dispersed in the adhesive. Application | coating of the adhesive agent to a sealing part may use commercially available dispenser, and may print it like screen printing.

The gap between the insulating sealing member 7 and the organic EL element 10 is filled with the adhesive layer 5, but in the gas phase and the liquid phase, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon, a fluorinated hydrocarbon, An inert liquid such as silicone oil may be injected. A vacuum can also be used. In the case of such a hollow structure, an insulating adhesive layer is locally provided at least between the insulating sealing member 7 and the organic EL element 10 so that a predetermined interval can be maintained.
In addition, a hygroscopic compound can be sealed in the gap between the insulating sealing member 7 and the organic EL element 10.

  Examples of the hygroscopic compound include metal oxides (for example, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide) and sulfates (for example, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, cobalt sulfate). Etc.), metal halides (eg calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, cesium fluoride, tantalum fluoride, cerium bromide, magnesium bromide, barium iodide, magnesium iodide etc.), perchloric acids (eg perchloric acid) Barium, magnesium perchlorate, and the like), and anhydrous salts are preferably used in sulfates, metal halides, and perchloric acids.

An insulating sealing member 7 is provided on the adhesive layer 5 and covers the organic EL element 10. As the insulating sealing member 7, for example, glass, a barrier film, an aluminum foil laminated film, or the like is preferably used.
The insulating sealing member 7 is formed to be slightly smaller than the support substrate 1 in plan view for end sealing by the conductive members 13 and 14. Specifically, the left and right widths of the insulating sealing member 7 are smaller than the left and right widths of the support substrate 1, and the front and rear lengths are substantially equal to the front and rear lengths of the support substrate 1. Therefore, when the insulating sealing member 7 is viewed in plan, a part of the anode 2 and the cathode 4 is exposed from the left and right side edges of the insulating sealing member 7.

An anode so as to cover the left end of the adhesive layer 5 from the anode 2 exposed from the edge of the insulating sealing member 7 (the left end of the anode 2) to the left end of the insulating sealing member 7. A conductive member 13 is formed.
The cathode is covered from the edge of the insulating sealing member 7 on the cathode 4 (right end of the cathode 4) to the right end of the insulating sealing member 7 so as to cover the right end of the adhesive layer 5. An electrically conductive member 14 is formed.

As the conductive members 13 and 14, metals such as solder, metal paste, metal powder, and electroless nickel plating can be suitably used. These metals have good sealing properties.
Examples of a method for forming the conductive members 13 and 14 include a method of forming the conductive members 13 and 14 by applying the conductive members 13 and 14 to predetermined locations using screen printing or a dispenser, or the conductive member 13 using a spot laser. , 14 are heated and melted to form conductive members 13, 14 on the electrodes 2, 4 and the insulating sealing member 7.
The metal paste is preferably a binder resin containing aluminum. The formation width of the conductive members 13 and 14 including the portion that spans the end of the insulating sealing member 7 is, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 1 mm or less.

Thus, the end portion of the organic EL panel 100 is sealed by the conductive member 13 for anode and the conductive member 14 for cathode in addition to the adhesive layer 5, and the sealing function can be enhanced.
The anode conductive member 13 is a power supply unit for supplying power to the anode 2 from an external power source, and the cathode conductive member 14 is a power supply unit for supplying power to the cathode 4 from an external power source. Has been. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, when arranging a plurality of organic EL panels 100 in an array, wiring can be easily performed by just abutting the conductive members 13 and 14 of each organic EL panel 100. Can do.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the extraction electrode 11 for anodes and the extraction electrode 12 for cathodes are each formed in the upper surface of the insulating sealing member 7, and the extraction electrode 11 for anodes and electroconductivity for anodes are formed separately. The conductive member 13, the cathode extraction electrode 12 and the cathode conductive member 14 may be electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, each extraction electrode 11, 12 can be formed large on the insulating sealing member 7, so that wiring work on the back side of the organic EL panel 100 can be easily performed.
The extraction electrode 11 for the anode and the extraction electrode 12 for the cathode can be provided, for example, by attaching a tape made of copper or tin plating to a predetermined portion of the insulating sealing member 7.

  The organic functional layer 4 can be configured as long as it includes at least a light emitting layer, and includes, for example, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and a cathode buffer layer (electron injection layer) described later in addition to the light emitting layer. And by sending an electric current through such an organic functional layer 4 (light emitting layer), the light emitting material in a light emitting layer light-emits.

<< Method for Manufacturing Organic EL Panel >>
Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing the organic EL panel 100 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 1C, an adhesive is applied to the exposed upper surfaces of the anode 2, the organic functional layer 3, and the cathode 4 of the organic EL element 10, and an insulating seal is formed against the adhesive layer 5 made of the applied adhesive. A stop member 7 is provided.
Thereafter, the left end portion of the adhesive layer 5 is covered from the anode 2 (the left end portion of the anode 2) extending outside the insulating sealing member 7 to the left end portion of the insulating sealing member 7. In this way, the anode conductive member 13 is formed. Further, the right end portion of the adhesive layer 5 is covered from the cathode 4 (the right end portion of the cathode 4) extending outward from the insulating sealing member 7 to the right end portion of the insulating sealing member 7. Thus, the negative electrode conductive member 14 is formed.
The organic EL panel 100 is manufactured as described above.

If necessary, as shown in FIG. 3, extraction electrodes 11 and 12 for the anode 2 and the cathode 4 may be formed on the upper surface of the insulating sealing member 7.
The adhesive layer 5 is formed by coating the exposed upper surfaces of the anode 2, the organic functional layer 3, and the cathode 4, and then the insulating sealing member 7 is provided on the adhesive layer 5. Then, an adhesive is applied to the insulating sealing member 7 side to form an adhesive layer 5, and this adhesive layer 5 is disposed on the exposed upper surfaces of the anode 2, the organic functional layer 3, and the cathode 4 to seal the sealing substrate 7. May be provided.
Furthermore, these sealings may be performed in any environment as long as moisture and oxygen can be prevented from entering from the external environment of the organic EL element 10, for example, in a vacuum (low pressure) environment, nitrogen, or the like. An atmospheric pressure environment substituted with an inert gas may be used.

As described above, the anode conductive member 13 that covers the left end portion and contacts the anode 2 at the left end portion of the insulating adhesive layer 5, and the right end portion at the right end portion of the insulating adhesive layer 5. A cathode conductive member 14 that covers and contacts the cathode 4, and is fed to the anode 2 through the anode conductive member 13, and fed to the cathode 4 through the cathode conductive member 14. Therefore, the anode and cathode conductive members 13 and 14 serve as both end sealing and power feeding functions. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately form the extraction electrodes 11 and 12 for supplying power on the support substrate 1, and the non-light emitting area in plan view can be reduced. Further, the number of members can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
Further, since the end portion of the insulating adhesive layer 5 is covered with the conductive members 13 and 14 and the end portion is sealed, the sealing function can be further enhanced. As a result, intrusion of moisture and oxygen can be suppressed, and the lifetime of the organic EL element 10 is improved.
In addition, since the conductive members 13 and 14 have a power feeding function, when the plurality of organic EL panels 100 are arranged side by side, the conductive members 13 and 14 are merely brought into contact with each other without wiring depending on the configuration. Can be connected with, and it is easy to make an array.

<< Organic EL element >>
Hereinafter, although the preferable specific example of the layer structure of the said organic EL element is shown, this invention is not limited to this.
(I) Anode / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode (ii) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / cathode (iii) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron Transport layer / cathode (iv) anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode (v) anode / anode buffer layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole Blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode Here, the light emitting layer preferably contains at least two kinds of light emitting materials having different emission colors, and a single layer or a light emitting layer comprising a plurality of light emitting layers A unit may be formed. The hole transport layer also includes a hole injection layer and an electron blocking layer. In the present invention, the layer excluding the anode and the cathode is referred to as an organic functional layer.

<Light emitting layer>
The light-emitting layer is a layer that emits light by recombination of electrons and holes injected from the electrode, the electron transport layer, or the hole transport layer, and the light-emitting portion is the light-emitting layer even in the light-emitting layer. It may be an interface with an adjacent layer.

  The light emitting layer according to the present invention is not particularly limited in its configuration as long as the contained light emitting material satisfies the above requirements.

  Moreover, there may be a plurality of layers having the same emission spectrum and emission maximum wavelength.

  It is preferable to have a non-light emitting intermediate layer between each light emitting layer.

  In the present invention, the total thickness of the light emitting layers is preferably in the range of 1 nm to 100 nm, and more preferably 30 nm or less because a lower driving voltage can be obtained. In addition, the sum total of the film thickness of the light emitting layer said by this invention is a film thickness also including this intermediate | middle layer, when a nonluminous intermediate | middle layer exists between light emitting layers.

  The thickness of each light emitting layer is preferably adjusted to a range of 1 nm to 50 nm, more preferably adjusted to a range of 1 nm to 20 nm. There is no particular limitation on the relationship between the film thicknesses of the blue, green and red light emitting layers.

  For the production of the light emitting layer, a light emitting material or a host compound, which will be described later, is formed by forming a film by a known thinning method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, an LB method, an ink jet method, or the like. it can.

  In the present invention, a plurality of light emitting materials may be mixed in each light emitting layer, and a phosphorescent light emitting material and a fluorescent light emitting material may be mixed and used in the same light emitting layer.

  In the present invention, the structure of the light-emitting layer preferably contains a host compound and a light-emitting material (also referred to as a light-emitting dopant compound) and emits light from the light-emitting material.

  In the present invention, the host compound contained in the light emitting layer of the organic EL device is preferably a compound having a phosphorescence quantum yield of phosphorescence emission at room temperature (25 ° C.) of less than 0.1. More preferably, the phosphorescence quantum yield is less than 0.01. Moreover, it is preferable that the volume ratio in the layer is 50% or more among the compounds contained in a light emitting layer.

  As the host compound, known host compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more. By using a plurality of types of host compounds, it is possible to adjust the movement of charges, and the organic EL element can be made highly efficient. Moreover, it becomes possible to mix different light emission by using multiple types of luminescent material mentioned later, and can thereby obtain arbitrary luminescent colors.

  The host compound used in the present invention may be a conventionally known low molecular compound or a high molecular compound having a repeating unit, and a low molecular compound having a polymerizable group such as a vinyl group or an epoxy group (evaporation polymerizable light emitting host). )But it is good.

  As the known host compound, a compound that has a hole transporting ability and an electron transporting ability, prevents the emission of light from being increased in wavelength, and has a high Tg (glass transition temperature) is preferable. Here, the glass transition point (Tg) is a value obtained by a method based on JIS-K-7121 using DSC (Differential Scanning Colorimetry).

  Specific examples of known host compounds include compounds described in the following documents. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2001-257076, 2002-308855, 2001-313179, 2002-319491, 2001-357777, 2002-334786, 2002-8860 Gazette, 2002-334787 gazette, 2002-15871 gazette, 2002-334788 gazette, 2002-43056 gazette, 2002-334789 gazette, 2002-75645 gazette, 2002-338579 gazette. No. 2002-105445, No. 2002-343568, No. 2002-141173, No. 2002-352957, No. 2002-203683, No. 2002-363227, No. 2002-231453. No. 2003-3165, No. 2002-234888, No. 2003-27048, No. 2002-255934, No. 2002-286061, No. 2002-280183, No. 2002-299060. 2002-302516, 2002-305083, 2002-305084, 2002-308837, and the like.

Next, the light emitting material will be described.
As the light-emitting material according to the present invention, a fluorescent compound or a phosphorescent material (also referred to as a phosphorescent compound or a phosphorescent compound) is used.

  In the present invention, a phosphorescent material is a compound in which light emission from an excited triplet is observed. Specifically, it is a compound that emits phosphorescence at room temperature (25 ° C.), and the phosphorescence quantum yield is 0 at 25 ° C. A preferred phosphorescence quantum yield is 0.1 or more, although it is defined as 0.01 or more compounds.

  The phosphorescent quantum yield can be measured by the method described in Spectroscopic II, page 398 (1992 edition, Maruzen) of Experimental Chemistry Course 4 of the 4th edition. The phosphorescence quantum yield in a solution can be measured using various solvents. However, when a phosphorescent material is used in the present invention, the phosphorescence quantum yield (0.01 or more) is achieved in any solvent. Just do it.

  There are two types of light emission of the phosphorescent material. In principle, the carrier recombination occurs on the host compound to which the carrier is transported to generate an excited state of the host compound, and this energy is transferred to the phosphorescent material. Energy transfer type to obtain light emission from the phosphorescent light emitting material, and another one is that the phosphorescent light emitting material becomes a carrier trap, and recombination of carriers occurs on the phosphorescent light emitting material, and light emission from the phosphorescent light emitting material is obtained. Although it is a trap type, in any case, the excited state energy of the phosphorescent material is required to be lower than the excited state energy of the host compound.

  The phosphorescent light-emitting material can be appropriately selected from known materials used for the light-emitting layer of the organic EL element, and is preferably a complex compound containing a group 8-10 metal in the periodic table of elements. More preferably, an iridium compound, an osmium compound, a platinum compound (platinum complex compound), or a rare earth complex, and most preferably an iridium compound.

  Specific examples of the compound used as the phosphorescent material are shown below, but the present invention is not limited to these. These compounds are described, for example, in Inorg. Chem. 40, 1704-1711, etc.

  A fluorescent substance can also be used for the organic EL element according to the present invention. Typical examples of fluorescent emitters (fluorescent dopants) include coumarin dyes, pyran dyes, cyanine dyes, croconium dyes, squalium dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, fluorescein dyes, rhodamine dyes, and pyrylium dyes. Examples thereof include dyes, perylene dyes, stilbene dyes, polythiophene dyes, and rare earth complex phosphors.

  Conventionally known dopants can also be used in the present invention. For example, International Publication No. 00/70655 pamphlet, JP-A Nos. 2002-280178, 2001-181616, 2002-280179, 2001 181617, 2002-280180, 2001-247859, 2002-299060, 2001-313178, 2002-302671, 2001-345183, 2002. No. 324679, International Publication No. 02/15645, JP 2002-332291 A, 2002-50484, 2002-332292, 2002-83684, JP 2002-540572, JP 2 No. 02-117978, No. 2002-338588, No. 2002-170684, No. 2002-352960, Pamphlet of International Publication No. 01/93642, JP 2002-50483, No. 2002-1000047. No. 2002-173684, No. 2002-359082, No. 2002-17584, No. 2002-363552, No. 2002-184582, No. 2003-7469, No. 2002-525808. JP-A 2003-7471, JP-T 2002-525833, JP-A 2003-31366, JP-A 2002-226495, JP-A 2002-234894, JP-A 2002-2335076, JP-A 2002-24175 Gazette, 2001-319779, 2001-319780, 2002-62824, 2002-1000047, 2002-203679, 2002-343572, 2002-203678. A gazette etc. are mentioned.

  In the present invention, at least one light emitting layer may contain two or more kinds of light emitting materials, and the concentration ratio of the light emitting materials in the light emitting layer may vary in the thickness direction of the light emitting layer.

《Middle layer》
In the present invention, a case where a non-light emitting intermediate layer (also referred to as an undoped region) is provided between the light emitting layers will be described.

  The non-light emitting intermediate layer is a layer provided between the light emitting layers in the case of having a plurality of light emitting layers.

  The film thickness of the non-light emitting intermediate layer is preferably in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, and further in the range of 3 nm to 10 nm suppresses interaction such as energy transfer between adjacent light emitting layers, and the device This is preferable because a large load is not applied to the current-voltage characteristics.

  The material used for the non-light emitting intermediate layer may be the same as or different from the host compound of the light emitting layer, but may be the same as the host material of at least one of the adjacent light emitting layers. preferable.

  The non-light-emitting intermediate layer may contain a non-light-emitting layer, a compound common to each light-emitting layer (for example, a host compound), and each common host material (where a common host material is used) In the case where the physicochemical characteristics such as phosphorescence emission energy and glass transition point are the same, or the molecular structure of the host compound is the same, etc.) The barrier is reduced, and the effect of easily maintaining the injection balance of holes and electrons even when the voltage (current) is changed can be obtained. Furthermore, by using a host material having the same physical characteristics or the same molecular structure as that of the host compound contained in each light emitting layer in the undoped light emitting layer, device fabrication, which is a major problem in conventional organic EL device fabrication, is achieved. Complexity can also be eliminated.

  When the organic EL device is used in the present invention, since the host material is responsible for carrier transport, a material having carrier transport capability is preferable. Carrier mobility is used as a physical property representing carrier transport ability, but the carrier mobility of an organic material generally depends on the electric field strength. Since a material having a high electric field strength dependency easily breaks the balance between injection and transport of holes and electrons, it is preferable to use a material having a low electric field strength dependency of mobility for the intermediate layer material and the host material.

  On the other hand, in order to optimally adjust the injection balance of holes and electrons, it is also preferable that the non-light emitting intermediate layer functions as a blocking layer described later, that is, a hole blocking layer and an electron blocking layer. It is done.

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

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

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

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

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

  The hole blocking layer has a function of an electron transport layer in a broad sense, and is made of a hole blocking material that has a function of transporting electrons and has a remarkably small ability to transport holes. The probability of recombination of electrons and holes can be improved by blocking. Moreover, the structure of the electron carrying layer mentioned later can be used as a hole-blocking layer concerning this invention as needed. The hole blocking layer is preferably provided adjacent to the light emitting layer.

  On the other hand, the electron blocking layer has a function of a hole transport layer in a broad sense, and is made of a material that has a function of transporting holes and has an extremely small ability to transport electrons, and transports electrons while transporting holes. By blocking, the recombination probability of electrons and holes can be improved. Moreover, the structure of the positive hole transport layer mentioned later can be used as an electron blocking layer as needed. The film thickness of the hole blocking layer and the electron transport layer according to the present invention is preferably 3 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and more preferably 5 nm or more and 30 nm or less.

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

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

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

  Representative examples of aromatic tertiary amine compounds and styrylamine compounds include N, N, N ', N'-tetraphenyl-4,4'-diaminophenyl; N, N'-diphenyl-N, N'- Bis (3-methylphenyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl] -4,4′-diamine (TPD); 2,2-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) propane; 1,1-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) cyclohexane; N, N, N ′, N′-tetra-p-tolyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl; 1,1-bis (4-di-p-tolyl) Aminophenyl) -4-phenylcyclohexane; bis (4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl) phenylmethane; bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) phenylmethane; N, N'-diphenyl-N, N ' − (4-methoxyphenyl) -4,4'-diaminobiphenyl; N, N, N ', N'-tetraphenyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether; 4,4'-bis (diphenylamino) quadriphenyl; N, N, N-tri (p-tolyl) amine; 4- (di-p-tolylamino) -4 '-[4- (di-p-tolylamino) styryl] stilbene; 4-N, N-diphenylamino- (2-diphenylvinyl) benzene; 3-methoxy-4'-N, N-diphenylaminostilbenzene; N-phenylcarbazole, as well as two of those described in US Pat. No. 5,061,569 Having a condensed aromatic ring in the molecule, for example, 4,4'-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl (NPD), JP-A-4-308 4,4 ', 4 "-tris [N- (3-methylphenyl) -N-phenylamino] triphenylamine in which three triphenylamine units described in Japanese Patent No. 88 are linked in a starburst type ( MTDATA) and the like.

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

  JP-A-11-251067, J. Org. Huang et. al. A so-called p-type hole transport material described in a book (Applied Physics Letters, 80 (2002), p. 139) can also be used. In the present invention, it is preferable to use these materials because a light-emitting element with higher efficiency can be obtained.

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

  Alternatively, a hole transport layer having a high p property doped with impurities can be used. Examples thereof include JP-A-4-297076, JP-A-2000-196140, 2001-102175, J.A. Appl. Phys. 95, 5773 (2004), and the like.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use a hole transport layer having such a high p property because a device with lower power consumption can be produced.

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

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

In addition, metal complexes of 8-quinolinol derivatives such as tris (8-quinolinol) aluminum (Alq ₃ ), tris (5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5,7-dibromo-8-quinolinol) Aluminum, tris (2-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, bis (8-quinolinol) zinc (Znq), etc., and the central metals of these metal complexes are In, Mg Metal complexes replaced with Cu, Ca, Sn, Ga, or Pb can also be used as electron transport materials. In addition, metal-free or metal phthalocyanine, or those having terminal ends substituted with an alkyl group or a sulfonic acid group can be preferably used as the electron transporting material. Further, the distyrylpyrazine derivatives exemplified as the material of the light emitting layer can also be used as the electron transport material, and inorganic semiconductors such as n-type-Si and n-type-SiC can be used as well as the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer. It can be used as an electron transport material.

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

  Further, an electron transport layer having a high n property doped with impurities can also be used. Examples thereof include JP-A-4-297076, JP-A-10-270172, JP-A-2000-196140, 2001-102175, J.A. Appl. Phys. 95, 5773 (2004), and the like.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use an electron transport layer having such a high n property because an element with lower power consumption can be manufactured.

《Support substrate》
The support substrate (hereinafter also referred to as a substrate, substrate, substrate, support, etc.) is not particularly limited in the type of glass, plastic and the like, and may be transparent or opaque. When extracting light from the support substrate side, the support substrate is preferably transparent. Examples of the transparent support substrate preferably used include glass, quartz, and a transparent resin film. A particularly preferable support substrate is a resin film capable of giving flexibility to the organic EL element.

  Examples of the resin film include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene, polypropylene, cellophane, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), Cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate phthalate and cellulose nitrate or derivatives thereof, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene vinyl alcohol, syndiotactic polystyrene, polycarbonate, norbornene resin, polymethylpentene, polyether ketone, polyimide, polyether Sulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfones, polyether Examples include cycloolefin resins such as luimide, polyether ketone imide, polyamide, fluororesin, nylon, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylic or polyarylate, Arton (trade name, manufactured by JSR) or Apel (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals). It is done.

On the surface of the resin film, an inorganic film, an organic film, or a hybrid film of both may be formed. Water vapor permeability (40 ° C., 90%) measured by a method in accordance with JIS-K-7129-1992. (RH) is preferably a barrier film having a viscosity of 0.01 g / (m ² · day · atm) or less, and further, oxygen permeability (20 ° C., measured by a method according to JIS-K-7126-1992). 100% RH) is preferably a high-barrier film having 10 ⁻³ g / (m ² · day) or less and a water vapor permeability of 10 ⁻³ g / (m ² · day) or less. The oxygen permeability is more preferably 10 ⁻⁵ g / (m ² · day) or less.

  As a material for forming the barrier film, any material may be used as long as it has a function of suppressing entry of elements that cause deterioration of elements such as moisture and oxygen. For example, silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or the like can be used. Further, in order to improve the brittleness of the film, it is more preferable to have a laminated structure of these inorganic layers and organic material layers. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the lamination | stacking order of an inorganic layer and an organic layer, It is preferable to laminate | stack both alternately several times.

<Method for forming barrier film>
The method for forming the barrier film is not particularly limited. For example, the vacuum deposition method, sputtering method, reactive sputtering method, molecular beam epitaxy method, cluster ion beam method, ion plating method, plasma polymerization method, atmospheric pressure plasma weight A combination method, a plasma CVD method, a laser CVD method, a thermal CVD method, a coating method, and the like can be used, but an atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization method as described in JP-A-2004-68143 is particularly preferable.

  Examples of the opaque support substrate include metal plates / films such as aluminum and stainless steel, opaque resin substrates, ceramic substrates, and the like.

"anode"
As the anode in the organic EL element, an electrode material made of a metal, an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, or a mixture thereof having a high work function (4 eV or more) is preferably used. Specific examples of such electrode substances include metals such as Au, and conductive light-transmitting materials such as CuI, indium tin oxide (ITO), SnO ₂ , and ZnO. Alternatively, a material such as IDIXO (In ₂ O ₃ —ZnO) that can form an amorphous light-transmitting conductive film may be used. For the anode, these electrode materials may be formed into a thin film by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering, and a pattern having a desired shape may be formed by a photolithography method. ), A pattern may be formed through a mask having a desired shape when the electrode material is deposited or sputtered. Or when using the substance which can be apply | coated like an organic electroconductivity compound, wet film forming methods, such as a printing system and a coating system, can also be used. The sheet resistance as the anode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less. Further, although the film thickness depends on the material, it is usually selected in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm, preferably 10 nm to 200 nm.

"cathode"
On the other hand, as the cathode, a material having a low work function (4 eV or less) metal (referred to as an electron injecting metal), an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, and a mixture thereof as an electrode material is used. Specific examples of such electrode materials include sodium, sodium-potassium alloy, magnesium, lithium, magnesium / copper mixture, magnesium / silver mixture, magnesium / aluminum mixture, magnesium / indium mixture, aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) Mixtures, indium, lithium / aluminum mixtures, rare earth metals and the like.

Among these, from the point of durability against electron injection and oxidation, etc., a mixture of an electron injecting metal and a second metal which is a stable metal having a larger work function than this, for example, a magnesium / silver mixture, Magnesium / aluminum mixtures, magnesium / indium mixtures, aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) mixtures, lithium / aluminum mixtures, aluminum and the like are preferred. The cathode can be produced by forming a thin film of these electrode materials by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering. The sheet resistance as the cathode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less, and the film thickness is usually selected in the range of 10 nm to 5 μm, preferably 50 nm to 200 nm.

  In order to transmit the emitted light, either the anode or the cathode of the organic EL element is configured to be light transmissive.

  In the organic EL panel 100 described above, the anode 2 is disposed on the support substrate 1 and the cathode 4 is disposed with the organic functional layer 3 interposed therebetween. However, the first electrode is the cathode 4 and the second electrode is the anode 2. The arrangement of the anode 2 and the cathode 4 may be reversed.

<< Method for Manufacturing Organic EL Element >>
As an example of a method for producing an organic EL element, a method for producing an organic EL element comprising an anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode will be described.

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

As a method for thinning the organic compound thin film, there are a vapor deposition method and a wet process (spin coating method, casting method, ink jet method, printing method) as described above, but it is easy to obtain a uniform film and a pinhole. From the point of being difficult to form, a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, an ink jet method, and a printing method are particularly preferable. Further, a different film forming method may be applied for each layer. When a vapor deposition method is employed for film formation, the vapor deposition conditions vary depending on the type of compound used, but generally a boat heating temperature of 50 to 450 ° C., a vacuum degree of 10 ^{−6 to} 10 ⁻² Pa and a vapor deposition rate of 0. It is desirable to select appropriately within the range of 01 nm / second to 50 nm / second, substrate temperature −50 ° C. to 300 ° C., film thickness 0.1 nm to 5 μm, preferably 5 nm to 200 nm.

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

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

  An organic EL element emits light within a layer having a refractive index higher than that of air (refractive index: 1.6 to 2.1), and only 15% to 20% of light generated in the light emitting layer can be extracted. It is generally said that there is no. This is because light incident on the interface (interface between the transparent substrate and air) at an angle θ greater than the critical angle causes total reflection and cannot be extracted outside the device, or between the transparent electrode or light emitting layer and the transparent substrate. This is because the light is totally reflected between the light and the light is guided through the transparent electrode or the light emitting layer, and as a result, the light escapes in the direction of the element side surface.

  As a method for improving the light extraction efficiency, for example, a method of forming irregularities on the surface of the transparent substrate to prevent total reflection at the interface between the transparent substrate and the air (for example, US Pat. No. 4,774,435). ), A method of improving the efficiency by giving the substrate a light condensing property (for example, JP-A-63-314795), a method of forming a reflective surface on the side surface of the element (for example, JP-A-1-220394) Gazette), a method of forming an antireflection film by introducing a flat layer having an intermediate refractive index between the substrate and the light emitter (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-172691), and a substrate between the substrate and the light emitter. A method of introducing a flat layer having a lower refractive index than that (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-202827), a diffraction grating between any one of the substrate, the transparent electrode layer and the light emitting layer (including between the substrate and the outside). Method of forming There is 1-283751 JP), and the like.

  In the present invention, these methods can be used in combination, but either a method of introducing a flat layer having a lower refractive index than the substrate between the substrate and the light emitter, or any of the substrate, the transparent electrode layer, and the light emitting layer. A method of forming a diffraction grating between the layers (including between the substrate and the outside) can be suitably used. In the present invention, by combining these means, it is possible to obtain an element having higher luminance or durability.

  When a medium having a low refractive index is formed between the transparent electrode and the transparent substrate with a thickness longer than the wavelength of light, the light extracted from the transparent electrode has a higher extraction efficiency to the outside as the refractive index of the medium is lower.

  Examples of the low refractive index layer include aerogel, porous silica, magnesium fluoride, and a fluorine-based polymer. Since the refractive index of the transparent substrate is generally about 1.5 or more and 1.7 or less, the low refractive index layer preferably has a refractive index of about 1.5 or less. Furthermore, it is preferable that it is 1.35 or less.

  The thickness of the low refractive index medium is preferably at least twice the wavelength in the medium. This is because the effect of the low-refractive index layer is reduced when the thickness of the low-refractive index medium is about the wavelength of light and the electromagnetic wave exuded by evanescent enters the substrate.

  The method of introducing a diffraction grating into an interface or any medium that causes total reflection is characterized by a high effect of improving light extraction efficiency. This method uses the property that the diffraction grating can change the direction of light to a specific direction different from refraction by so-called Bragg diffraction, such as first-order diffraction and second-order diffraction. Among them, light that cannot be emitted due to total reflection between layers, etc. is diffracted by introducing a diffraction grating into any layer or medium (in a transparent substrate or transparent electrode), and the light is emitted outside. I want to take it out.

  It is desirable that the diffraction grating to be introduced has a two-dimensional periodic refractive index. This is because light emitted from the light-emitting layer is randomly generated in all directions, so in a general one-dimensional diffraction grating having a periodic refractive index distribution only in a certain direction, only light traveling in a specific direction is diffracted. The light extraction efficiency does not increase so much. However, by making the refractive index distribution a two-dimensional distribution, light traveling in all directions is diffracted, and light extraction efficiency is increased.

  The position where the diffraction grating is introduced may be in any one of the layers or in the medium (in the transparent substrate or the transparent electrode) as described above, but is preferably in the vicinity of the organic light emitting layer where light is generated.

  At this time, the period of the diffraction grating is preferably about 1/2 to 3 times the wavelength of light in the medium. The arrangement of the diffraction grating is preferably two-dimensionally repeated such as a square lattice, a triangular lattice, or a honeycomb lattice.

  The organic EL element of the present invention is processed on the light extraction side of the support substrate, for example, so as to provide a structure on a microlens array, or combined with a so-called condensing sheet, for example, in a specific direction, for example, the element light emitting surface. On the other hand, the brightness | luminance in a specific direction can be raised by condensing in a front direction.

  As an example of the microlens array, quadrangular pyramids having a side of 30 μm and an apex angle of 90 degrees are two-dimensionally arranged on the light extraction side of the substrate. One side is preferably 10 to 100 μm. If it becomes smaller than this, the effect of diffraction will generate | occur | produce and color, and if too large, thickness will become thick and is not preferable.

  As the condensing sheet, for example, a sheet that is put into practical use in an LED backlight of a liquid crystal display device can be used. As such a sheet, for example, a brightness enhancement film (BEF) manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited can be used. As the shape of the prism sheet, for example, the base material may be formed by forming a △ -shaped stripe having a vertex angle of 90 degrees and a pitch of 50 μm, or the vertex angle is rounded and the pitch is changed randomly. Other shapes may be used.

  Moreover, in order to control the light emission angle from an organic EL element, you may use a light-diffusion plate and a film together with a condensing sheet. For example, a diffusion film (light-up) manufactured by Kimoto Co., Ltd. can be used.

[Second Embodiment]
In the organic EL panel 100 of the first embodiment, the conductive members 13 and 14 are arranged on the two sides parallel to each other among the four side edges of the organic EL element 10 (support substrate 1) having a rectangular shape in plan view. Although it provided along the edge part (right edge part, left edge part), like the organic EL panel 100A described below, along the four side edge parts of the organic EL element 10A (support substrate 1A). It is good also as the provided structure.
4A is a plan view of the organic EL panel of the present invention, FIG. 4B is a plan view of the organic EL element, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 4A.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the organic EL panel 100A includes an anode 2A, an organic functional layer 3A including a light emitting layer, a cathode 4A, an insulating adhesive layer 5A, and an insulating sealing layer on a support substrate 1A. The stop member 7A is laminated in this order.
Note that the sizes of the anode 2A, the organic functional layer 3A, and the cathode 4A in plan view are smaller than the sizes of the anode 2, the organic functional layer 3, and the cathode 4 of the first embodiment in plan view.
That is, the anode 2A is provided on the upper surface of the support substrate 1A so as to cover the support substrate 1A except for the right end portion and the rear end portion of the support substrate 1A in plan view.
The organic functional layer 3A is provided so as to cover the anode 2A except for the left end portion and the front end portion of the anode 2A from a part of the exposed upper surface of the support substrate 1A that is not covered with the anode 2A. It is arranged at the center on the support substrate 1A in plan view.
The cathode 4A includes a left end portion of the organic functional layer 3A and a part of the exposed upper surface (the right end portion and the rear end portion) that are not covered with the anode 2A and the organic functional layer 3A. It is provided so as to cover the organic functional layer 3A except for the front end.
Accordingly, the upper left and lower right corners of the four corners on the upper surface of the support substrate 1A in plan view are exposed without being covered by any of the anode 2A, the organic functional layer 3A, and the cathode 4A. Further, the anode 2A and the cathode 4A have a layer structure that does not contact each other.

An insulating sealing member 7A is provided on the organic EL element 10A formed from the support substrate 1A to the cathode 4A via an insulating adhesive layer 5A.
The insulating sealing member 7A is different in size in plan view from the insulating sealing member 7 of the first embodiment, and the left and right widths and the front and rear lengths of the insulating sealing member 7A are the support substrate 1A. It is smaller than the left and right widths and the front and rear lengths. Therefore, when the insulating sealing member 7A is viewed in plan, a part of the anode 2A and the cathode 4A is exposed from the left and right side edges and the front and rear side edges of the insulating sealing member 7A.

The conductive member 13A for anode is provided on the anode 2 exposed from the side edges (left and right side edges and front and rear side edges) of the four sides of the insulating sealing member 7A, and the four sides of the insulating sealing member 7A. The cathode conductive member 14A is provided on the cathode 4A exposed from the edge portions (left and right side edge portions and front and rear side edge portions). As described above, the anode conductive member 13A and the cathode conductive member 14A are the side edges of the four sides of the organic EL element 10A except for the exposed upper left and lower right corners of the upper surface of the support substrate 1A. Are provided in an L shape in plan view.
Further, on the exposed upper left and lower right corners of the upper surface of the support substrate 1A, the conductive members 13A and 14A are disposed between the end of the anode conductive member 13A and the end of the cathode conductive member 14A. Insulating material 15A is provided so that they do not contact each other.
As the insulating material 15A, the same material as that of the above-described insulating adhesive layer 5A can be used.

As described above, since the anode and cathode conductive members 13A and 14A serve both as end sealing and a power feeding function, it is not necessary to separately form a takeout electrode for power feeding on the support substrate 1A. The non-light emitting area in plan view can be reduced. Further, the number of members can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, by providing the conductive members 13A and 14A along the side edges of the four sides of the organic EL element 10A (support substrate 1A), the sealing function at the side edges of the four sides can be improved. In addition, since the conductive members 13A and 14A have a power feeding function, when the plurality of organic EL panels 100A are arranged in an array, the conductive members 13A and 14A can be connected simply by abutting each other and can be easily arrayed. .

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can change suitably.
For example, in the second embodiment, the conductive members 13A and 14A are provided along the side edges of the four sides of the organic EL element 10A (support substrate 1A), and between the ends of the conductive members 13A and 14A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the anode conductive member 13A is provided along the left end portion of the organic EL element 10A, and the cathode conductive member 14A is provided on the right end of the organic EL element 10A. The insulating material 15A may be provided in a straight line in plan view along the front end and the rear end of the organic EL element 10A.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized suitably for the manufacturing method of the organic electroluminescent panel which can make the non-light-emitting area in planar view small, and an organic electroluminescent panel.

1, 1A, 21 Support substrate 2, 2A, 22 Anode 3, 3A, 23 Organic functional layer 4, 4A, 24 Cathode 5, 5A Insulating adhesive layer 7, 7A Insulating sealing member 10, 10A, 20 Organic EL element 11 Extraction electrode for anode 12 Extraction electrode for cathode 13, 13A Conductive member for anode 14, 14A Conductive member for cathode 25 Adhesive layer 27 Sealing member 28 Feeding portion for anode 29 Feeding portion for cathode 100, 100A Organic EL panel

Claims (4)

An organic electroluminescence element in which at least a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode are formed in this order on a support substrate is formed in a flat plate shape through an insulating adhesive layer provided on the second electrode. An organic electroluminescence panel sealed with an insulating sealing member of
A part of the side end portion of the insulating adhesive layer is provided with a conductive member for the first electrode that covers the side end portion in close contact with and contacts the first electrode,
The side edge of the insulating adhesive layer is covered with a part of the side edge that is different from the conductive member side for the first electrode, and the side edge is covered, and the second electrode is covered. A conductive member for the second electrode to be contacted is provided;
The first electrode is supplied with power through the conductive member for the first electrode,
The second electrode is fed via a conductive member for the second electrode,
The organic electroluminescence panel, wherein the conductive member can be electrically connected to a conductive member of another organic electroluminescence panel.   The organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is a metal. On the insulating sealing member, an extraction electrode for the first electrode and an extraction electrode for the second electrode are respectively formed.
The extraction electrode for the first electrode and the conductive member for the first electrode are electrically connected,
The organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extraction electrode for the second electrode and the conductive member for the second electrode are electrically connected. An organic electroluminescence element in which at least a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode are formed in this order on a support substrate is formed in a flat plate shape through an insulating adhesive layer provided on the second electrode. An organic electroluminescence panel manufacturing method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence panel sealed with an insulating sealing member of
A part of the side end portion of the insulating adhesive layer is provided with a conductive member for the first electrode that covers the side end portion in close contact with and contacts the first electrode,
The side edge of the insulating adhesive layer is covered with a part of the side edge that is different from the conductive member side for the first electrode, and the side edge is covered, and the second electrode is covered. Providing a conductive member for the second electrode in contact;
Power is supplied to the first electrode through the conductive member for the first electrode, Power is supplied to the second electrode through the conductive member for the second electrode,
The method for producing an organic electroluminescence panel, wherein the conductive member can be electrically connected to a conductive member of another organic electroluminescence panel.

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