WO2009107226A1

WO2009107226A1 - Cylindrical organic el illuminator

Info

Publication number: WO2009107226A1
Application number: PCT/JP2008/053607
Authority: WO
Inventors: 暁山本
Original assignee: 有限会社マイクロシステム; フジテック・インターナショナル株式会社
Priority date: 2008-02-29
Filing date: 2008-02-29
Publication date: 2009-09-03

Abstract

A cylindrical pipe (1) is formed of transparent glass. Both ends of the pipe are sealed with a sealing component (2) and an O ring (3). A protective film (5), a transparent positive electrode (6), a hole transport layer (7), an electron transport blue light-emitting layer (8), an electron transport yellow light-emitting layer (9), an electron transport layer (10), an alkali metal layer (11), and a negative electrode (12) are sequentially laminated in the inner side of the cylindrical pipe (1). Current is supplied to an organic EL light-emitting element by allowing the transparent positive electrode (6) to be connected to plus and allowing the negative electrode (12) to be connected to minus. The inner surface of the sealing component (2) is a mirror surface (15). A drying agent (16) is arranged on the inner side of the cylindrical pipe (1). Nitride gas (17) is encapsulated in the cylindrical pipe (1). Thus, an organic EL illuminator in which the deterioration of the organic EL light-emitting element is suppressed and the luminance of which can be improved can be achieved.

Description

Cylindrical organic EL illuminator

The present invention relates to an illuminator using an organic EL light emitting element, and more particularly to a cylindrical organic EL illuminator.

In a conventional organic EL (Electro Luminescence) illuminator, an organic EL light emitting element is formed on a flat glass plate and sealed with metal or glass. The light generated in the organic EL light emitting element was emitted to the outside through the organic material layer, the transparent anode, and the flat glass plate.

Then, a two-component light-emitting layer that is complementary to each other is formed on one flat glass plate, or a three-component light-emitting layer of red, green, and blue is formed, or in a polymer material A white illuminator has been manufactured by forming an organic EL light emitting element in which low-molecular light emitting materials of three components of red, green, and blue are dispersed.

In addition, the organic EL light-emitting element was formed by vacuum deposition in which each raw material was placed in a crucible and heated in a vacuum, and the evaporated raw material molecules or atoms were sequentially attached to the surface of the flat glass plate.

Further, the sealing component for preventing moisture in the air from entering the organic EL light emitting element is adhered to the flat glass plate with an adhesive that is cured by ultraviolet rays.

In the conventional organic EL illuminator, light generated in the light emitting layer is emitted to the outside through the organic material layer, the transparent anode, and the flat glass plate. The light extraction efficiency depends on the critical angle determined by the refractive index of the organic layer. When the refractive index of the organic layer is 1.6, the light that can be extracted to the outside is 20% of the light generated in the light emitting layer. The remaining 80% of the light refracted on the surface of the organic layer and the flat glass plate is guided by multiple reflections in the lateral direction, and is emitted from the end face of the glass or disappears on the surface of the cathode metal. Could not be taken out.

Also, a single organic EL light emitting element formed on a flat glass plate emits light by direct current. For this reason, although the brightness can be adjusted by the strength of the current, the emission wavelength is determined by the material of the light emitting layer and cannot be arbitrarily adjusted.

When an organic EL light-emitting device is driven continuously by applying an electric current, the organic material layer is aggregated and crystallized, the organic material undergoes an electrochemical reaction, the interaction between molecular excitons and interfacial charges, and the diffusion and chemical properties at the organic material layer interface. The average luminance of the organic EL light-emitting element is reduced by reaction, local short circuit due to unevenness and dust. The deterioration of luminance depends on the current, and when driving at high luminance, the current increases, so there is a problem that the deterioration is accelerated.

Furthermore, the organic EL light emitting element generates heat when the current is increased to increase the luminance. For this reason, when the organic EL light emitting element is driven with high luminance, the organic material is deteriorated and further deteriorated.

In addition, the luminance half life of the organic EL light emitting element varies depending on each light emitting material. For this reason, in the case of white light emission using a plurality of light emitting materials, there has been a problem that the light emission chromaticity is shifted as the light emission time elapses.

In the vacuum deposition for forming the organic EL light emitting element, the raw material in the heated crucible scatters radially. The flat glass plate is installed on the upper surface of the crucible, but the raw material scattered from the crucible to the side surface adheres to the vacuum vessel without reaching the flat glass plate. For this reason, there was a problem that the raw material efficiency was as low as about 20%.

Also, the use of an adhesive for sealing makes it difficult to disassemble the parts. The illuminator that cannot be used due to a decrease in luminance of the organic EL light emitting element has a problem of being discarded without being reused.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical organic EL illuminator capable of improving luminance while suppressing deterioration of an organic EL light emitting element.

The cylindrical organic EL illuminator of the present invention is an illuminator that emits light from an organic EL, and includes a tube (tube shape), an organic EL light emitting element, a desiccant, and a pair of sealing components. I have. The tubular tube is transparent. The organic EL light-emitting element includes a transparent anode formed in order inside a cylindrical tube, an organic material layer including a light-emitting layer, and a cathode. The desiccant is contained inside the cylindrical tube. The pair of sealing parts seals both ends of the cylindrical tube in order to fill the inside of the cylindrical tube with nitrogen or an inert gas atmosphere. The transparent anode is connected to the plus and the cathode is connected to the minus, and current is supplied to the organic EL light emitting element to emit light.

In the above cylindrical organic EL illuminator, the inner surface of the sealing component is preferably a reflecting mirror.
In the above-described cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, fine irregularities are provided on the surface of the cylindrical tube.

In the above-described cylindrical organic EL illuminator, the inner surface of the sealing part on one end side of the cylindrical tube is preferably a reflecting mirror, and the other end side of the cylindrical pipe is sealed. The part is transparent.

In the above-mentioned cylindrical organic EL illuminator, the sealing component is preferably sealed using an O-ring.

In the above-described cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, the cylindrical organic EL illuminator is formed inside another cylindrical tube inserted into the cylindrical tube and having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical tube. Further, another organic EL light emitting element formed into a film is further provided. A cylindrical tube and another cylindrical tube constitute a multiple tube.

In the above-described cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, the organic EL light emitting element and the other organic light emitting elements in the multi-tubular tube each emit light at the same wavelength.

In the above-described cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, the organic EL light emitting element and the other organic light emitting elements in the multiple tube emit light at different wavelengths.

In the above-described cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, any one of a current and a voltage applied to each of the organic EL light emitting element and the other organic light emitting elements in the multiple tube can be adjusted independently.

In the above cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, the cylindrical tube is glass, and the organic material layer is one or more selected from the group consisting of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer. And a dopant molecule, and the organic material layer is a low molecular weight organic material.

In the above cylindrical organic EL illuminator, preferably, the cylindrical tube is glass, and the organic material layer is one or more selected from the group consisting of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer. And a dopant molecule, and the light emitting layer is a high molecular weight organic material.

In order to achieve the above object, in the cylindrical organic EL illuminator of the present invention, the organic EL light emitting element conventionally formed on a flat glass plate is formed on the inside of the cylindrical tube. A sealing component that is generated inside the organic EL light-emitting element, propagates through the cylindrical tube and the organic material layer without being radiated to the outside, and returns the light emitted from the end face to the inside of the cylindrical tube. It is preferable that the inner surface of is a reflecting mirror. The light extraction is preferably performed by fine irregularities on the surface of the cylindrical tube. It is preferable that a plurality of small-diameter multiple tube tubes with organic EL light-emitting elements formed therein are installed inside the cylindrical tube, whereby the current of each organic EL light-emitting element is adjusted, and the emission color The degree is optimized. The organic EL light-emitting element is preferably formed by supplying a raw material inside a rotating cylindrical tube. It is preferable to use a rubber O-ring for sealing the cylindrical tube, so that it can be easily disassembled and assembled after disassembly.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the cylindrical organic EL illuminator of the present invention, the organic EL light emitting element is formed in a cylindrical tube. Since this cylindrical tube has higher mechanical strength than a conventional flat glass and can be thinned, high luminance can be achieved. In addition, since the cylindrical tube can be made thinner than the conventional flat glass, more heat generated from the organic EL light-emitting element can be transmitted to the outside, and the temperature of the organic EL light-emitting element can be lowered. It is difficult for the EL light emitting element to deteriorate.

Also, since it is a cylindrical tube, when the crucible is put inside the cylindrical tube, the cylindrical tube covers the periphery of the crucible. For this reason, even if the raw material scatters radially from the crucible during vacuum deposition, the cylindrical tube covers the periphery of the crucible, so the raw material is deposited on the cylindrical tube more efficiently than in the case of conventional flat glass. can do.

Also, a desiccant is placed in the tubular tube, and both ends of the tubular tube are sealed to fill with nitrogen or an inert gas atmosphere. Since the desiccant is put in this way and both ends of the cylindrical tube are sealed by filling with nitrogen or inert gas atmosphere, water molecules in the air are prevented from entering the inside of the tube on the cylinder And deterioration of the organic EL light emitting element can be prevented.

The light generated in the light emitting layer includes light radiated to the outside of the tubular tube, light that passes through the transparent cathode and travels toward the inside of the tubular tube, light that travels to the sealing portions at both ends, The light is refracted on the surface of the tubular tube and is divided into light that travels through the interface between the organic layer and the tubular tube by multiple reflection. The light directed toward the inside of the cylindrical tube reaches the opposite cylindrical tube, and a part thereof is emitted to the outside. The light directed toward the sealing component is reflected by 90% or more by the reflecting mirror on the inner surface of the sealing component, and returns to the inside of the cylindrical tube. Light that travels through the interface between the organic material layer and the cylindrical tube by multiple reflection is radiated from the end surface of the cylindrical tube, is reflected 90% or more by the reflecting mirror on the inner surface of the sealing component, and enters the inside of the cylindrical tube. Return. Since a part of the light returning to the inside of the cylindrical tube is emitted to the outside, the light generated in the light emitting layer can be efficiently extracted to the outside.

In addition, when unevenness is formed on the surface of the cylindrical tube, the light that has returned to the inside of the cylindrical tube reaches the surface of any of the cylindrical tubes that form a fine uneven shape. Thus, light is radiated to the outside where the incident angle of light is different from the total reflection angle. Therefore, light other than the light absorbed and lost in the material is finally emitted to the outside of the cylindrical tube. For this reason, the light generated in the light emitting layer can be extracted to the outside more efficiently, and an illuminator with high external quantum efficiency can be realized.

Moreover, the inner surface of the sealing part on the one end side of the cylindrical tube is made into a reflecting mirror, and the sealing part on the other end side of the cylindrical pipe is made transparent, thereby sealing the other end side of the cylindrical pipe. High brightness light can be extracted from the component.

In addition, by using a rubber O-ring for sealing sealing parts, disassembly of components and assembly after disassembly are simplified, and all parts other than the deteriorated organic EL light emitting element can be reused. . Thereby, an organic EL illuminator can be manufactured at a low price.

Further, by forming the organic EL light emitting element on the multiple tube, the current flowing through each organic EL light emitting element is reduced, so that the deterioration of luminance is suppressed and a long-life illuminator can be realized.

Also, if an organic EL light emitting element is formed on the multiple tube, current can flow in parallel, so that a low voltage and high luminance illuminator can be realized.

Then, red, green, and blue organic EL light emitting elements are formed on the multiple tube tubes, respectively, and white color is obtained by flowing current individually, and the average luminance can be adjusted by the strength of the current. In addition, it is possible to realize a color illuminator that emits light in an arbitrary color among triangles on the chromaticity coordinates of red, green, and blue by adjusting individual currents.

In addition, when forming an organic EL light emitting element by vacuum deposition inside the rotating cylindrical tube, the raw material scattered from the crucible reaches all inner surfaces except for both ends of the cylindrical tube. High raw material efficiency of 80% can be obtained.

Furthermore, the organic EL light-emitting element can be formed with high raw material efficiency by feeding the raw material into the carrier tube inside the rotating cylindrical tube.

1 is an external view of a monochromatic cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is an external view of a multicolor cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is an external view of the spot type organic EL illuminator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the monochromatic cylindrical organic electroluminescent illuminator which shows the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the monochromatic cylindrical organic electroluminescent illuminator which uses fluorescent substance. It is sectional drawing of a multicolor cylindrical organic electroluminescent illuminator. It is sectional drawing of a spot type organic electroluminescent illuminator. It is a partial expanded sectional view which shows roughly the structure of the cylindrical tube of the cylindrical organic electroluminescent illuminator in Embodiment 6 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 41 cylindrical tube, 2 sealing parts, 3 O-ring, 4 electrodes, 5 protective film, 6, 20a, 22a, 24a, 30a transparent anode, 7 hole transport layer, 8 electron transport blue light emitting layer , 9 Electron transporting yellow light emitting layer, 10 Electron transport layer, 11 Alkali metal layer, 12, 20c, 22c, 24c, 30c Cathode, 13 Electric wire, 14 DC power supply, 15 Mirror surface, 16 Desiccant, 17 Nitrogen gas, 18 dopant Molecule, 19 polymer light emitting layer, 20, 33 outer cylindrical tube, 20A red organic EL light emitting device, 20b red organic EL light emitting layer, 22, 34 intermediate cylindrical tube, 22A blue organic EL light emitting device, 22b blue organic EL light emitting layer, 24, 35 inner cylindrical tube, 24A green organic EL light emitting element, 24b green organic EL light emitting layer, 25 anode sealing component, 26 cathode Stop part, 27 Blue light emission regulator, 28 Red light emission regulator, 29 Green light emission regulator, 30 White organic EL light emitting element, 30b White organic EL light emitting layer, 31 Reflective sealing part, 32 Transparent sealing part, 42 Concavity and convexity, 43 outside air, 44 luminous flux.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the cylindrical organic EL illuminator of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
1A is an external view of a monochromatic cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an external view of a multicolor cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1C is an external view of the spot-type organic EL illuminator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1A, in a monochromatic cylindrical organic EL illuminator, a sealing component 2 is attached to each of both ends of the cylindrical tube 1, and an electrode 4 is attached to each of the sealing components 2 on both sides. .

Referring to FIG. 1B, in the multicolor cylindrical organic EL illuminator, the cylindrical tube has, for example, a multi-cylindrical tube configuration, and an anode is sealed at one end of the outer cylindrical tube 20 of the multi-cylindrical tubes. A component 25 is attached to a cathode sealing component 26 at the other end. For example, three electrodes 4 are attached to each of the anode sealing component 25 and the cathode sealing component 26.

Referring to FIG. 1C, in the spot type organic EL illuminator, the cylindrical tube has, for example, a multi-cylindrical tube configuration, and an inner surface of the multi-cylindrical tube has a reflecting mirror at one end portion of the outer cylindrical tube 33. A reflective sealing component 31 is attached to a transparent transparent sealing component 32 at the other end. For example, two electrodes 4 are attached to the reflective sealing component 31.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a monochromatic cylindrical organic EL illuminator using blue and yellow light emission in the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the cylindrical tube 1 is made of transparent glass, and is made of, for example, a straight tube. A sealing component 2 is attached to each of both ends of the cylindrical tube 1. An O-ring 3 is disposed between the sealing component 2 and the cylindrical tube 1. The inside of the cylindrical tube 1 is hermetically sealed by the sealing component 2 and the O-ring 3.

The electrode 4 for supplying electricity is attached to each of the sealing parts 2 on both sides. Inside the cylindrical tube 1, there are a protective film 5, a transparent anode 6, a hole transport layer 7, an electron transport blue light emitting layer 8, an electron transport yellow light emitting layer 9, and an electron transport layer 10. The alkali metal layer 11 and the cathode 12 are sequentially formed.

The protective film 5 is made of, for example, SiO _{2 having a} thickness of 10 nm. The transparent anode 6 is made of, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) having a thickness of 1 μm. The hole transport layer 7 is formed of an organic material (NPD) represented by the following chemical formula (1) with a thickness of 40 nm, for example.

The electron-transporting blue light-emitting layer 8 is mainly composed of, for example, an organic material (Znbox 2) represented by the following chemical formula (2) and is 1.5 weight by perylene (C ₂₀ H ₁₂ ) represented by the following chemical formula (3), for example. It is a 7 nm thick layer with a% doping.

The electron-transporting yellow light-emitting layer 9 is mainly doped with, for example, the organic material (Znbox 2) represented by the above chemical formula (2) and doped by 0.25% by weight with the organic material (DCM 1) represented by the following chemical formula (4). This is a layer having a thickness of 23 nm.

The electron transport layer 10 is a layer having a thickness of 30 nm formed from, for example, an organic material (Znbox 2) represented by the above chemical formula (2). The alkali metal layer 11 is made of, for example, LiF having a thickness of 5 nm. The cathode 12 is made of Al having a thickness of 0.5 μm, for example.

Each of the transparent anode 6 and the cathode 12 is connected to the electrode 4 by an electric wire 13, whereby the organic EL light emitting element is supplied with a current from a DC power source 14. The transparent anode 6 is electrically connected to the + (plus) side of the DC power supply 14, and the cathode 12 is electrically connected to the − (minus) side of the DC power supply 14. The inner surface of the sealing component 2 is a mirror surface 15. A desiccant 16 is attached to the tip of the electrode 4, whereby the desiccant 16 is disposed inside the cylindrical tube 1. A nitrogen gas 17 is sealed inside the cylindrical tube 1. The inside of the cylindrical tube 1 may be filled with nitrogen gas 17 or an inert gas atmosphere.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a monochromatic cylindrical organic EL illuminator that emits green light in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the cylindrical tube 1 is made of transparent glass, and is made of, for example, a straight tube. A sealing component 2 is attached to each of both ends of the cylindrical tube 1. An O-ring 3 is disposed between the sealing component 2 and the cylindrical tube 1. The inside of the cylindrical tube 1 is hermetically sealed by the sealing component 2 and the O-ring 3.

The electrode 4 for supplying electricity is attached to each of the sealing parts 2 on both sides. Inside the cylindrical tube 1, a protective film 5, a transparent anode 6, a hole transport layer 7, a polymer light emitting layer 19, an alkali metal layer 11, and a cathode 12 are sequentially formed.

The protective film 5 is made of, for example, SiO _{2 having a} thickness of 10 nm. The transparent anode 6 is made of, for example, ITO having a thickness of 1 μm. The hole transport layer 7 is made of, for example, an organic material (NPD) having a thickness of 40 nm.

The polymer light emitting layer 19 is formed of, for example, polyfluorene having a thickness of 80 nm to which 5% of a low-molecular iridium complex (Ir (ppy) ₃ ) is added as a dopant molecule 18. Polyfluorene has the following chemical formula (5), and the iridium complex (Ir (ppy) ₃ ) has the following chemical formula (6).

The alkali metal layer 11 is made of, for example, LiF having a thickness of 5 nm. The cathode 12 is made of Al having a thickness of 0.5 μm, for example.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a multicolor cylindrical organic EL illuminator using three organic EL light emitting elements in Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the organic EL illuminator of the present embodiment has a multi-cylindrical tube configuration. This multiple cylindrical tube has a configuration in which, for example, three cylindrical tubes having different diameters of an outer cylindrical tube 20, an intermediate cylindrical tube 22, and an inner cylindrical tube 24 are arranged coaxially.

Each of the

cylindrical tubes

20, 22, and 24 is made of transparent glass, and is made of, for example, a straight tube. An anode sealing component 25 is attached to one end of the outer cylindrical tube 20, and a cathode sealing component 26 is attached to the other end. An O-ring 3 is disposed between the anode sealing component 25 and the outer cylindrical tube 20 and between the cathode sealing component 26 and the outer cylindrical tube 20. The inside of the outer cylindrical tube 20 is hermetically sealed by the anode sealing component 25, the cathode sealing component 26 and the O-ring 3.

A red organic EL light emitting element 20 </ b> A is formed inside the outer cylindrical tube 20. The red organic EL light emitting element 20A includes a transparent anode 20a, a red organic EL light emitting layer 20b, and a cathode 20c, which are sequentially formed from the inside of the outer cylindrical tube 20.

A blue organic EL light emitting element 22 </ b> A is formed inside the intermediate cylindrical tube 22. The blue organic EL light emitting element 22A includes a transparent anode 22a, a blue organic EL light emitting layer 22b, and a cathode 22c, which are sequentially formed from the inside of the intermediate cylindrical tube 22.

A green organic EL light emitting element 24A is formed inside the inner cylindrical tube 24. The green organic EL light emitting element 24A includes a transparent anode 24a, a green organic EL light emitting layer 24b, and a cathode 24c, which are sequentially formed from the inside of the inner cylindrical tube 24.

Three electrodes 4 for supplying electricity are attached to each of the anode sealing component 25 and the cathode sealing component 26. Each of the transparent anode 20a and the cathode 20c is connected to the electrode 4 by an electric wire 13, whereby the red organic EL light emitting element 20A is electrically connected to the DC power source 14 and the red light emission controller 28.

Each of the transparent anode 22a and the cathode 22c is connected to the electrode 4 by the electric wire 13, whereby the blue organic EL light emitting element 22A is electrically connected to the DC power source 14 and the blue light emission regulator 27.

Each of the transparent anode 24a and the cathode 24c is connected to the electrode 4 by the electric wire 13, whereby the green organic EL light emitting element 24A is electrically connected to the DC power source 14 and the green light emission regulator 29.

Each

transparent anode

20a, 22a, 24a is electrically connected to the + (plus) side of the DC power supply 14, and each

cathode

20c, 22c, 24c is electrically connected to the-(minus) side of the DC power supply 14. It is connected.

The inner surfaces of the anode sealing component 25 and the cathode sealing component 26 are mirror surfaces (reflecting mirrors). A desiccant 16 is attached to the tip of the electrode 4, whereby the desiccant 16 is disposed inside the outer cylindrical tube 20. A nitrogen gas 17 or an inert gas atmosphere is sealed inside the outer cylindrical tube 20.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a spot-type organic EL illuminator in which three white organic EL light emitting elements 30 are formed in Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the organic EL illuminator of the present embodiment has a multi-cylindrical tube configuration. This multi-cylindrical tube has a configuration in which, for example, three cylindrical tubes having different diameters of an outer cylindrical tube 33, an intermediate cylindrical tube 34, and an inner cylindrical tube 35 are arranged coaxially.

Each of the

cylindrical tubes

33, 34, and 35 is made of transparent glass, and is made of, for example, a straight tube. A reflective sealing component 31 is attached to one end of the outer cylindrical tube 33, and a transparent sealing component 32 is attached to the other end. An O-ring 3 is disposed between the reflective sealing component 31 and the outer cylindrical tube 33 and between the transparent sealing component 32 and the outer cylindrical tube 33. The inside of the outer cylindrical tube 33 is sealed by the sealing

parts

31 and 32 and the O-ring 3.

A white organic EL light emitting element 30 is formed inside each of the

cylindrical tubes

33, 34, and 35. The white organic EL light emitting element 30 includes a transparent anode 30a, a white organic EL light emitting layer 30b, and a cathode 30c, which are sequentially formed from the inside of the cylindrical tube.

The reflection sealing component 31 has two electrodes 4 for supplying electricity. Each of the transparent anode 30 a and the cathode 30 c is connected to the electrode 4 by the electric wire 13, whereby each of the white organic EL light emitting elements 30 is electrically connected to the DC power source 14.

Each transparent anode 30 a is electrically connected to the + (plus) side of the DC power source 14, and the cathode 30 c is electrically connected to the − (minus) side of the DC power source 14.

Moreover, the inner surface of the reflective sealing component 31 is a mirror surface (reflecting mirror) 15 and the transparent sealing component 32 is transparent. Thereby, the light emitted from the white organic EL light emitting element 30 is extracted from the transparent transparent sealing component 32 on one side.

Also, the desiccant 16 is attached to the reflective sealing component 31, whereby the desiccant 16 is disposed inside the outer cylindrical tube 33. Inside the outer cylindrical tube 33, nitrogen gas 17 or an inert gas atmosphere is enclosed.

Further, by forming a film of Al (not shown) having a thickness of 10 μm, for example, on the outside of the outer cylindrical tube 20 by vapor deposition, light can be extracted only from the transparent sealing part 32.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the cylindrical tube of the cylindrical organic EL illuminator in Embodiment 6 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, a cylindrical tube 41 of the cylindrical organic EL illuminator in the present embodiment is made of glass, for example, and has fine irregularities 42 on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

By providing such irregularities 42, the light beam 44 coming from the inside of the cylindrical tube 41 is refracted inside the fine irregularities 42 and radiated to the outside air 43.

It is preferable that the configuration of the cylindrical tube having such fine irregularities 42 is appropriately combined with the above-described first to fifth embodiments.

In the above first to fifth embodiments, the organic EL light-emitting element only needs to have at least a transparent anode, a light-emitting layer, and a cathode, and also includes a protective layer, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron A transport layer, an electron injection layer, an alkali metal layer, or the like may be provided as necessary.

In the above first to fifth embodiments, the cylindrical tube having a circular shape in the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction has been described as the cylindrical tube. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the vertical direction is perpendicular to the axial direction. The present invention can be similarly applied to a cylindrical tube having a polygonal cross section. The shape of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical tube may be a perfect circle or an ellipse.

The cylindrical tube may be a tube extending in a curved shape other than a straight tube extending in a straight line in the axial direction.

Hereinafter, specific examples in which the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 2, a thin film of an organic EL light emitting element is sequentially formed inside transparent cylindrical glass tube 1. For example, TEOS gas 0.1 cc / min, O ₂ gas 10 cc / min, and He gas 500 cc / min are placed inside a cylindrical tube 1 made of transparent blue glass having a diameter of 35 mm, a length of 300 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm. The pressure is 0.01 atm, and the entire temperature of the cylindrical tube 1 is kept at 300 ° C. The cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 30 rpm, a coil is installed outside the cylindrical tube 1, a high frequency with a frequency of 13.56 MHz and an output of 100 W is applied to the coil, and plasma is generated inside the cylindrical tube 1. Each source gas is decomposed by the plasma, and a protective film 5 of SiO ₂ having a thickness of 10 nm is uniformly formed inside the cylindrical tube 1. The protective film 5 prevents metal ions from moving from the glass to the transparent anode 6 side.

Next, for example, a plate-like ITO target is inserted inside the cylindrical tube 1, Ar gas 20 cc / min is allowed to flow, the pressure is set to 0.0001 atm, and the entire temperature of the cylindrical tube 1 is maintained at 300 ° C. The cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 30 rpm, a coil is installed outside the cylindrical tube 1, a high frequency with a frequency of 13.56 MHz and an output of 500 W is applied to the coil, and Ar plasma is generated inside the cylindrical tube 1. The Ar ions collide with the surface of the ITO target, knock out the ITO, and the transparent anode 6 of ITO having a thickness of 1 μm is uniformly formed on the protective film 5.

Next, for example, a polishing material is poured inside the cylindrical tube 1, and the cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 100 rpm while being polished using a polishing pad until the ITO surface of the transparent anode 6 becomes smooth, and then an organic solvent. And washed with pure water and dried by N ₂ blow.

Next, the cylindrical tube 1 is put in a glove box, and for example, the inside of the glove box is replaced with N ₂ gas, and the dew point is set to −80 ° C. or lower while the temperature is raised to 100 ° C.

Next, for example, O ₂ gas 10 cc / min and Ar gas 500 cc / min are allowed to flow inside the cylindrical tube 1, the pressure is set to 0.001 atm, and the entire temperature of the cylindrical tube 1 is maintained at 50 ° C. The cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 30 rpm, a coil is installed outside the cylindrical tube 1, a high frequency with a frequency of 13.56 MHz and an output of 100 W is applied to the coil, and O ₂ plasma is generated inside the cylindrical tube 1. . O ₂ plasma improves the work function of the ITO surface of the transparent anode 6 from 4.8 eV to 5.5 eV.

Next, for example, a gas injection nozzle is inserted inside the cylindrical tube 1, N ₂ gas of 500 cc / min is allowed to flow, the pressure is set to 0.001 atm, and the temperature of the gas injection nozzle is maintained at 300 ° C. The cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 30 rpm, and the outside of the cylindrical tube 1 is kept cooled to 2 ° C. The low-molecular-weight organic powder raw material for the hole injection layer, hole-transporting layer, light-emitting layer, electron-transporting layer, and electron-injecting layer and the low-molecular-weight organic powder raw material for the dopant are filled in separate powder feeders. , And N ₂ gas are sequentially supplied to the vaporizer. The low molecular organic powder raw material heated to 300 ° C. in the vaporizer is instantaneously evaporated and sent to the gas injection nozzle together with N ₂ gas. The vaporized organic raw material is ejected together with N ₂ gas from the gas injection nozzle, adheres to the inside of the cooled cylindrical tube 1, and the N ₂ gas is discharged from the vacuum pump through the exhaust pipe.

By this film formation method, for example, on the ITO of the transparent anode 6, NPD (thickness 40 nm) as the hole transport layer 7 and Znbox2: perylene (1.5) as the electron transport blue light-emitting layer 8 in order. %) (Thickness 7 nm), Znbox2: DCM1 (0.25%) (thickness 23 nm) as the electron transporting yellow light emitting layer 9, and Znbox2 (thickness 30 nm) as the electron transporting layer 10 are uniformly formed. The Thereby, the hole transport layer 7, the electron transport blue light-emitting layer 8, the electron transport yellow light-emitting layer 9, the electron transport layer 10, and the dopant molecule are formed of the low molecular organic substance.

Next, for example, a water-cooled cylindrical mask is inserted inside the cylindrical tube 1, and a plate-shaped metal crucible filled with LiF is inserted inside thereof. The inside of the cylindrical tube 1 is evacuated, and the entire temperature of the cylindrical tube 1 is kept at 50 ° C. or lower. The cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 30 rpm, and a direct current is passed through the metal crucible to heat it. LiF in the metal crucible evaporates and adheres straight from the opening of the mask toward the cylindrical tube 1. Thereby, a LiF film having a thickness of 5 nm as the alkali metal layer 11 is uniformly formed on the organic material layer (electron transport layer 10).

Next, for example, another water-cooled cylindrical mask is inserted inside the cylindrical tube 1, and a plate-shaped metal crucible filled with Al is inserted inside thereof. The inside of the cylindrical tube 1 is evacuated, and the entire temperature of the cylindrical tube 1 is kept at 50 ° C. or lower. The cylindrical tube 1 is rotated at 30 rpm, and a direct current is passed through the metal crucible to heat it. Al in the metal crucible evaporates and adheres straight from the opening of the mask toward the cylindrical tube 1. As a result, an Al film having a thickness of 0.5 μm as the cathode 12 is uniformly formed on the alkali metal layer 11.

As described above, the organic EL light emitting element is formed inside the cylindrical tube 1. Organic EL light-emitting elements are vulnerable to the penetration of water molecules, and entry of moisture causes deterioration of the organic EL light-emitting elements. For this reason, for example, the desiccant 16 is put inside the cylindrical tube 1, and the inside of the cylindrical tube 1 is filled with N ₂ gas to seal both ends of the cylindrical tube 1. Sealing uses a seal by a rubber O-ring 3. The organic EL light emitting element is connected to the electrode 4 of the sealing component 2. When the transparent anode 6 is connected positively, the cathode 12 is connected negatively, a voltage is applied, and a direct current is applied, electrons and holes are recombined in the light emitting layers 8 and 9 to generate blue and yellow light. To do. The generated light is emitted to the outside through the transparent anode 6 and the transparent cylindrical tube 1. For example, when 10 V is applied between the transparent anode 6 and the cathode 12, white light having a luminance of 5000 cd / m ² can be obtained.

In the above description, the hole transport layer 7, the electron transport blue light-emitting layer 8, the electron transport yellow light-emitting layer 9, the electron transport layer 10 and the dopant molecule are formed of a low molecular organic substance. A hole injection layer, an electron injection layer, or the like made of a low molecular organic material may be additionally formed.

Further, since the polymer raw material that is the raw material of the polymer light emitting layer 19 shown in FIG. 3 cannot be heated and evaporated, it is dissolved in a solvent and applied by spin coating. For example, a solvent in which a polymer raw material is dissolved is dropped inside the cylindrical tube 1, and a uniform film is formed while the cylindrical tube 1 is tilted at 45 degrees and rotated at 2000 rpm, and the solvent is evaporated by heating. . By this film formation method, for example, the polymer light emitting layer 19 of polyfluorene: Ir (ppy) ₃ (5%) (thickness 80 nm) is uniformly formed on the hole transport layer.

Also, for example, a transparent blue glass diameter 45 mm, length 300 mm, thickness 1 mm outer cylindrical tube, diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, thickness 1 mm intermediate cylindrical tube, diameter 35 mm, length 300 mm, thickness Prepare each with a 1 mm inner cylindrical tube. Inside each of these three cylindrical tubes, for example, ITO as a transparent anode film, NPD (thickness 40 nm) as a hole transport layer, and Znbox 2: perylene (1.5% as an electron transport blue light emitting layer) ) (Thickness 7 nm), Znbox2: DCM1 (0.25%) (thickness 23 nm) as an electron transporting yellow light emitting layer, and Znbox2 (thickness 30 nm) as an electron transporting layer are uniformly formed. Furthermore, BCP (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline): Cs (thickness 20 nm) as an electron injection layer and IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide) (thickness 0.5 μm) as a transparent cathode Are sequentially formed.

An intermediate cylindrical tube having a diameter of 40 mm is inserted into the inside of the outer cylindrical tube having a diameter of 45 mm, and an inner cylindrical tube having a diameter of 35 mm is inserted into the intermediate cylindrical tube having a diameter of 40 mm to form a multi-cylinder tube. Connect to and seal. For example, when 10 V is applied between the transparent anode and the transparent cathode, white light having a luminance of 10000 cd / m ² can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by forming, for example, irregularities 42 having a diameter of about 300 nm less than the optical wavelength on the outer surface of the cylindrical glass tube 41, the incident angle of light is different from the total reflection angle, and the external quantum efficiency Will improve. For example, in the case of an organic EL light emitting device formed on a transparent cylindrical glass tube 1 as shown in FIG. 2, white light with a luminance of 5000 cd / m ² is obtained when 10 V is applied. By providing the fine unevenness 42, the luminance is improved to 6000 cd / m ² .

The embodiments and examples disclosed this time are merely examples in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to them. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

As described above, the cylindrical organic EL illuminator of the present invention is required to have a long lifetime and high luminance because the organic EL light emitting element can be formed on a cylindrical tube to improve the luminance while suppressing deterioration of the organic EL light emitting element. It can be preferably used in certain fields.

Claims

An illuminator that emits light from an organic EL,
A transparent tubular tube (1);
An organic EL light emitting device including a transparent anode (6) sequentially formed inside the cylindrical tube, an organic material layer including a light emitting layer (8, 9), and a cathode (12);
A desiccant (16) placed inside the cylindrical tube;
A pair of sealing parts (2) for sealing both ends of the cylindrical tube in order to fill the inside of the cylindrical tube with nitrogen or an inert gas atmosphere,
A cylindrical organic EL illuminator that emits light by connecting the transparent anode to a plus and the cathode to a minus and supplying a current to the organic EL light emitting element.
The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the sealing component (2) is a reflecting mirror.
The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein fine irregularities (42) are provided on the surface of the cylindrical tube (41).
Of the pair of sealing parts, the inner surface of the sealing part (31) on one end side of the cylindrical pipe (33) is a reflecting mirror, and the sealing part on the other end side of the cylindrical pipe The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein (32) is transparent.
The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the sealing component (2) is sealed using an O-ring (3).
Other cylindrical tubes (22, 23) inserted into the cylindrical tube (20) and having a smaller diameter than the cylindrical tube;
And further comprising another organic EL light emitting element formed on the inside of the other cylindrical tube,
The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein a multi-tubular tube is constituted by the cylindrical tube and the other cylindrical tube.
The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 6, wherein the organic EL light-emitting element and the other organic EL light-emitting elements in the multi-tubular tube each emit light at the same wavelength.
The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 6, wherein the organic EL light-emitting element and the other organic EL light-emitting element in the multi-tubular tube each emit light at different wavelengths.
7. The cylinder according to claim 6, wherein any one of a current and a voltage applied to each of the organic EL light emitting element and the other organic EL light emitting element in the multiple tube can be adjusted independently. Type organic EL illuminator.
The cylindrical tube (1) is glass, and the organic material layer is at least one selected from the group consisting of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer (7), an electron transport layer (10) and an electron injection layer. 2. The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical organic EL illuminator includes a dopant molecule and the organic material layer is a low molecular weight organic material.
The cylindrical tube (1) is glass, and the organic material layer is at least one selected from the group consisting of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer (7), an electron transport layer (10), and an electron injection layer. The cylindrical organic EL illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical organic EL illuminator includes a dopant molecule and the light emitting layer (19) is a polymer organic material.