Organic EL element with inorganic insulation layer and method for production thereof

• US 10,644,082 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JDI Design and Development GK
• Original Assignee: JOLED Inc.
• Inventors: Yokota, Kazuhiro, Shirahase, Hideyuki, Komatsu, Takahiro, Nishimura, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thao X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cross, Xia L
• Application Number:
  US15/722,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20180097050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/00 Constructional details relating to the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/813 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/816 Multilayers, e.g. transparent multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1201 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/135 using ink-jet printing

Abstract

An organic EL element includes a planarized layer arranged on a substrate, an insulation layer which is arranged on the planarized layer with the region corresponding to a subpixel of the planarized layer left exposed at least partly, a pixel electrode which has an opening that defines the region corresponding to the subpixel and which is arranged on a bank arranged on the insulation layer and on the exposed part of the planarized layer, a transparent conductive layer arranged on the pixel electrode, an emission layer arranged in the opening and above at least the transparent conductive layer, and a counter electrode arranged above the emission layer. The insulation layer is interposed between a bottom of the bank and the planarized layer. An upper surface of the planarized layer is coated with at least one of the pixel electrode and the insulation layer.

Claims

1. An organic electroluminescence (EL) element, comprising:

a substrate;

a planarized layer on the substrate;

an insulation layer of inorganic material, wherein the insulation layer is on the planarized layer such that a region corresponding to a subpixel of the planarized layer is at least partly exposed;

a pixel electrode on a peripheral part of the insulation layer and on the exposed region of the planarized layer;

a bank on the insulation layer, wherein

the insulation layer is between a bottom of the bank and the planarized layer, and

an upper surface of the planarized layer is coated with at least one of the pixel electrode or the insulation layer;

a transparent conductive layer comprising a metal oxide, wherein the transparent conductive layer is on the pixel electrode, wherein

the pixel electrode is between the peripheral part of the insulation layer and the transparent conductive layer in a lamination direction, and

a bottom surface of the pixel electrode is in contact with the peripheral part of the insulation layer;

a hole injection layer above the transparent conductive layer, wherein the transparent conductive layer is between the hole injection layer and the pixel electrode;

an emission layer in an opening in the bank, wherein

the emission layer is at least partially in contact with the hole injection layer, and

the hole injection layer is between the emission layer and the transparent conductive layer, and

the opening corresponds to the subpixel; and

a counter electrode above the emission layer.

2. The organic EL element according to claim 1, wherein the insulation layer continuously extends from a first part between the planarized layer and the bank to a second part between a peripheral part of the pixel electrode and the planarized layer.

3. The organic EL element according to claim 1, wherein the insulation layer continuously extends from a first part between the planarized layer and the bank to a second part between a peripheral part of the pixel electrode and the planarized layer.

4. The organic EL element according to claim 1, further comprising a laminate which includes the pixel electrode and the transparent conductive layer, wherein a first peripheral part of the transparent conductive layer and a second peripheral part of the pixel electrode are overlapped with the bank in a plan view.

5. The organic EL element according to claim 1, further comprising a laminate which includes the pixel electrode and the transparent conductive layer, wherein the laminate is separate from the bank in the opening.

6. The organic EL element according to claim 1, wherein

the insulation layer comprises the inorganic material, and

the inorganic material has a higher light absorptivity than a light absorptivity of material for the bank.

7. The organic EL element according to claim 6, wherein the inorganic material is chromium oxide.

8. The organic EL element according to claim 1, wherein the insulation layer comprises one of silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxide (SiO), chromium oxide, or molybdenum oxide.

9. The organic EL element according to claim 1, further comprising a seal layer on the counter electrode, wherein the seal layer comprises one of silicon nitride (SiN) or silicon oxide nitride (SiON).

10. The organic EL element according to claim 1, further comprising an electron transport layer on the emission layer, wherein the electron transport layer is in contact with the emission layer.

11. The organic EL element according to claim 1, wherein

the pixel electrode has a specific moisture permeability, and

the pixel electrode is configured to prevent movement of moisture from the planarized layer to the transparent conductive layer based on the specific moisture permeability.

12. The organic EL element according to claim 1, wherein the bank covers a peripheral portion of the hole injection layer, and a remaining portion of the hole injection layer other than the peripheral portion is exposed in the opening corresponding to the subpixel.