Vacuum deposited, non-polymeric flexible organic light emitting devices

• US 20040027065A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gong Gu, Paul Burrows, Stephen R. Forrest
• Original Assignee: Gong Gu, Paul Burrows, Stephen R. Forrest
• Inventors: Forrest, Stephen R., Burrows, Paul, Gu, Gong
• Granted Patent: US 6,888,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/511
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/10 Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of electroluminescent light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/12 Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/324 comprising aluminium, e.g. Alq3
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/631 Amine compounds having at least two aryl rest on at least one amine-nitrogen atom, e.g. triphenylamine

Abstract

An organic light emitting device (OLED) is disclosed for which the hole transporting layer, the electron transporting layer and/or the emissive layer, if separately present, is comprised of a non-polymeric material. A method for preparing such OLED'"'"'s using vacuum deposition techniques is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A flexible organic light emitting device comprising:

an organic light emitting device comprising a flexible substrate layer and;

a) a hole transporting layer comprised of a non-polymeric material or

b) an electron transporting layer comprised of a non-polymeric material.

2. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said organic light emitting device includes a hole transporting layer comprised of a non-polymeric material and an electron transporting layer comprised of a non-polymeric material.

3. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said organic light emitting device further includes a separate emissive layer comprised of a non-polymeric material.

4. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said flexible substrate is transparent.

5. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said flexible substrate is polymeric.

6. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said flexible substrate comprises a polyester.

7. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said organic light emitting device further includes an anode layer comprised of indium tin oxide.

8. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said hole transporting layer comprises N,N′

-diphenyl-N,N′

-bis(3-methylpheny)1-1′

biphenyl-4,4′

diamine.

9. The flexible organic light emitting device of claim 1 wherein said electron transporting layer comprises tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum.

16. A display incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device of any one of claims 1 through 11.

17. A vehicle incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device electron transporting layer of any one of claims 1 through 11.

18. A computer incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device electron transporting layer-of any one of claims 1 through 11.

19. A television incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device electron transporting layer of any one of claims 1 through 11.

20. A printer incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device electron transporting layer of any one of claims 1 through 11.

21. A wall, theater or stadium screen incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device electron transporting layer of any one of claims 1 through 11.

22. A billboard or a sign incorporating the flexible organic light emitting device of any one of claims 1 through 11.

10. A flexible organic light emitting device comprising:

a flexible substrate,

an anode layer on said flexible substrate,

a hole transporting layer on said anode layer,

an electron transporting layer on said hole transporting layer and

a cathode layer on said electron transporting layer,

wherein said hole transporting layer or said electron transporting layer is comprised of a non-polymeric material.

11. A flexible organic light emitting device comprising:

a flexible substrate,

a cathode layer on said flexible substrate,

a hole transporting layer on said cathode layer,

an electron transporting layer on said hole transporting layer and

an anode layer on said electron transporting layer, wherein said hole transporting layer or said electron transporting layer is comprised of a non-polymeric material.

12. A method of preparing a flexible organic light emitting device comprising:

fabricating an organic light emitting device on a flexible substrate wherein the fabrication of said organic light emitting device includes the step of vacuum depositing a hole transporting layer or the step of vacuum depositing an electron transporting layer.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said fabrication step includes the steps of vacuum depositing a hole transporting layer and of vacuum depositing an electron transporting layer.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein said fabrication step further includes the step of vacuum depositing a separate emissive layer.

15. A method of preparing a display device comprising:

incorporating a flexible organic light emitting device into a display device wherein said flexible organic light emitting device is fabricated on a flexible substrate using a method that includes the step of vacuum depositing a hole transporting layer or the step of vacuum depositing an electron transporting layer.

23. A flexible organic light emitting device comprising:

a flexible, transparent polyester substrate,

an anode layer on said flexible, transparent polyester substrate, said anode layer being comprised of indium tin oxide;

a hole transporting layer on said anode layer, said hole transporting layer being comprised of N,N′

-diphenyl-N,N′

-bis(3-methylpheny)1-1′

biphenyl-4,4′

diamine;

an electron transporting layer on said hole transporting layer, said electron transporting layer being comprised of tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum; and

a cathode layer on said electron transporting layer.