Organic electroluminescent device and encapsulation method

• US 20040119403A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: McCormick, Fred B., Padiyath, Raghunath, Ottman, Jon E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/846 comprising getter material or desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/17 Passive-matrix OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/221 Static displays, e.g. displaying permanent logos
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/351 comprising more than three subpixels, e.g. red-green-blue-white [RGBW]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8722 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/874 including getter material or desiccant

Abstract

Organic electroluminescent devices and methods of preparing such devices are provided. The organic electroluminescent devices include a first electrode, a light emitting structure, a second electrode, a conductive layer, and a non-conductive material. The light emitting structure is disposed between the first and second electrodes. The conductive layer is disposed on at least a portion of the second electrode and is in electrical communication with the second electrode through an opening in the non-conductive material.

Claims

1. An organic electroluminescent device comprising:

a) a first electrode;

b) a second electrode;

c) a light emitting structure disposed between the first and second electrodes;

d) a conductive layer disposed over at least a portion of the second electrode; and

e) a non-conductive material defining an opening through which the conductive layer is in electrical communication with the second electrode.

2. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the opening in the non-conductive material is positioned entirely within an area of a surface of the second electrode opposite the light emitting structure and the area of the opening is smaller than the area of the surface of the second electrode opposite the light emitting structure.

3. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the opening in the non-conductive material is positioned in an area of a surface of the second electrode opposite the light emitting structure and the entire surface of the second electrode opposite the light emitting structure is in contact with the conductive layer.

4. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer extends beyond the periphery of the second electrode and the non-conductive material separates the conductive layer from the first electrode beyond the periphery of the second electrode.

5. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises a polymeric material.

6. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 5, wherein the polymeric material comprises an adhesive.

7. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the device is encapsulated.

8. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a transparent layer of a metal or metal oxide.

9. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, n-doped silicon, or combination thereof.

10. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer comprises a deformable film.

11. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer comprises a metal.

12. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the substrate is substantially transparent.

13. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 12, wherein the substrate is flexible.

14. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 12, wherein the substrate comprises a barrier construction.

15. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 14, wherein the barrier construction comprises a metal oxide, metal nitride, metal carbide, metal oxynitride, or combination thereof.

16. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of first electrodes and each first electrode can be independently addressed.

17. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material defines a plurality of openings and wherein the conductive layer is in electrical communication with the second electrode through the plurality of openings.

18. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of openings are in a linear arrangement.

19. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 17, wherein the device comprises a plurality of second electrodes and the plurality of openings are aligned with the plurality of second electrodes.

20. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 19, wherein the device comprises a plurality of first electrodes aligned with the plurality of second electrodes.

21. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 20, wherein each pair of first and second electrodes can be independently addressed.

22. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer extends beyond the periphery of the second electrode, the non-conductive material separates the conductive layer from the first electrode beyond the periphery of the second electrode, and the first electrode extends beyond a periphery of the conductive layer and the non-conductive material.

23. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 22, wherein the first electrode is not patterned.

24. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 22, wherein the second electrode is not patterned.

25. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 22, wherein the first electrode faces a substrate and completely covers the substrate.

26. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises a polymeric material and a desiccant.

27. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 12, wherein the substrate, the conductive layer, or a combination thereof are notched.

28. A method of preparing an organic electroluminescent device comprising:

forming an electroluminescent structure comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light emitting structure, wherein the light emitting structure is disposed between the first and second electrodes;

forming an opening in a non-conductive material;

aligning the opening in the non-conductive material with a surface of the second electrode; and

establishing an electrical communication between a conductive layer and the second electrode through the opening in the non-conductive material.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising encapsulating the second electrode and the light emitting structure.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising encapsulating the second electrode and the light emitting structure with the non-conductive material and with the conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer extends beyond the periphery of the second electrode and the non-conductive layer separates the conductive layer from the first electrode beyond the periphery of the second electrode.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the method is a roll-to-roll process.

32. A method of forming an electroluminescent device comprising:

forming a first electrode in the form of a first roll;

adding a light emitting structure and a second electrode to the first roll, wherein the light emitting structure is disposed between the first and second electrode;

providing a non-conductive material in the form of a second roll and a conductive layer in the form of a third roll;

forming an opening in the second roll;

laminating the second roll between the first and third rolls, wherein the opening is aligned with a surface of the second electrode and electrical communication is established between the conductive layer and the second electrode through the opening in the non-conductive layer.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first roll further comprises a substrate.