Light emitting device and method for manufacturing thereof

• US 20060244373A1
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nomura, Ryoji, Kato, Kaoru, Yamazaki, Shunpei, Yoshimoto, Satoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/408,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/351 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24967 Absolute thicknesses specified

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device including an organic light emitting layer and an organic compound and having high light emitting efficient along with less deterioration in characteristics. In the light emitting device, an anode, a cathode facing the anode, light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and the cathode, and carrier transporting layers each comprising an organic compound, are provided over a substrate. Each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked. A thickness of each of the carrier transporting layers is thinner than that of each of the light emitting layers. When each of the carrier transporting layers is a hole transporting layer, each of the light emitting layers has an electron transporting property. When each of the carrier transporting layers is an electron transporting layer, each of the light emitting layers has a hole transporting property.

Claims

1. A light emitting device comprising:

a substrate;

an anode;

a cathode facing the anode;

light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and the cathode; and

hole transporting layers each comprising an organic compound,

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the hole transporting layers are alternately stacked,

wherein a thickness of each of the hole transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layers, wherein each of the light emitting layers has an electron transporting property.

2. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein 2 to n (n is a positive integer) pieces of the light emitting layers and the hole transporting layers are alternately stacked.

3. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of each of the hole transporting layers is 1 to 5 nm, and the thickness of each of the light emitting layers is 5 to 20 nm.

4. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers and a vacuum level is larger than an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the hole transporting layers and the vacuum level, and

wherein an absolute value between a HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers and the vacuum level is larger than an absolute value of an energy difference between a HOMO level of each of the hole transporting layers and the vacuum level.

5. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers is lower than the LUMO level of each of the hole transporting layers, and

wherein the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers is lower than the HOMO level of each of the hole transporting layers.

6. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a buffer layer including an organic compound and a metal compound is provided to be in contact with the anode.

7. A light emitting device comprising:

a substrate;

an anode;

a cathode facing the anode;

light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and the cathode; and

electron transporting layers each comprising an organic compound,

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the electron transporting layers are alternately stacked,

wherein a thickness of each of the electron transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layers,

wherein each of the light emitting layers has a hole transporting property.

8. A light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein 2 to n (n is a positive integer) pieces of the light emitting layers and the electron transporting layers are alternately stacked.

9. A light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the thickness of each of the electron transporting layers is 1 to 5 nm, and the thickness of each of the light emitting layers is 5 to 20 nm.

10. A light emitting device according to claim 7,

wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers and a vacuum level is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the electron transporting layers and the vacuum level, and

wherein an absolute value between a HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers and the vacuum level is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between a HOMO level of each of the electron transporting layers and the vacuum level.

11. A light emitting device according to claim 7,

wherein the LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers is higher than the LUMO level of each of the electron transporting layers, and

wherein the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers is higher than the HOMO level of each of the electron transporting layers.

12. A light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein a buffer layer including an organic compound and a metal compound is provided to be in contact with the anode.

13. A light emitting device comprising:

a substrate;

an anode;

a cathode facing the anode;

light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and cathode;

a first hole transporting layer comprising an organic compound; and

second hole transporting layers each comprising an organic compound,

wherein the first hole transporting layer is formed over the anode,

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the second hole transporting layers are alternately stacked over the first hole transporting layer,

wherein a thickness of each of the second hole transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layers, and

wherein each of the light emitting layers has an electron transporting property.

14. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein 2 to n (n is a positive integer) pieces of the light emitting layers and the second hole transporting layers are alternately stacked.

15. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of each of the second hole transporting layers is 1 to 5 nm, and the thickness of each of the light emitting layers is 5 to 20 nm.

16. A light emitting device according to claim 13,

wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers and a vacuum level is larger than an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the second hole transporting layers and the vacuum level, and

wherein an absolute value between a HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers and the vacuum level is larger than an absolute value of an energy difference between a HOMO level of each of the second hole transporting layers and the vacuum level.

17. A light emitting device according to claim 13,

wherein the LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers is lower than the LUMO level of each of the second hole transporting layers, and

wherein the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers is lower than the HOMO level of the each of second hole transporting layers.

18. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between a HOMO level of the first hole transporting layer and the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between the HOMO level of each of the second hole transporting layers and the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers.

19. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between work function of the anode and the HOMO level of the first hole transporting layer is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between the HOMO level of each of the second hole transporting layers and the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers.

20. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein a buffer layer including an organic compound and a metal compound is provided between the first hole transporting layer and the anode.

21. A light emitting device comprising:

a substrate;

an anode;

a cathode facing the anode;

light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and cathode;

a first electron transporting layer comprising an organic compound; and

second electron transporting layers each comprising an organic compound,

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the second electron transporting layers are alternately stacked,

wherein the first electron transporting layer is formed over the alternately stacked layer,

wherein the cathode is formed over the first electron transporting layer,

wherein a thickness of each of the second electron transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layers, and

wherein each of the light emitting layers has a hole transporting property.

22. A light emitting device according to claim 21, wherein 2 to n (n is a positive integer) pieces of the light emitting layers and the second electron transporting layers are alternately stacked.

23. A light emitting device according to claim 21, wherein the thickness of each of the second electron transporting layers is 1 to 5 nm, and the thickness of each of the light emitting layers is 5 to 20 nm.

24. A light emitting device according to claim 21,

wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers and a vacuum level is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between a LUMO level of each of the second electron transporting layers and the vacuum level, and

wherein an absolute value between a HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers and the vacuum level is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between a HOMO level of each of the second electron transporting layers and the vacuum level.

25. A light emitting device according to claim 21,

wherein the LUMO level of each of the light emitting layers is higher than the LUMO level of each of the second electron transporting layers, and

wherein the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers is higher than the HOMO level of each of the second electron transporting layers.

26. A light emitting device according to claim 21, wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between a HOMO level of the first electron transporting layer and the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between the HOMO level of each of the second electron transporting layers and the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers.

27. A light emitting device according to claim 21, wherein an absolute value of an energy difference between work function of the anode and the HOMO level of the first electron transporting layer is smaller than an absolute value of an energy difference between the HOMO level of each of the second electron transporting layers and the HOMO level of each of the light emitting layers.

28. A light emitting device according to claim 21, wherein a buffer layer including an organic compound and a metal compound is provided between the alternately stacked layer and the anode.

29. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device comprising a substrate, an anode, a cathode facing the anode, light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and the cathode, and carrier transporting layers each comprising an organic compound, wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked, a thickness of each of the carrier transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layer,

wherein the substrate is provided over an evaporation source of a carrier transporting material and an evaporation source of a light emitting material,

wherein a first shutter, which is openable and closable, is provided between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate,

wherein a second shutter, which is openable and closable, is provided between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate, and

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked by opening and closing the first and second shutters.

30. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 29,

wherein when the first shutter is opened, the second shutter is closed and the carrier transporting material is evaporated over the substrate, and

wherein when the second shutter is opened, the first shutter is closed and the light emitting material is evaporated over the substrate so that each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked.

31. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 29,

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked by opening and closing the first and second shutters and by controlling an evaporation rate of the light emitting material and an evaporation rate of the carrier transporting material.

32. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device comprising a substrate, an anode, a cathode facing the anode, light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and the cathode, and carrier transporting layers each comprising an organic compound, wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked, a thickness of each of the carrier transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layers,

wherein the substrate is provided over a first rotating plate,

wherein the first rotating plate is provided over an evaporation source of a light emitting material and an evaporation source of a carrier transporting material,

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked by rotating the first rotating plate and changing a distance between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate and a distance between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate.

33. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 32,

wherein when by rotating the first rotating plate, the distance between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate is shorter than the distance between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate, a larger amount of the light emitting material is evaporated over the substrate than the carrier transporting material so as to form each of the light emitting layers, and

wherein when the distance between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate is shorter than the distance between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate, a larger amount of the carrier transporting material is evaporated over the substrate than the light emitting material so as to form each of the carrier transporting layers.

34. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 32, wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked by controlling an evaporation rate of the light emitting material and an evaporation rate of the carrier transporting material.

35. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 32,

wherein a shutter, which is openable and closable, is provided between the carrier transporting material and the substrate, and

wherein by controlling rotation of the first rotating plate and opening and closing of the shutter, each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked.

36. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 32,

wherein a second rotating plate is provided over the first rotating plate,

wherein the substrate is provided over the second rotating plate;

and

wherein the first rotating plate and second rotating plate have difference central axes from each other and rotate independently.

37. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device comprising a substrate, an anode, a cathode facing the anode, light emitting layers each comprising an organic compound and being provided between the anode and the cathode, and carrier transporting layers each comprising an organic compound, wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked, a thickness of each of the carrier transporting layers is thinner than a thickness of each of the light emitting layers,

wherein the substrate is provided over an evaporation source of a light emitting material and an evaporation source of a carrier transporting material,

wherein a first mask, which is rotatable, is provided between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate,

wherein a second mask, which is rotatable, is provided between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate, and

wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked by controlling rotation of the first and second masks.

38. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 37 wherein a hole or a slit is provided in each of the first and second masks.

39. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 37,

wherein a hole or a slit is provided in each of the first and second masks,

wherein when the hole or slit of the first mask is positioned between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate while the hole or slit of the second mask is not positioned between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate, the light emitting material is evaporated over the substrate, and

wherein when the hole or slit of the second mask is positioned between the evaporation source of the carrier transporting material and the substrate while the hole or slit of the first mask is not positioned between the evaporation source of the light emitting material and the substrate, the carrier transporting material is evaporated over the substrate.

40. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device according to claim 37, wherein each of the light emitting layers and each of the carrier transporting layers are alternately stacked by controlling an evaporation rate of the light emitting material and an evaporation rate of the carrier transporting material.