Organic electroluminescent device

• US 5,457,565 A
• Filed: 11/18/1993
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Hitoshi, Nagayama, Kenichi, Watanabe, Teruichi, Namiki, Tohru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US08/153,924
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/271, 359/273, 359/275, 257/40, 257/103
• US Class Current: 359/273
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/12 Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/14 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of the electroluminescent material , or by the simultaneous addition of the electroluminescent material in or onto the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/28 of translucent electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/171 Electron injection layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers

Abstract

An organic electroluminescent device comprises an anode, a positive-hole transport layer made of an organic compound, an emitting layer made of an organic compound, and a cathode which are layered in sequence, further comprising an electron-injecting layer containing at least one of alkaline earth metal oxides and disposed between the emitting layer and the cathode. This device emits light at a high luminance and a high efficiency upon application of a low voltage together with reduction of the decrement of luminance in the running of emitting light of the device. Selection scope for cathode materials is expanded because of the device is free from the restriction of a low work function for the cathode layer. The cathode can be made a transparent electrode such as ITO. Anode and cathode lines may be formed with low resistance material. As a result, emitting efficiency and life time of the device is improved.

Claims

1. An organic EL device comprising:

an anode, a positive-hole transport layer made of an organic compound, an emitting layer made of an organic compound, and a cathode which are layered in sequence; and

an electron-injecting layer containing at least one of alkaline earth metal oxides and disposed between said emitting layer and said cathode.

2. An organic EL device according to claim 1, wherein said cathode is made of a transparent conductive material.

3. An organic EL device according to claim 1, wherein said cathode and said anode are made of transparent conductive materials.

4. An organic EL device according to claim 1, further comprising an electron transport layer interposed between said electron-injecting layer and said emitting layer.

5. An electroluminescent (EL) device, comprising:

an anode;

a positive-hole transport layer, comprised of an organic compound, disposed adjacent to a surface of the anode;

a cathode;

an electron-injecting layer, including an alkaline earth metal oxide, disposed adjacent to a first surface of the cathode; and

an emitting layer, comprised of an organic compound, disposed between the positive-hole transport layer and the electron-injecting layer.

6. An EL device as recited in claim 5, further comprising a glass substrate, wherein a second surface of the cathode, opposite the first surface of the cathode, is formed adjacent to the glass substrate.

7. An EL device as recited in claim 5, wherein the alkaline earth metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of SrO, CaO and BaO.

8. An EL device as recited in claim 5, wherein a work function of the cathode is approximately equal to a work function of the anode.

9. An EL device as recited in claim 8, wherein the cathode and the anode are comprised of a same material.

10. An EL device as recited in claim 8, wherein the cathode and the anode are comprised of indium-tin oxide.

11. An EL device as recited in claim 5, wherein the cathode is comprised of indium-tin oxide.

12. An EL device as recited in claim 5, further comprising an electron transport layer interposed between the electron-injecting layer and the emitting layer.