Light-emitting devices containing network electrode polymers in electron blocking layer

• US 6,004,681 A
• Filed: 07/29/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Ohio State University Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: The Ohio State University Research Foundation
• Inventors: Epstein, Arthur J., Wang, Yunzhang
• Primary Examiner(s): COONEY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/902,145
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 428/457, 428/690, 428/917, 313/504, 313/506, 257/13, 257/94
• US Class Current: 428/457
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/122 derived from five- or six-membered heterocyclic compounds, other than imides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/127 comprising five-membered aromatic rings in the main chain, e.g. polypyrroles, polythiophenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/128 comprising six-membered aromatic rings in the main chain, e.g. polyanilines, polyphenylenes
• 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: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/14 Carrier transporting layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/18 Carrier blocking layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/111 comprising aromatic, heteroaromatic, or aryl chains, e.g. polyaniline, polyphenylene or polyphenylene vinylene
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/114 Poly-phenylenevinylene; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/146 poly N-vinylcarbazol; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/151 Copolymers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

Abstract

In general terms, the present invention includes a light emitting polymeric material, the polymeric material comprising: (a) an electron transporting polymer; the electron transporting polymer in contact with (b) an electron blocking polymer, the electron blocking polymer incorporating a network electrode polymer. Such devices may be bilayer or multilayer devices, in accordance with arrangements known in the art. Likewise, the source of electrical current may be from any appropriate source having the electrical characteristics sufficient to and appropriate for the desired device make-up and application.

Claims

1. A light emitting polymeric material, said polymeric material comprising:

(a) an electron transporting polymer;

said electron transporting polymer in contact with

(b) an electron blocking polymer, said electron blocking polymer incorporating a network electrode polymer.

2. A light emitting polymeric material according to claim 1, wherein said electron tranporting polymer comprises a pyridine-containing conjugated polymers and copolymers.

3. A light emitting polymeric material according to claim 1, wherein said electron blocking polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylcarbazole).

4. A light emitting polymeric material according to claim 1, wherein said network electrode polymer comprises camphor sulfonic acid doped polyaniline.

5. A light emitting device, said device comprising:

(a) an electron transporting polymer;

said electron transporting polymer in contact with

(b) an electron blocking polymer, said electron blocking polymer incorporating a network electrode polymer; and

(c) a source of electrical current so as to supply said electron transporting polymer with a flow of electrons, so as to cause an electroluminescent emission from said heterojunction between said electron transporting polymer and said electron blocking polymer.

6. A light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein said electron tranporting polymer comprises a pyridine-containing conjugated polymers and copolymers.

7. A light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein said electron blocking polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylcarbazole).

8. A light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein said network electrode polymer comprises camphor sulfonic acid doped polyaniline.