Method of fabricating an organic photosensitive optoelectronic device with an exciton blocking layer

• US 6,844,025 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Princeton University
• Original Assignee: Princeton University
• Inventors: Forrest, Stephen R., Bulovic, Vladimir, Peumans, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): YAMNITZKY, MARIE ROSE
• Application Number:
  US10/757,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 427/58, 427/74, 438/82, 428/212, 428/913, 136/252, 136/263, 313/523, 257/184, 257/461
• US Class Current: 427/74
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/103 comprising indium oxides, e.g. ITO
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/211 comprising multiple junctions, e.g. double heterojunctions
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/353 comprising blocking layers, e.g. exciton blocking layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/57 comprising multiple junctions, e.g. tandem PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 39/30 Devices controlled by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 39/32 Organic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/1135 Polyethylene dioxythiophene [PEDOT]; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/311 Phthalocyanine
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/60 Organic compounds having low molecular weight H10K85/10 - H10K85/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/621 Aromatic anhydride or imide compounds, e.g. perylene tetra-carboxylic dianhydride or perylene tetracarboxylic di-imide
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/657 Polycyclic condensed heteroaromatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/6572 comprising only nitrogen in the heteroaromatic polycondensed ring system, e.g. phenanthroline or carbazole
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree

Abstract

Organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices (“OPODs”) are disclosed which include an exciton blocking layer to enhance device efficiency. Single heterostructure, stacked and wave-guide type embodiments are disclosed. Photodetector OPODs having multilayer structures and an exciton blocking layer are also disclosed. Guidelines for selection of exciton blocking layers are provided.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating an organic photosensitive optoelectronic device, the method comprising:

depositing a hole transport layer over a first electrode, the hole transport layer formed of a first photoconductive organic semiconductor material;

depositing an electron transport layer over the hole transport layer, the electron transport layer formed of a second photoconductive organic semiconductor material;

depositing a first exciton blocking layer over the electron transport layer; and

depositing a second electrode over the first exciton blocking layer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising depositing a second exciton blocking layer over the first electrode, such that the hole transport layer is deposited over the second exciton blocking layer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first exciton blocking layer is a hole blocking layer, and the second exciton blocking layer is an electron blocking layer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the electron transport layer is 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-bis-benzimidazole;

the hole transport layer is copper phthalocyanine; and

the hole blocking layer is 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline; and

the electron blocking layer is selected from the group consisting of 4,4′

,4″

-tris {N,-(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenylamino}triphenyl amine or polyethylene dioxythiophene.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first exciton blocking layer is a hole blocking layer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the electron transport layer is 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-bis-benzimidazole;

the hole transport layer is copper phthalocyanine; and

the hole blocking layer is 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first photoconductive organic semiconductor material and the second photoconductive organic semiconductor material are selected to have spectral sensitivity in the visible spectrum.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprises an organic photodetector.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprises an organic solar cell.

10. A method of fabricating an organic photosensitive optoelectronic device, the method comprising:

depositing a first exciton blocking layer over a first electrode;

depositing a hole transport layer over the first exciton blocking layer, the hole transport layer formed of a first photoconductive organic semiconductor material;

depositing an electron transport layer over the hole transport layer, the electron transport layer formed of a second photoconductive organic semiconductor material; and

depositing a second electrode over the electron transport layer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising depositing a second exciton blocking layer over the electron transport layer, such that the second electrode is deposited over the second exciton blocking layer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first exciton blocking layer is an electron blocking layer, and the second exciton blocking layer is a hole blocking layer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the electron transport layer is 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-bis-benzimidazole;

the hole transport layer is copper phthalocyanine; and

the hole blocking layer is 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline; and

the electron blocking layer is selected from the group consisting of4,4′

,4″

-tris{N,-(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenylamino}triphenylamine and polyethylene dioxythiophene.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the first exciton blocking layer is an electron blocking layer.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the electron transport layer is 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-bis-benzimidazole

the hole transport layer is copper phthalocyanine; and

the electron blocking layer is selected from the group consisting of4,4′

,4″

-tris{N,-(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenylamino}triphenylamine and polyethylene dioxythiophene.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the first photoconductive organic semiconductor material and the second photoconductive organic semiconductor material are selected to have spectral sensitivity in the visible spectrum.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprises an organic photodetector.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprises an organic solar cell.