Light-emitting device

• US 7,528,418 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Katayama, Miki, Yamamoto, Yoshiaki, Kawakami, Takahiro, Arai, Yasuyuki, Sakata, Junichiro, Yamazaki, Shunpei, Yokoyama, Kohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Mandala; Victor A
• Application Number:
  US11/707,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 257/96, 257/79, 257/183, 257/E33.013
• US Class Current: 257/96
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3031 Two-side emission, e.g. transparent OLEDs [TOLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/19 Tandem OLEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/17 Passive-matrix OLED displays

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device with high current efficiency and high display quality, in which a change in luminance with time is suppressed. The light-emitting device is provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements in each of which a plurality of light-emitting units each including at least one light-emitting layer are connected in series between a pair of electrodes. Between one of light-emitting units and the other light-emitting unit, an intermediate conductive layer is provided in the light-emitting unit. The light-emitting layer includes base material which is a compound containing an element belonging to group 2 and an element belonging to group 16 or a compound containing an element belonging to group 12 and an element belonging to group 16, and an impurity element which is an emission center. This structure makes it possible to increase light emission luminance without increasing current density.

Claims

1. A light-emitting device comprising:

a light-emitting element comprising a plurality of light-emitting units and an intermediate conductive layer between a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting units comprises a light-emitting layer including a base material which is an impurity element and a compound containing an element belonging to group 2 and an element belonging to group 16, and

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are connected in series with the intermediate conductive layer interposed therebetween.

7. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

13. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

19. A light-emitting device according to claim 13, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

25. A light-emitting device according to claim 13, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

31. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

37. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.

2. A light-emitting device comprising:

a light-emitting element comprising a plurality of light-emitting units and an intermediate conductive layer between a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting units comprises a light-emitting layer including a base material which is an impurity element and a compound containing an element belonging to group 12 and an element belonging to group 16, and

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are connected in series with the intermediate conductive layer interposed therebetween.

8. A light-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

14. A light-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

20. A light-emitting device according to claim 14, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

26. A light-emitting device according to claim 14, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

32. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

38. A light-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.

3. A light-emitting device comprising:

a pixel portion including a plurality of light-emitting elements, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprising;

a plurality of light-emitting units and an intermediate conductive layer between a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting units comprises a light-emitting layer including a base material which is an impurity element and a compound containing an element belonging to group 2 and an element belonging to group 16,

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are connected in series with the intermediate conductive layer interposed therebetween, and

wherein the intermediate conductive layer provided for each of the plurality of light-emitting elements is separate from each other.

9. A light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

15. A light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

21. A light-emitting device according to claim 15, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

27. A light-emitting device according to claim 15, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

33. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

39. A light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.

4. A light-emitting device comprising:

a pixel portion including a plurality of light-emitting elements, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprising;

a plurality of light-emitting units and an intermediate conductive layer between a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting units comprises a light-emitting layer including a base material which is an impurity element and a compound containing an element belonging to group 12 and an element belonging to group 16,

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are connected in series with the intermediate conductive layer interposed therebetween, and

wherein the intermediate conductive layer provided for each of the plurality of light-emitting elements is separate from each other.

10. A light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

16. A light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

22. A light-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

28. A light-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

34. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

40. A light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.

5. A light-emitting device comprising:

a pixel portion including a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of partition layers, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprising;

a plurality of light-emitting units and an intermediate conductive layer

between a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting units comprises a light-emitting layer including a base material which is an impurity element and a compound containing an element belonging to group 2 and an element belonging to group 16,

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are connected in series with the intermediate conductive layer interposed therebetween,

wherein the intermediate conductive layer provided for each of the plurality of light-emitting elements is separate from each other, and

wherein edges of the intermediate conductive layer are positioned over the plurality of partition layers.

11. A light-emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

17. A light-emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

23. A light-emitting device according to claim 17, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

29. A light-emitting device according to claim 17, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

35. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

41. A light-emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.

6. A light-emitting device comprising:

a pixel portion including a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of partition layers, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprising;

a plurality of light-emitting units and an intermediate conductive layer between a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting units comprises a light-emitting layer including a base material which is an impurity element and a compound containing an element belonging to group 12 and an element belonging to group 16,

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are connected in series with the intermediate conductive layer interposed therebetween,

wherein the intermediate conductive layer provided for each of the plurality of light-emitting elements is separate from each other, and

wherein edges of the intermediate conductive layer are positioned over the plurality of partition layers.

12. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

18. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

24. A light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

30. A light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

36. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

42. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.

43. A light-emitting device comprising:

a first light-emitting unit comprising a first light-emitting layer formed over a first electrode;

an intermediate conductive layer formed over the first light-emitting unit;

a second light-emitting unit comprising a second light-emitting layer formed over the intermediate conductive layer; and

a second electrode formed over the second light-emitting unit,

wherein each of the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer comprises a base material which is a compound containing an element belonging to group 2 and an element belonging to group 16 and an impurity element, and

wherein the first light-emitting unit is in contact with the second light-emitting unit.

44. A light-emitting device according to claim 43, wherein the base material is a material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, calcium sulfide, yttrium sulfide, gallium sulfide, strontium sulfide, barium sulfide, zinc oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, calcium gallium sulfide, strontium gallium sulfide, and barium gallium sulfide.

45. A light-emitting device according to claim 43, wherein the impurity element comprises a metal element which is an emission center.

46. A light-emitting device according to claim 45, wherein the metal element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl), and an element selected from the group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

47. A light-emitting device according to claim 45, wherein the metal element is contained at a concentration of 0.05 to 5 atomic % with respect to the base material.

48. An electronic appliance having the light-emitting device according to claim 43, wherein the electronic appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a camera such as a video camera and a digital camera, goggle type display, a navigation system, an audio reproducing device, a computer, a game machine, mobile information terminal and an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium.

49. A light-emitting device according to claim 43, wherein the light-emitting device is an inorganic light-emitting device.