Light-emitting element, light-emitting device and an electronic device, which include two layers including same light-emitting organic compound

• US 8,410,492 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohsawa, Nobuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Soward, Ida M
• Application Number:
  US13/316,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20120091442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 257/13, 257/40, 257/79, 257/94, 257/103, 257/E51.01, 257/E51.018, 257/E51.026
• US Class Current: 257/79
• 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 50/15 Hole transporting layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/16 Electron transporting layers

Abstract

The present invention provides a light-emitting element including an electron-transporting layer and a hole-transporting layer between a first electrode and a second electrode; and a first layer and a second layer between the electron-transporting layer and the hole-transporting layer, wherein the first layer includes a first organic compound and an organic compound having a hole-transporting property, the second layer includes a second organic compound and an organic compound having an electron-transporting property, the first layer is formed in contact with the first electrode side of the second layer, the first organic compound and the second organic compound are the same compound, and a voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, so that both of the first organic compound and the second organic compound emit light.

Claims

1. A light emitting element comprising:

a first electrode;

a first layer over the first electrode;

a second layer over and in contact with the first layer;

a first charge generation layer over the second layer;

a third layer over the first charge generation layer;

a fourth layer over and in contact with the third layer; and

a second electrode over the fourth layer,

wherein the first layer includes a first light-emitting organic compound and a first organic compound having a hole-transporting property,

wherein the second layer includes the first light-emitting organic compound and a second organic compound having an electron-transporting property,

wherein the third layer includes a second light-emitting organic compound and a third organic compound having a hole-transporting property, and

wherein the fourth layer includes the second light-emitting organic compound and a fourth organic compound having an electron-transporting property.

2. A light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element emits white light.

3. A light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is applied to an illumination device.

4. A light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is applied to one of a desk lamp, an illumination device in the room, and a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

5. A light emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second charge generation layer over the fourth layer;

a fifth layer over the second charge generation layer; and

a sixth layer over and in contact with the fifth layer,

wherein the second electrode is over the sixth layer, and

wherein the fifth layer includes a third light-emitting organic compound and a fifth organic compound having a hole-transporting property, and

wherein the sixth layer includes the third light-emitting organic compound and a sixth organic compound having an electron-transporting property.

6. A light emitting element according to claim 5, wherein the light emitting element emits white light.

7. A light emitting element according to claim 5, wherein the light emitting element is applied to an illumination device.

8. A light emitting element according to claim 5, wherein the light emitting element is applied to one of a desk lamp, an illumination device in the room, and a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

9. The light-emitting element according to claim 1,

wherein the first light-emitting organic compound and the first organic compound are mixed in the first layer,

wherein the first light-emitting organic compound and the second organic compound are mixed in the second layer,

wherein the second light-emitting organic compound and the third organic compound are mixed in the third layer, and

wherein the second light-emitting organic compound and the fourth organic compound are mixed in the fourth layer.

10. The light-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound comprise at least one of a tricyclic condensed aromatic compound, a tetracyclic condensed aromatic compound, a pentacyclic condensed aromatic compound, and a hexacyclic condensed aromatic compound.

11. The light-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound are anthracene derivatives.

12. A light emitting element comprising:

a first electrode;

a first layer over the first electrode;

a second layer over and in contact with the first layer;

a first charge generation layer over the second layer;

a third layer over the first charge generation layer;

a fourth layer over and in contact with the third layer; and

a second electrode over the fourth layer,

wherein the first layer includes a first light-emitting organic compound and a first organic compound having a hole-transporting property,

wherein the second layer includes the first light-emitting organic compound and a second organic compound having an electron-transporting property,

wherein the third layer includes a second light-emitting organic compound and a third organic compound having a hole-transporting property,

wherein the fourth layer includes the second light-emitting organic compound and a fourth organic compound having an electron-transporting property,

wherein a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the first organic compound is greater than or equal to −

6.0 eV and less than or equal to −

5.0 eV, and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the first organic compound is greater than or equal to −

3.0 eV and less than or equal to −

2.0 eV,

wherein a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the second organic compound is greater than or equal to −

6.0 eV and less than or equal to −

5.0 eV, and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the second organic compound is greater than or equal to −

3.0 eV and less than or equal to −

2.0 eV,

wherein a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the third organic compound is greater than or equal to −

6.0 eV and less than or equal to −

5.0 eV, and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the third organic compound is greater than or equal to −

3.0 eV and less than or equal to −

2.0 eV, and

wherein a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the fourth organic compound is greater than or equal to −

6.0 eV and less than or equal to −

5.0 eV, and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the fourth organic compound is greater than or equal to −

3.0 eV and less than or equal to −

2.0 eV.

13. A light emitting element according to claim 12, wherein the light emitting element emits white light.

14. A light emitting element according to claim 12, wherein the light emitting element is applied to an illumination device.

15. A light emitting element according to claim 12, wherein the light emitting element is applied to one of a desk lamp, an illumination device in the room, and a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

16. A light emitting element according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second charge generation layer over the fourth layer;

a fifth layer over the second charge generation layer; and

a sixth layer over and in contact with the fifth layer,

wherein the second electrode is over the sixth layer, and

wherein the fifth layer includes a third light-emitting organic compound and a fifth organic compound having a hole-transporting property, and

wherein the sixth layer includes the third light-emitting organic compound and a sixth organic compound having an electron-transporting property.

17. A light emitting element according to claim 16, wherein the light emitting element emits white light.

18. A light emitting element according to claim 16, wherein the light emitting element is applied to an illumination device.

19. A light emitting element according to claim 16, wherein the light emitting element is applied to one of a desk lamp, an illumination device in the room, and a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

20. The light-emitting element according to claim 12,

wherein the first light-emitting organic compound and the first organic compound are mixed in the first layer,

wherein the first light-emitting organic compound and the second organic compound are mixed in the second layer,

wherein the second light-emitting organic compound and the third organic compound are mixed in the third layer, and

wherein the second light-emitting organic compound and the fourth organic compound are mixed in the fourth layer.

21. The light-emitting element according to claim 12, wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound comprise at least one of a tricyclic condensed aromatic compound, a tetracyclic condensed aromatic compound, a pentacyclic condensed aromatic compound, and a hexacyclic condensed aromatic compound.

22. The light-emitting element according to claim 12, wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound are anthracene derivatives.

23. A light emitting element comprising:

a first electrode;

a first layer over the first electrode;

a second layer over and in contact with the first layer;

a first charge generation layer over the second layer;

a third layer over the first charge generation layer;

a fourth layer over and in contact with the third layer; and

a second electrode over the fourth layer,

wherein the first layer includes a first light-emitting organic compound and a first organic compound having a hole-transporting property,

wherein the second layer includes the first light-emitting organic compound and a second organic compound having an electron-transporting property,

wherein the third layer includes a second light-emitting organic compound and a third organic compound having a hole-transporting property,

wherein the fourth layer includes the second light-emitting organic compound and a fourth organic compound having an electron-transporting property, and

wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound are reversible to an oxidative reaction and a reductive reaction.

24. A light emitting element according to claim 23, wherein the light emitting element emits white light.

25. A light emitting element according to claim 23, wherein the light emitting element is applied to an illumination device.

26. A light emitting element according to claim 23, wherein the light emitting element is applied to one of a desk lamp, an illumination device in the room, and a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

27. A light emitting element according to claim 23, further comprising:

a second charge generation layer over the fourth layer;

a fifth layer over the second charge generation layer; and

a sixth layer over and in contact with the fifth layer,

wherein the second electrode is over the sixth layer, and

wherein the fifth layer includes a third light-emitting organic compound and a fifth organic compound having a hole-transporting property, and

wherein the sixth layer includes the third light-emitting organic compound and a sixth organic compound having an electron-transporting property.

28. A light emitting element according to claim 27, wherein the light emitting element emits white light.

29. A light emitting element according to claim 27, wherein the light emitting element is applied to an illumination device.

30. A light emitting element according to claim 27, wherein the light emitting element is applied to one of a desk lamp, an illumination device in the room, and a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

31. The light-emitting element according to claim 23,

wherein the first light-emitting organic compound and the first organic compound are mixed in the first layer,

wherein the first light-emitting organic compound and the second organic compound are mixed in the second layer,

wherein the second light-emitting organic compound and the third organic compound are mixed in the third layer, and

wherein the second light-emitting organic compound and the fourth organic compound are mixed in the fourth layer.

32. The light-emitting element according to claim 23, wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound comprise at least one of a tricyclic condensed aromatic compound, a tetracyclic condensed aromatic compound, a pentacyclic condensed aromatic compound, and a hexacyclic condensed aromatic compound.

33. The light-emitting element according to claim 23, wherein the first organic compound, the second organic compound, the third organic compound, and the fourth organic compound are anthracene derivatives.

34. A light emitting element comprising:

a first electrode;

a first layer over the first electrode;

a second layer over and in contact with the first layer; and

a second electrode over the second layer,

wherein the first layer includes a first light-emitting organic compound and a first organic compound having a hole-transporting property, and

wherein the second layer includes the first light-emitting organic compound and a second organic compound having an electron-transporting property.

35. The light emitting element according to claim 34,

wherein a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the first organic compound is greater than or equal to −

6.0 eV and less than or equal to −

5.0 eV, and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the first organic compound is greater than or equal to −

3.0 eV and less than or equal to −

2.0 eV, and

wherein a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the second organic compound is greater than or equal to −

6.0 eV and less than or equal to −

5.0 eV, and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the second organic compound is greater than or equal to −

3.0 eV and less than or equal to −

2.0 eV.

36. The light emitting element according to claim 34, wherein the first organic compound and the second organic compound are reversible to an oxidative reaction and a reductive reaction.

37. The light emitting element according to claim 34,

wherein a difference between a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the first organic compound and a highest occupied molecular orbital level of the second organic compound is 0.3 eV or less, and

wherein a difference between a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the first organic compound and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the second organic compound is 0.3 eV or less.

38. The light-emitting element according to claim 34, further comprising:

an electron-transporting layer over the first electrode, wherein the first layer is over the electron-transporting layer; and

a hole-transporting layer over the second layer, wherein the second electrode is over the hole-transporting layer.

39. The light-emitting element according to claim 34, wherein the light-emitting element is configured to being applied a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode such that a potential of the first electrode is higher than that of the second electrode, so that both of the first light-emitting organic compound included in the first layer and the first light-emitting organic compound included in the second layer emit light.

40. The light-emitting element according to claim 34,

wherein the light-emitting element is applied to a light-emitting device, and

wherein the light-emitting device comprises a control means for controlling light-emission of the light-emitting element.

41. The light-emitting element according to claim 34,

wherein the light-emitting element is applied to a display portion of an electronic device, and

wherein the display portion comprises a control means for controlling light-emission of the light-emitting element.