OLED stability via doped hole transport layer

• US 8,778,511 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Adamovich, Vadim, D'Andrade, Brian, Weaver, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLARK, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US13/139,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 428/690, 428/917, 313/504, 313/505, 313/506, 257/40, 257/E51.05, 257/E51.026, 257/E51.032
• US Class Current: 428/690
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/155 comprising dopants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/30 Doping active layers, e.g. electron transporting layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/324 comprising aluminium, e.g. Alq3
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/631 Amine compounds having at least two aryl rest on at least one amine-nitrogen atom, e.g. triphenylamine

Abstract

An organic light emitting device is provided. The device includes an anode and a cathode. A first organic layer is disposed between the anode and the cathode. The first organic layer is an emissive layer that includes a first organic emitting material. The device also includes a second organic layer disposed between the anode and the first organic layer. The second organic layer is a non-emissive layer. The second organic layer includes an organic small molecule hole transport material having a concentration of 50 to 99 wt %, and an organic small molecule electron transport material having a concentration of 0.1 to 5 wt %. Other materials may be present.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

(a) an anode

(b) a cathode

(c) a first organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, the first organic layer being an emissive layer comprising a first organic emitting material;

(d) a second organic layer disposed between the anode and the first organic layer and in direct contact with the first organic layer, the second organic layer being a non-emissive layer, the second organic layer comprising;

(i) an organic small molecule hole transport material having a concentration of 50 to 99 wt %;

(ii) an organic small molecule electron transport material having a concentration of 0.1 to 5 wt %;

wherein the concentration of the 0.1 to 5 wt % of the organic small molecule electron transport material occurs at a position in the second organic layer immediately on the anode side of the emissive layer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material has a concentration of 0.1 to 4 wt % in the second organic layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material has a concentration of 0.1 to 3 wt % in the second organic layer.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material has a concentration of 2 to 3 wt % in the second organic layer.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a third organic layer disposed between the second organic layer and die anode, the third organic layer comprising a hole injection material;

(a) wherein the third organic layer is in direct contact with the anode, and

(b) wherein the third organic layer is in direct contact with the second organic layer.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising another organic layer disposed between the first organic layer and the cathode, the another organic layer being an emissive layer comprising a second emitting material.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an additional organic layer disposed between the second organic layer and the anode, the additional organic layer comprising the organic small molecule hole transport material, and not including the organic small molecule electron transport material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material has a HOMO-LUMO difference that is at least 0.2 eV less than the HOMO-LUMO difference of the organic small molecule hole transport material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material has a LUMO energy level that is at least 0.2 eV less than the LUMO energy level of the organic small molecule hole transport material.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first organic emitting material is phosphorescent.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the emitting material has a peak emissive wavelength in the visible spectrum of 600 to 700 nm.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the emitting material has a peak emissive wavelength in the visible spectrum of 500 to 600 nm.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the emitting material has a peak emissive wavelength in the visible spectrum of 400 to 500 nm.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material is a metal quinolate.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material is Alq₃.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule hole transport material is an amine-containing material.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the organic small molecule hole transport material is NPD.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic small molecule electron transport material has an electron mobility higher than that of the organic small molecule hole transport material.