Light-emitting element, device, and manufacturing method including a charge injection layer having a recess for suppressing uneven luminance

• US 8,866,160 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JDI Design and Development GK
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Toledo, Fernando L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bradford, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/205,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 257/E51.022, 257/40, 257/E51.019, 257/E27.119, 257/E51.018, 257/79, 257/91, 438/46, 438/99
• US Class Current: 257/79
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/17 Carrier injection layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass

Abstract

A hole injection layer and a light-emitting layer are laminated between a first electrode and a second electrode of a light emitter. A bank defines an area in which the light-emitting layer is to be formed. In the area defined by the bank, a hole injection layer has a recess in an upper surface thereof. An upper peripheral edge of the recess is covered with a part of the bank.

Claims

1. A light-emitter, comprising:

a first electrode;

a laminate disposed on the first electrode that includes a charge injection transport layer and a light-emitting layer;

a second electrode disposed on the laminate; and

banks that define an area in which the light-emitting layer is to be formed,

wherein the charge injection transport layer has a recess in an upper surface of the charge injection transport layer, the recess including a bottom surface and inner side surfaces which interconnect the bottom surface and outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed, and

the banks are directly on at least a part of each of the outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed, and directly on at least a portion of each of the inner side surfaces of the recess.

2. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the charge injection transport layer is made from a material that is eroded when exposed to a liquid used for forming the banks.

3. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the charge injection transport layer is made from one of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, and a metal oxynitride.

5. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the banks are out of contact with the bottom surface of the recess.

6. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the banks include an insulating material.

7. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting layer comprises an organic EL layer.

8. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the charge injection transport layer extends laterally along a bottom surface of each of the banks.

9. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein upper peripheral edges of the recess comprise convex portions composed of the outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed, and the inner side surfaces of the recess.

10. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 1.

11. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 2.

12. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 3.

14. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 5.

15. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 6.

16. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 7.

17. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 8.

18. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 9.

19. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein thicknesses of the outer portions of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed are each greater than a maximum thickness of an inner portion of the charge injection transport in which the recess is formed.

4. A light-emitter, comprising:

a first electrode;

a laminate disposed on the first electrode that includes a charge injection transport layer and a light-emitting layer;

a second electrode disposed on the laminate; and

banks that define an area in which the light-emitting layer is to be formed,

wherein the charge injection transport layer has a recess in an upper surface of the charge injection transport layer, the recess including a bottom surface and inner side surfaces which interconnect the bottom surface and outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed, and

the banks are directly on at least a part of each of the outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed, and directly on at least a portion of each of the inner side surfaces of the recess, and

the banks reach the bottom surface of the recess, and side surfaces of the banks slope upward from the bottom surface of the recess to tops of the banks.

13. A light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitters that are each the light-emitter of claim 4.

20. A method of manufacturing a light-emitter, the method comprising:

forming a first electrode;

disposing a laminate on the first electrode, the laminate including a charge injection transport layer;

forming banks on the charge injection transport layer that define an area in which the light-emitting layer is to be formed;

forming a light-emitting layer on the charge injection transport layer,

disposing a second electrode on the light-emitting layer;

wherein

the charge injection transport layer has a recess in an upper surface of the charge injection transport layer, the recess including a bottom surface and inner side surfaces which interconnect the bottom surface and outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed,

and

the banks are directly on at least a part of each of the outer portions of the upper surface of the charge injection transport layer in which the recess is not formed, and directly on at least a portion of each of the inner side surfaces of the recess.