Light-emitting element, light-emitting device provided with light-emitting element, and light-emitting element production method

• US 9,843,010 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JDI Design and Development GK
• Original Assignee: JOLED Inc.
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Culbert, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/740,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20130126844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/17 Carrier injection layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/818 Reflective anodes, e.g. ITO combined with thick metallic 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

Organic EL elements are configured so that at least a hole injection layer and a light-emitting layer are laminated between a first electrode and a second electrode, and a bank defines an area in which the light-emitting layer is to be formed. An inner portion of the hole injection layer is depressed to define a recess. 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 layer, a charge transport layer, and a light-emitting layer;

a second electrode disposed on the laminate; and

a bank that defines an area in which the light-emitting layer is disposed, wherein

a portion of the charge injection layer that is within the area defined by the bank is depressed to define a recess, the recess being continuous across the area defined by the bank,

an upper peripheral edge of the recess is covered with a part of the bank, the part of the bank being in the recess and having a bottom surface below an upper surface of an outer portion of the charge injection layer which is not depressed to define the recess, and

a lower surface of the charge transport layer faces a portion of the recess not covered with the part of the bank.

2. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the charge transport layer is in contact with the part of the bank covering the upper peripheral edge of the recess.

3. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the charge transport layer is surrounded by (i) a portion of the recess in the area defined by the bank and (ii) the part of the bank covering the upper peripheral edge of the recess.

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

5. The light-emitter of claim 4, wherein the liquid is water or a TMAH solution.

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

7. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the part of the bank reaches a bottom of the recess, and a side surface of the bank slopes upward from the bottom of the recess to a top of the bank.

8. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the part of the bank is out of contact with a bottom of the recess.

9. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the bank includes an insulating material.

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

11. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the charge injection layer extends laterally along a bottom surface of the bank.

12. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the upper peripheral edge of the recess is convex.

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

14. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the part of the bank directly contacts an inner side surface of the recess.

15. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein the upper peripheral edge of the recess defines a right angle.

16. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the part of the bank which covers the recess is different than an inclination angle of a top part of the bank.

17. The light-emitter of claim 16, wherein the inclination angle of the part of the bank which covers the recess is less than the inclination angle of the top part of the bank.

18. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the recess is longer than and parallel with a top surface of the first electrode.

19. The light-emitter of claim 1, wherein a shortest distance between the upper peripheral edge of the recess and the hole transport layer is 2 nm to 5 nm.