OLEDs with mixed host emissive layer

• US 7,045,952 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Lu, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dong, Dalei
• Application Number:
  US10/793,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20050194892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 313/504, 313/506, 313/502, 313/498, 428/690, 428/917, 428/212
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2101/10 Triplet emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2101/90 Multiple hosts in the emissive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/311 Phthalocyanine
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/342 comprising iridium
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/631 Amine compounds having at least two aryl rest on at least one amine-nitrogen atom, e.g. triphenylamine
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/649 Aromatic compounds comprising a hetero atom

Abstract

An organic light emitting device is provided. The devices of the present invention comprise an emissive region having at least two emissive layers, with at least one layer comprising a first host and another layer comprising a first and a second host, and each layer further comprising a phosphorescent emissive material. In one embodiment, the device comprises an emissive region disposed between and electrically connected to an anode and a cathode, wherein the emissive region comprises (i) a first single-host emissive layer, comprising a first host material, and (ii) a mixed-host emissive layer in direct contact with the first single-host layer, wherein the mixed-host layer comprises the first host material, and a second host material, and wherein the first single-host layer and the mixed-host layer each further comprise a phosphorescent emissive material. In another embodiment, the device further comprises (iii) a second single-host emissive layer, comprising a second host material, and wherein the first single-host layer, the mixed-host layer, and the second single-host layer each further comprise a phosphorescent emissive material.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting device comprising:

an emissive region disposed between and electrically connected to an anode and a cathode, wherein the emissive region comprises;

a first single-host emissive layer, comprising a first non-emissive host material and a phosphorescent dopant, and

a mixed-host emissive layer in direct contact with the first single-host emissive layer, comprising the first non-emissive host material, a second non-emissive host material, and the phosphorescent dopant.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the first non-emissive host material and the second non-emissive host material is uniform across the mixed-host emissive layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the first non-emissive host material is non-uniform across the mixed-host emissive layer.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein there is no discontinuity in the concentration of the first non-emissive host material across the emissive region.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first single-host emissive layer is disposed closer to the cathode than the mixed-host emissive layer.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first non-emissive host material is an electron transport material.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising an electron transport layer disposed between the first single-host emissive layer and the cathode, wherein the electron transport layer comprises the first non-emissive host material, and wherein the electron transport layer does not include a phosphorescent emissive material.

8. The organic light emitting device of claim 5, wherein the first single-host emissive layer has a lower LUMO than the mixed-host emissive layer.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first single-host emissive layer is disposed closer to the anode than the mixed-host emissive layer.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first non-emissive host material is a hole transport material.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a hole transport layer disposed between the first single-host emissive layer and the anode, wherein the hole transport layer comprises the first non-emissive host material, and wherein the hole transport layer does not include a phosphorescent emissive material.

12. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein the first single-host emissive layer has a higher HOMO than the mixed-host emissive layer.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the first non-emissive host material is at least 3% (wt. %) throughout the mixed-host layer, and the concentration of the second non-emissive host material is at least 3% (wt.) throughout the mixed-host layer.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the concentration of the second non-emissive host material is 3%–

25% (wt. %) throughout the mixed-host layer.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the mixed-host layer has a thickness of 20–

300 angstroms.

16. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein an interface between the first single-host emissive layer and the mixed-host emissive layer provides an electron injection barrier, a hole injection barrier, or both.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the emissive region further comprises a second single-host emissive layer in direct contact with the mixed-host emissive layer, wherein the second single-host emissive layer comprises the second non-emissive host material and the phosphorescent dopant.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first single-host emissive layer is disposed closer to the cathode than the mixed-host emissive layer, and wherein the second single-host emissive layer is disposed closer to the anode than the mixed-host emissive layer.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the first non-emissive host material is an electron transport material and the second non-emissive host material is a hole transport material.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

an electron transport layer disposed between the first single-host emissive layer and the cathode, wherein the electron transport layer comprises the first non-emissive host material, and wherein the electron transport layer does not include a phosphorescent emissive material;

a hole transport layer disposed between the second single-host emissive layer and the anode, wherein the hole transport layer comprises the second non-emissive host material, and wherein the hole transport layer does not include a phosphorescent emissive material.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the mixed-host layer has a thickness of 20–

300 angstroms.

22. The organic light emitting device of claim 17, wherein an interface between the first single-host emissive layer and the mixed-host emissive layer provides an electron injection barrier, a hole injection barrier, or both, and wherein an interface between the second single-host emissive layer and the mixed-host emissive layer provides an electron injection barrier, a hole injection barrier, or both.

23. The organic light emitting device of claim 18, wherein the first single-host emissive layer has a lower LUMO than the mixed-host emissive layer, and wherein the second single-host emissive layer has a higher HOMO than the mixed-host emissive layer.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the concentration of the first host material is at least 3% (wt. %) throughout the mixed-host layer, and the concentration of the second host material is at least 3% (wt. %) throughout the mixed-host layer.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the concentration of the second host material is 3%–

15% (wt. %) throughout the mixed-host layer.