Aurelie Falcou

Multi-colour organic light-emitting displays by solution processing.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) show promise for applications as high-quality self-emissive displays for portable devices such as cellular phones and personal organizers. Although monochrome operation is sufficient for some applications, the extension to multi-colour devices—such as RGB (red, green, blue) matrix displays—could greatly enhance their technological impact. Multi-colour OLEDs have been successfully fabricated by vacuum deposition of small electroluminescent molecules, but solution processing of larger molecules (electroluminescent polymers) would result in a cheaper and simpler manufacturing process. However, it has proved difficult to combine the solution processing approach with the high-resolution patterning techniques required to produce a pixelated display. Recent attempts have focused on the modification of standard printing techniques, such as screen printing and ink jetting, but those still have technical drawbacks. Here we report a class of electroluminescent polymers that can be patterned in a way similar to standard photoresist materials—soluble polymers with oxetane sidegroups that can be crosslinked photochemically to produce insoluble polymer networks in desired areas. The resolution of the process is sufficient to fabricate pixelated matrix displays. Consecutive deposition of polymers that are luminescent in each of the three RGB colours yielded a device with efficiencies comparable to state-of-the-art OLEDs and even slightly reduced onset voltages.

21.2: Materials and Inks for Full Color PLED-Displays

Progress in new materials for full color displays are presented. New polymers based on the “Spiro-Principle” show encouraging properties in electroluminescence performance and lifetime. The spiro-polymers can be tailor made to fit the RGB color requirements of a full color display. They are readily soluble, show excellent thermal stability and their synthesis is scalable to an industrially viable scale.

Light-emitting polymer materials for full-color displays

In the last few years, industrial research into materials fulfilling the needs of the maturing OLED display industry has intensified considerably. A first generation of polymers (phenyl-PPVs) is now being commercially exploited in first monochrome polymer LED displays. Nevertheless, due to market interest, there is a huge demand for materials for full-color OLED displays. After giving some initial results on our work in this field at last years SPIE, we will report on the progress in the development of polymers for red, green, and blue emission. Our main focus here lies on the improvement of the properties of various polymers derived from the spiro-bifluorene core. Depending on the color, the main issues vary strongly: Whereas e.g. for BLUE materials, efficiency, color coordinates, and processibility fulfill already commercial demands, operational lifetime still needs to be improved strongly. For RED materials, in contrast, the operational lifetime is already excellent, whereas the efficiency and the driving current still need to be improved. For GREEN acquiring saturated emission, whilst maintaining the other properties (high efficiency, long operational lifetime), is still challenging. Also, we will report on advances in full-color patterning, especially techniques based on Ink-Jet Printing.

45.1: Full‐Color Polymer‐LEDs by Solution Processing

We demonstrate the synthesis and use of a new class of EL polymers, which can be applied similar to a standard photoresist. Soluble poly-spiros with oxetane sidegroups were crosslinked photochemically to yield insoluble polymer networks in the desired areas with μm resolution. Consecutive deposition of the three colors yielded an RGB device with efficiencies and lifetimes comparable to state-of-the-art EL polymers.

Characterization of white-emitting copolymers for PLED displays

An attractive approach to full color OLED displays is based on white emitting copolymers and color filters. In this paper the special impact of broadband emitting copolymers based on polyspirobifluorene structures is discussed. The EL spectra of broadband emitters in PLEDs are strongly influenced by interference effects as well as by the driving conditions. Experimental results could be confirmed by modelling. Adjustment of emission spectra to the color filter characteristics lead to improved efficiency.

P-181: Solution-Processed Full-Color Polymer-OLED Displays Fabricated by Direct Photolithography

For the first time a full-color display processed by direct photo-lithography is demonstrated. The solution-processed devices consist of stripes of red, green and blue emitting polymers which are sandwiched between electrodes in a passive-matrix geometry. In contrast to other approaches the photo-activated crosslinking-reaction used to pattern the emitter does not have a negative effect on the device-performance.

Developments in polymer materials for electroluminescence

In the last few years industrial research into materials fulfilling the needs of the fledgling OLED display industry have intensified considerably. At Covion we have developed a range of polymers based on phenyl-PPV derivatives which are now being commercially exploited in the first polymer LED applications. These materials have been developed systematically with the demanding requirements of the devices (e.g., high efficiency and lifetime) and the industrial applicability (e.g. processibility, reproducibility and reliability of supply) in mind. However due to market forces, such as the introduction of 3rd generation mobile communication technology, there will be an immediate demand for materials for full color OLED displays. In this paper we will report on progress in the development of Red, Green and Blue (RGB) materials at Covion. The requirements for the different colors vary depending on band gap (amongst others) and therefore the challenges for each color are different. The experience gained in understanding the important structure-property relationships in the phenyl-PPVs has been used to develop these new RGB materials.

Multicolor polymeric OLEDs by solution processing

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have recently attracted much interest among researchers as well as engineers as promising high quality self-emissive displays for all kinds of portable devices such as cellular phones, personal organisers, etc. While monochrome operation is sufficient for some applications, ultimately multi-color devices such as signs or even RGB (red, green, blue) matrix displays will be requested by the customer in the future. So far, this goal has been achieved with small-molecule devices fabricated by vacuum deposition. In contrast, electroluminescent (EL) polymers, which are commonly deposited by solution processing, seemed to be only poorly suited for this purpose owing to the lack of high-resolution patterning processes. Recent attempts, therefore, focus on the adaptation of common printing techniques such as screen printing and ink jetting, both having severe technical difficulties and drawbacks, such as limited resolution in the former and wetting issues in the latter case requiring extensive pre-treatment of the substrates. We demonstrate the use of a new class of EL polymers, which can be applied similar to a standard photoresist. Soluble polymers with oxetane sidegroups were crosslinked photochemically to yield insoluble polymer networks in the desired areas. The resolution of the process is sufficient to fabricate common pixelated matrix displays. Consecutive deposition of the three colors yielded a RGB device with efficiencies comparable to state-of-the-art EL polymers, even slightly reduced onset voltages, and improved efficiencies at high luminance levels. The improved thermal and morphological stability promises better performance in passive-matrix displays requiring high drive currents. The new method potentially allows efficient manufacturing of high-resolution multi-color polymer-based displays on large area using common lithography techniques.