Jin-Wook Shin

Flexible and Transparent Gas Molecule Sensor Integrated with Sensing and Heating Graphene Layers

Graphene leading to high surface-to-volume ratio and outstanding conductivity is applied for gas molecule sensing with fully utilizing its unique transparent and flexible functionalities which cannot be expected from solid-state gas sensors. In order to attain a fast response and rapid recovering time, the flexible sensors also require integrated flexible and transparent heaters. Here, large-scale flexible and transparent gas molecule sensor devices, integrated with a graphene sensing channel and a graphene transparent heater for fast recovering operation, are demonstrated. This combined all-graphene device structure enables an overall device optical transmittance that exceeds 90% and reliable sensing performance with a bending strain of less than 1.4%. In particular, it is possible to classify the fast (≈14 s) and slow (≈95 s) response due to sp(2) -carbon bonding and disorders on graphene and the self-integrated graphene heater leads to the rapid recovery (≈11 s) of a 2 cm × 2 cm sized sensor with reproducible sensing cycles, including full recovery steps without significant signal degradation under exposure to NO2 gas.

Multilayered graphene anode for blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes

In this work, we report on blue organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), which have multilayered graphene as its anode. Our graphene films have been grown catalytically and transferred to the support. The fabricated blue OLEDs with graphene anode showed outstanding external quantum efficiency of 15.6% and power efficiency of 24.1 lm/W at 1000 cd/m2. Weak oxygen plasma treatments on graphene film surfaces improved the injection property between the anode and hole injection layer.

FDTD analysis of the light extraction efficiency of OLEDs with a random scattering layer

The light extraction efficiency of OLEDs with a nano-sized random scattering layer (RSL-OLEDs) was analyzed using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. In contrast to periodic diffraction patterns, the presence of an RSL suppresses the spectral shift with respect to the viewing angle. For FDTD simulation of RSL-OLEDs, a planar light source with a certain spatial and temporal coherence was incorporated, and the light extraction efficiency with respect to the fill factor of the RSL and the absorption coefficient of the material was investigated. The design results were compared to the experimental results of the RSL-OLEDs in order to confirm the usefulness of FDTD in predicting experimental results. According to our FDTD simulations, the light confined within the ITO-organic waveguide was quickly absorbed, and the absorption coefficients of ITO and RSL materials should be reduced in order to obtain significant improvement in the external quantum efficiency (EQE). When the extinction coefficient of ITO was 0.01, the EQE in the RSL-OLED was simulated to be enhanced by a factor of 1.8.

The Optical Effects of Capping Layers on the Performance of Transparent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

In transparent organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs), the asymmetry in the optical paths causes difference between the bottom and top emitting lights, both in emissions and spectral distributions. Capping layers (CLs) can be used as an optical functional to enhance the emissions and adjust the spectral distributions. Here, we report on the optical effects of an organic CL, 1,1-bis[(di-4-tolylamino)phenyl]cyclohexane (TAPC), on the characteristics of TOLEDs Both simulated and experimental results are presented. We demonstrate the possibility of improving the total emission and achieving spectral matching of bottom and top emissions by varying the CL thickness. The optical effects of CLs have been interpreted from interference perspectives. Finally, we have presented a guideline that is practically useful in designing high-performance TOLEDs with CLs.

White transparent organic light-emitting diodes with high top and bottom color rendering indices

Reported in this work is the fabrication of white transparent organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs) with high color rendering indices (CRIs). An architecture in which the green and red emission layers are sandwiched between two blue emissions layers was used. By tuning the thicknesses of the green and red emission layers, CRI and power efficiency values of 90/20.5 and 87/6.8 lm/W were achieved in the bottom and top emissions, respectively. The study results suggest an effective engineering approach for realizing high CRI white TOLED lighting sources.

Random nanostructure scattering layer for suppression of microcavity effect and light extraction in OLEDs.

In this study, we investigated the effect of a random nanostructure scattering layer (RSL) on the microcavity and light extraction in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). In the case of the conventional OLED, the optical properties change with the thickness of the hole transporting layer (HTL) because of the presence of a microcavity. However, OLEDs equipped with the an RSL showed similar values of external quantum efficiency and luminous efficacy regardless of the HTL thickness. These phenomena can be understood by the scattering effect because of the RSL, which suppresses the microcavity effect and extracts the light confined in the device. Moreover, OLEDs with the RSL led to reduced spectrum and color changes with the viewing angle.

Optical Effects of Graphene Electrodes on Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

We performed optical simulations and experiments to investigate the internal optics of graphene anode organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The efficiencies, emission distribution, and spectral characteristics of four-layered graphene anode OLEDs were extracted and compared to those of ITO anode OLEDs. Unlike the case of the ITO anode OLED, the efficiencies and emission distributions of graphene anode OLEDs showed a weak dependency on the thickness of the organic layers. Furthermore, marginal changes in the emission spectra were observed. These results were ascribed to the negligible presence of a microcavity effect in the graphene anode OLED.

Triethylene glycol–titanium oxide hydrate hybrid films with high refractive index and surface evenness

We have evaluated high refractive index organic–inorganic hybrid films fabricated from a solution prepared from triethylene glycol and titanium(IV) butoxide in N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc). The organic–inorganic hybrid solution in DMAc is homogeneous and stable. The solution was spin-coated on a silicon wafer and a glass plate and dried under nitrogen to give a transparent film. The refractive index (n), transparency, and thickness of the hybrid films fabricated from the solution varied as the film drying conditions and feeding mole ratios between the organic and inorganic compounds were varied. The film drying condition was observed to have a strong influence on the surface evenness of the films. The refractive indices of the films were between 1.62 and 2.16 at a wavelength of ca. 600 nm. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) results showed that the films were very smooth and that the root-mean-square values (Ra) of the surface roughness of the films were between 0.25 and 2.37 nm depending on the film drying conditions. Values for n and Ra of the hybrid film were 2.06 and 0.25 nm, respectively, when it was annealed at 250 °C. The film transparency and thickness increased with decreasing the annealing temperature. We identify our organic–inorganic hybrid solutions as possible good candidate materials for films with high refractive index and surface evenness.

A new method for monitoring an OLED panel for lighting by sensing the wave-guided light

In this work, we report on a new monitoring method for an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel for lighting by optical sensing of the wave-guided light in the substrate. Using microlens array films, the wave-guided light was extracted into the edge or back side of the panel to be monitored by a photodiode. The luminance of the extracted light was measured as linearly proportional to the front light. Thus, by converting the extracted light into photo voltage, monitoring the luminance change occurring in the OLED is possible. Based on the results and concepts, we have proposed a photodiode-equipped driving circuit which can generate compensated driving current for uniform luminance of OLED panels.

Facile fabrication of properties-controllable graphene sheet

Graphene has been received a considerable amount of attention as a transparent conducting electrode (TCE) which may be able to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) to overcome the significant weakness of the poor flexibility of ITO. Given that graphene is the thinnest 2-dimensional (2D) material known, it shows extremely high flexibility, and its lateral periodic honeycomb structure of sp2-bonded carbon atoms enables ~2.3% of incident light absorption per layer. However, there is a trade-off between the electrical resistance and the optical transmittance, and the fixed absorption rate in graphene limits is use when fabricating devices. Therefore, a more efficient method which continuously controls the optical and electrical properties of graphene is needed. Here, we introduce a method which controls the optical transmittance and the electrical resistance of graphene through various thicknesses of the top Cu layers with a Cu/Ni metal catalyst structure used to fabricate a planar mesh pattern of single and multi-layer graphene. We exhibit a continuous transmittance change from 85% (MLG) to 97.6% (SLG) at an incident light wavelength of 550 nm on graphene samples simultaneously grown in a CVD quartz tube. We also investigate the relationships between the sheet resistances.