Mauro Furno

Quantification of energy loss mechanisms in organic light-emitting diodes

The external quantum efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is limited by several loss mechanisms. By applying a numerical model for the efficiency analysis of OLED devices, we analyze the distribution of the different energy loss mechanisms in bottom and top emission organic light-emitting diodes. We validate the findings by the comparison with experimental data measured on red state-of-the-art p-i-n devices containing the red phosphorescent emitting dye iridium(III)bis[2-methyldibenzo-(f, h)quinoxaline](acetylacetonate) [Ir(MDQ)2(acac)]. The model is used to design extremely efficient bottom and top emission diodes with 21% and 27% external quantum efficiencies, respectively.

Optimized efficiency and angular emission characteristics of white top-emitting organic electroluminescent diodes

The concept of an additional capping layer, which is deposited onto the semitransparent top contact, is applied to minimize microcavity effects for white light emission from top-emitting organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). The influence on the optical properties of such devices with silver as top electrode material is discussed using an analytical method and numerical simulations. The results of the theoretical findings are experimentally verified for inverted top emitting devices on opaque substrates, showing broad spectral bandwidth and angle-independent color coordinates.

Controlled current matching in small molecule organic tandem solar cells using doped spacer layers

Current matching of the subcells is crucial to optimize the performance of tandem solar cells. Due to the thin film optics of organic solar cells, the position of the two subcells relative to the reflecting electrode becomes a very important issue. This is demonstrated for an indium tin oxide (ITO)/pin/pii/Al structure with thin intrinsic absorbing layers consisting of zinc-phthalocyanine and fullerene C60 and a metal-free lossless recombination contact between the subcells. By keeping the thickness of the absorbing layers constant and changing only the thickness of the inner p-doped transparent layer in 16 steps from 0to186nm, the distance of the ITO-sided subcell from the reflecting electrode (Al) is systematically varied. Thus, the p-doped layer works as an optical spacer between both subcells. The influence of its thickness on the thin film optics is shown in optical simulations and confirmed with current-voltage measurements. If both subcells are separated only by the recombination contact, they are ...

Comparing the emissive dipole orientation of two similar phosphorescent green emitter molecules in highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes

We investigate the average orientation of the transition dipole moments of two green phosphorescent emitters Ir(ppy)3 and Ir(ppy)2(acac) embedded in a CBP matrix, using in-situ angle resolved electroluminescence spectroscopy and optical simulations. The dipole orientation of Ir(ppy)3 is nearly isotropic while 77% of the dipoles are horizontally aligned for Ir(ppy)2(acac). Optimized organic light-emitting diodes based on these emitters achieve external quantum efficiencies of 18.3% (Ir(ppy)3) and 21.7% (Ir(ppy)2(acac)). This difference is partially explained by the different dipole orientations.

Molecular-scale simulation of electroluminescence in a multilayer white organic light-emitting diode

In multilayer white organic light-emitting diodes the electronic processes in the various layers--injection and motion of charges as well as generation, diffusion and radiative decay of excitons--should be concerted such that efficient, stable and colour-balanced electroluminescence can occur. Here we show that it is feasible to carry out Monte Carlo simulations including all of these molecular-scale processes for a hybrid multilayer organic light-emitting diode combining red and green phosphorescent layers with a blue fluorescent layer. The simulated current density and emission profile are shown to agree well with experiment. The experimental emission profile was obtained with nanometre resolution from the measured angle- and polarization-dependent emission spectra. The simulations elucidate the crucial role of exciton transfer from green to red and the efficiency loss due to excitons generated in the interlayer between the green and blue layers. The perpendicular and lateral confinement of the exciton generation to regions of molecular-scale dimensions revealed by this study demonstrate the necessity of molecular-scale instead of conventional continuum simulation.

Top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes: Influence of cavity design

We report on red top-emitting organic light-emitting diode structures with higher order cavities. The emission zone is placed in the first, second, and third antinodes of the electric field in the cavity by increasing the hole transport layer thickness. Furthermore, the thicknesses of the cathode and the capping layer are varied to achieve high efficiencies. Using doped charge transport layers and a phosphorescent emitter, we reach up to 29%, 17%, and 12% external quantum efficiencies for first, second, and third order devices, respectively. An optical model is further used to analyze the angular dependent emission.

Highly efficient white organic light-emitting diodes based on fluorescent blue emitters

Beside inorganic LEDs and fluorescent lamps, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are evolving into a serious alternative to incandescent lamps. Up to now, it was assumed that all-phosphorescent OLEDs are required for reaching sufficiently high efficiencies. However, the stability of phosphorescent blue emitters is a major challenge. We present a novel approach to achieve highly efficient (up to 90 lm/W at 1000 cd/m2 using a macroextractor) white light emission from OLEDs. The here presented combination of a fluorescent blue and a phosphorescent red emitter simultaneously allows for a strong blue emission and efficient triplet transfer to the phosphor. The spectrum is extended in the green and yellow region by a full phosphorescent unit stacked on top of the triplet harvesting device. This superposition of four different emitters results in color coordinates close to illuminant A and a color rendering index of 80. Furthermore, color stability is given with respect to varying driving conditions and estima...

Organic light-emitting diodes for lighting: High color quality by controlling energy transfer processes in host-guest-systems

Exciton generation and transfer processes in a multilayer organic light-emitting diode (OLED) are studied in order to realize OLEDs with warm white color coordinates and high color-rendering index (CRI). We investigate a host-guest-system containing four phosphorescent emitters and two matrix materials with different transport properties. We show, by time-resolved spectroscopy, that an energy back-transfer from the blue emitter to the matrix materials occurs, which can be used to transport excitons to the other emitter molecules. Furthermore, we investigate the excitonic and electronic transfer processes by designing suitable emission layer stacks. As a result, we obtain an OLED with Commission Internationale de lEclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.444;0.409), a CRI of 82, and a spectrum independent of the applied current. The OLED shows an external quantum efficiency of 10% and a luminous efficacy of 17.4 lm/W at 1000 cd/m2.

Outcoupling efficiency in small-molecule OLEDs:from theory to experiment

The extraction of the luminous power internally generated by organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) is still the most severe limitation in the overall efficiency of these devices. We present a joint theoretical and experimental study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the light outcoupling limitations of planar p-i-n type small-molecule OLEDs, both in bottom and top emitting configuration. We discuss the physical origin of these limitations by analyzing internal optical losses and overall light conversion efficiency in OLEDs.

Selective absorption enhancement in organic solar cells using light incoupling layers

We show that capping layers of tris-(8-hydroxy-quinolinato)-aluminum Alq3 enable increased absorption and photocurrent in organic solar cells (OSCs) when using transparent metal films as top electrodes. Furthermore, by varying the capping layer thickness, the optical field in the OSC is tuned for selective wavelengths, opening a possibility of influencing the external quantum efficiency for specific absorber materials. It is described how a second maximum of the optical field intensity can be utilized, which is a concept significant for tandem solar cells. Indium tin oxide (ITO)-free OSCs are presented which show the influence of capping layer on efficiency, saturation, fill factor, and open-circuit voltage, with numerical calculations supporting the experimental evidence of layer-selective enhancement.