Enhanced outcoupling in flexible organic light-emitting diodes on scattering polyimide substrates

Lee, Kyung Min; Fardel, Romain; Zhao, Lianfeng; Arnold, Craig B.; Rand, Barry P.

doi:10.1016/j.orgel.2017.09.042

Enhanced outcoupling in flexible organic light-emitting diodes on scattering polyimide substrates

Journal Article · Mon Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Organic Electronics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2017.09.042· OSTI ID:1538698

Lee, Kyung Min ^[1]; Fardel, Romain ^[2]; ^[3]; Arnold, Craig B. ^[4]; Rand, Barry P. ^[5]

Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering; DOE/OSTI
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Princeton Inst. for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM)
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Princeton Inst. for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM)
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering. Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

We demonstrate an upscalable approach to increase outcoupling in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) fabricated on flexible substrates. The outcoupling enhancement is enabled by introducing a thin film of microporous polyimide on the backside of silver nanowire (AgNW) electrodes embedded in neat colorless polyimide. This porous polyimide film, prepared by immersion precipitation, utilizes a large index contrast between the polyimide host and randomly distributed air voids, resulting in broadband haze (>75%). In addition, the composite polyimide/AgNW scattering substrate inherits the high thermal (>360 °C), chemical, and mechanical stability of polyimides. The outcoupling efficiency of the composite scattering substrate is studied via optical characterization of the composite substrate and electron microscopy of the scattering film. The flexible scattering substrates compared to glass/indium tin oxide (ITO) allows for a 74% enhancement in external quantum efficiency (EQE) for a phosphorescent green OLED, and 68% EQE enhancement for a phosphorescent white OLED. The outcoupling enhancement remains unharmed after 5000 bending cycles at a 2 mm bending radius. Moreover, the color uniformity over viewing angles is improved, an important feature for lighting applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0006672

OSTI ID:: 1538698

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1549204

Journal Information:: Organic Electronics, Journal Name: Organic Electronics Vol. 51; ISSN 1566-1199

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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42 ENGINEERING
colorless polyimide
flexible organic light-emitting diodes
outcoupling
scattering substrate
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white organic light emitting devices

Enhanced outcoupling in flexible organic light-emitting diodes on scattering polyimide substrates

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