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New Stable Cathode Materials for OLEDs--International Technology Exchange, Inc., 7080 North Cathedral Rock Place, Tucson, AZ 85718-1390; 520-299-9533
Dr.
Terje Skotheim, Principal Investigator,
Dr.
Terje Skotheim, Business Official,
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83687
Amount:
$749,824
Many
of the cathode materials currently in use in Organic Light Emitting Devices
(OLEDs) are metals, such as Mg and Ca, and alloys.
In many cases, the migration of these metals to form rough interfaces and
hot-spots has lead to reduced lifetimes of the devices.
There is a need to develop highly stable cathode materials that have low
work function, can be nondestructively coated over large areas as flexible thin
films on the organic emitting materials, and possess hermetic sealing properties
to promote long device life. This
project will develop a new class of cathode materials that have low work
function and are highly stable. This
class of materials, which can be coated on organic materials as thin films
using plasma enhance chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), will allow work
function modification, and will be highly dense to resist the penetration of
both oxygen and water. During Phase I, the first examples of a new class of
stable low work function nanocomposite materials were synthesized.
The first small molecule OLED devices incorporating the nanocomposite
films as cathodes were made. Areas
for optimization of the composition and deposition conditions in Phase II were
identified. In Phase II, a specially
designed PECVD tool will be constructed for the deposition of nanocomposite
cathode films. Deposition conditions
will be optimized to provide a low resistivity interface with the organix
emitter layer. The deposition tool
will be able to coat substrates of up to 6-inch dimensions and will provide
cathodes for an OLED pilot manufacturing line.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as
described by awardee: These
cathode materials should become an important enabling technology to realize the
potential of OLEDs on flexible polymeric substrates. Applications
include both illuminated displays and lighting applications.