Method and Apparatus for Improved Printed Cathodes for Light-Emitting Devices
OwnerJohn D. MacKenzie, Melissa Kregerinventors
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Abstract
Rapid thermal processing of printed cathodes for light-emitting polymer devices (LEPDs) to prevent detrimental cathode ink/LEP layer interactions is described herein. The ink layer printed cathode can be thinned curing fabrication using high mesh count screens, calendered mesh screens, high squeegee pressures, high hardness squeegees, high squeegee angles and combinations thereof. Alone, or in combination with, a thinned ink layer, the printed cathode can be cured using reduced time hot plate processing, infrared processing, heated gas flow processing, or combinations thereof.
Claims61
A method of forming an organic light emitting device comprising the steps of:
- forming a conducting layer electrode over a substrate;
- forming an organic light emitting layer over the conducting layer electrode;
- forming another conducting electrode over the organic light emitting layer, the step of forming including the steps of:
- printing a conductive ink containing a solvent therein over the organic light emitting layer, wherein the step of printing applies the conductive ink in an amount that is <about 22 cm3 of ink/m2 to the organic light emitting layer;
- and
- curing the conductive ink to obtain the another conducting electrode of the organic light emitting device, wherein detrimental interactions between the conductive ink and the organic light emitting layer are substantially prevented by one or more of the following steps
- (1) the step of curing includes rapidly curing the conductive ink so that within about 1 minute from the initiation of the step of curing, a majority of the solvent evaporates, and
- (2) the step of printing includes selecting the solvent so that the solvent is less than 40% by weight of the conductive ink
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.