Organic electroluminescent element

Abstract

An organic EL device includes at least two light-emitting units and at least one intermediate electrode that are disposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, the at least one intermediate electrode being electrically connected to an external power source. The at least one intermediate electrode is disposed between the at least two light-emitting units. At least one of the at least one intermediate electrode consists of a first metal layer composed of a metal with a work function of 3 eV or lower and a second metal layer adjoining the first metal layer and composed of another metal with a work function of 4 eV or higher. The first and second metal layers have a total thickness of 15 nm or less. The first metal layer is adjacent to an anode side of the second metal layer, when a voltage is applied across the intermediate electrode and the electrode opposing the intermediate electrode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.