Organic electroluminescent illumination panel, manufacturing method thereof, and organic electroluminescent illumination device

A method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescent illumination panel including a pair of first and second electrode layers, at least one of the first and second electrode layers being transparent, the pair of the first and second electrode layers positioned between a flexible film substrate and a flexible film sealing material, at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material on the same side as the transparent electrode being transparent, the organic electroluminescent illumination panel including an organic layer containing organic electroluminescence, the organic layer sandwiched between the first and second electrode layers, the method comprising:

• laminating the first electrode layer on the flexible film substrate;
• applying a spacer material on the first electrode layer by dispense coating, inkjet coating, or screen-, flexo-, or gravure-printing to form spacers to have a height to pass through the organic layer and the second electrode layer with distal ends being protruded from the second electrode layer;
• laminating the organic layer and the second electrode layer in this order on the first electrode layer formed the spacers;
• and
• providing the flexible film sealing material via a seal part so that the flexible film sealing material is not in contact with the distal ends of the spacers, and
• wherein the thickness of the flexible film substrate is 20 to 300 μm, the thickness of the flexible film sealing material is 50 to 200 μm, and a transmission rate of at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material to light emitting from the organic electroluminescence is 80% or more transmission based on a total light amount.

An organic electroluminescent illumination panel comprising:

• a pair of first and second electrode layers, at least one of the first and second electrode layers being transparent, the pair of the first and second electrode layers positioned between a flexible film substrate and a flexible film sealing material, at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material on the same side as the transparent electrode being transparent, the first electrode layer being disposed on the flexible film substrate;
• an organic layer containing organic electroluminescence, the organic layer sandwiched between the first and second electrode layers;
• a plurality of spacers fixed on the first electrode layer to pass through the organic layer and the second electrode layer, each of the spacers having an unattached end that is free to move,
• wherein the thickness of the flexible film substrate is 20 to 300 μm, the thickness of the flexible film sealing material is 50 to 200 μm, and a transmission rate of at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material to light emitting from the organic electroluminescence is 80% or more transmission based on a total light amount.