Solution-processed inverted polymer light-emitting diodes with transferred PEDOT:PSS top anodes (Conference Presentation)

We fabricated all solution-processed inverted polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) where functional layers were spin-coated on patterned-ITO glass substrates and PEDOT:PSS anodes were deposited by a transfer process. The structure of our devices is ITO (cathode) / ZnO (EITL) / PEI (interlayer) / PDY-132 (EML) / PEDOT:PSS (HITL) / transferred conductive PEDOT:PSS (anode). Although many groups have studied all solution-processed PLEDs, top electrodes were typically fabricated by photolithography or adhesive tape, which hinders low-cost and large-area mass production. In order to fabricate top electrodes which will not damage underlying organic layers and can be implemented in a facile manner, we used the transfer process. PEDOT:PSS was selected as the top electrodes because it can be patterned by a printing process such as an inkjet printing technique, and then the patterned PEDOT:PSS electrodes can be easily transferred. We fabricated two types of inverted PLEDs which have an evaporated Al or a transferred PEDOT:PSS top electrode. The device with the evaporated Al showed a turn-on voltage of 2.6 V defined at 1 cd/m2 and a current efficiency of 10.2 cd/A at 1000 cd/m2 while the one with the transferred PEDOT:PSS showed a turn-on voltage of 2.7 V and a current efficiency of 8.2 cd/A at the same condition. Difference in sheet resistance of the top electrode and thus, charge balance change probably caused the performance variation. When the bottom cathodes are inkjet-printed, all solution-processed inverted PLEDs can be implemented, which will be also presented at conference.