JP2013030335A - Organic electroluminescent element - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an organic electroluminescence device capable of improving moisture resistance while having a structure in which a functional layer including a light emitting layer is formed between two sides along a specified direction on one surface of a substrate. To do.
An organic electroluminescence element includes a frame-shaped sealing portion 80 between a peripheral portion of a base material and a peripheral portion of a sealing member. The functional layer 30 on the one surface side of the base material 20 also serving as the first electrode is formed across two sides along the specified direction on the one surface of the base material 20 and is formed apart from the remaining two sides. Is done. The base material 20 has both ends in a direction perpendicular to the specified direction on one surface folded together with each part of the functional layer 30 toward the sealing member 70, and the other surface sealed at the folded both ends. The stopper 80 is bonded. Further, the lead electrode part 47 electrically connected to the second electrode 50 is drawn to the outside of the sealing part 80 along the prescribed direction.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element.

  Conventionally, as a method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence element, a manufacturing method using a roll-to-roll method by employing a coating method has been studied in various places (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In Patent Document 1, a coating liquid that flows out from the slit outlet of the lip tip while applying a relative movement between the lip tip of the slit die coater and the substrate is applied in at least two stripes. A method is described.

  Patent Document 1 describes an organic electroluminescence panel in which an organic compound layer between a first electrode and a second electrode is formed by the above-described coating method. However, in this method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence panel, an adhesive that adheres a base material on which a laminate of the first electrode, the organic compound layer, and the second electrode is formed and the sealing member is an organic compound layer. There is a concern that it will be coated on both ends of the. In this case, there is a concern that the moisture resistance of the organic electroluminescence panel is lowered.

  Conventionally, a method for manufacturing an organic electronics panel having the steps shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has been proposed (Patent Document 2). Here, Patent Document 2 exemplifies organic electroluminescence panels, organic TFT panels, organic solar battery panels, organic photoelectric conversion panels, and organic electrophotographic photoreceptors as organic electronics panels.

  Hereinafter, this manufacturing method will be briefly described. 9 and 10 are enlarged schematic cross-sectional views taken along the line A-A 'in the left drawing.

  The organic electronics panel 100 (see FIG. 10) includes a base material supplying step, a first electrode forming step, an organic functional layer forming step, a wiping step (patterning step), and a cleaning in the process flow diagrams shown in FIGS. It is manufactured according to the process, the second electrode forming process, the sealing process, and the recovery process.

  In the base material supplying step, for example, a strip-shaped base material 101 is supplied.

  In the first electrode forming step, the first electrode 102 including a portion for forming the first electrode external connection electrode 102a and the lead portion 102b are formed on the base material 101 in a patterned state.

  In the organic functional layer forming step, the organic functional layer 103 is formed on the entire surface of the base material 101 having the first electrode 102 and the lead portion 102b including the portion for forming the first electrode external connection electrode 102a. As a method for forming the organic functional layer 103, a coating method is employed.

  In the patterning step, unnecessary areas of the organic functional layer 103 are wiped away by a wiping method.

  In the cleaning process, the entire surface of the base material 101 having the patterned organic functional layer 103 is cleaned.

  In the second electrode formation step, the second electrode 104 and the second electrode external connection electrode 104a are formed from the organic functional layer 103 on the first electrode 102 to the lead portion 102b.

  In the sealing step, the sealing member 106 is removed via an adhesive provided on and around the second electrode 104 except for the first electrode external connection electrode 102a and the second electrode external connection electrode 104a. The organic electronics panel 100 which is stuck and sealed is produced.

  In the recovery process, the organic electronics panel 100 supplied from the sealing process is recovered.

  When the organic electronics panel 100 is an organic electroluminescence panel, one or a plurality of organic layers are formed as the organic functional layer 103 in the organic functional layer forming step described above. In this case, the organic functional layer 103 includes at least a light emitting layer as an organic material layer.

  According to Patent Document 2, according to the above-described manufacturing method, dust generated when an unnecessary portion of the organic functional layer 103 is removed by a wiping method is prevented from adhering to the substrate 101, and the sealed organic electronics panel 100 is removed. It is described that the moisture resistance of is improved.

JP 2011-131116 A JP 2011-40336 A

  By the way, in the manufacturing method of the above-mentioned organic electroluminescent panel 100, after forming the organic functional layer 103 by the apply | coating method, the patterning process of removing an unnecessary area | region and the cleaning process after a patterning process are required. For this reason, in the manufacturing method of the above-mentioned organic electroluminescence panel 100, there is a concern about an increase in manufacturing cost due to a decrease in use efficiency of the material of the organic functional layer 103.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and the purpose thereof is a structure in which a functional layer including a light emitting layer is formed between two sides along a prescribed direction on one surface of a substrate. Another object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescence device capable of improving moisture resistance.

  The organic electroluminescence element of the present invention is a base material also serving as a first electrode, a functional layer on one surface side of the base material and including at least a light emitting layer, and a side of the functional layer opposite to the base material side. A second electrode, a lead electrode portion electrically connected to the second electrode on the one surface side of the base material, an insulating layer electrically insulating the lead electrode portion and the base material, A sealing member that is opposite to the functional layer side of the second electrode and has translucency; a translucent resin layer interposed between the second electrode and the sealing member; and the base material A frame-shaped sealing portion between the peripheral portion of the sealing member and the peripheral portion of the sealing member, and an organic electroluminescence element that extracts light from the sealing member side, wherein the functional layer includes the base Formed over two sides along the specified direction on the one surface of the material And formed at a distance from two sides orthogonal to the prescribed direction, and the base material has both ends in the direction perpendicular to the prescribed direction on the one surface together with each part of the functional layer. It is folded back to the stop member side, and the other surface is bonded to the sealing portion at the folded end portions, and the lead electrode portion is pulled out of the sealing portion along the prescribed direction. It is characterized by that.

  In this organic electroluminescence element, the substrate is preferably made of a metal foil.

  In the organic electroluminescence device of the present invention, it is possible to improve moisture resistance even though the functional layer including the light emitting layer is formed between two sides orthogonal to the specified direction on one surface of the substrate. It becomes.

(A) is a schematic exploded perspective view of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment, (b) is a principal part schematic sectional drawing of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment, (c) is another important point of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. FIG. It is another principal part schematic sectional drawing of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of the electrode pattern in the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of the other structural example of the electrode pattern in the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of another structural example of the electrode pattern in the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. It is a principal part schematic sectional drawing of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. (A) is a schematic bottom view of another structural example of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment, (b) is a principal part schematic sectional drawing of another structural example of the organic electroluminescent element of embodiment. (A) is a schematic plan view of still another configuration example of the organic electroluminescence element of the embodiment, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of still another configuration example of the organic electroluminescence element of the embodiment. It is a process flow figure from the substrate supply process which produces the conventional organic electronics panel to a cleaning process. It is a process flow figure from the 2nd electrode formation process which produces the conventional organic electronics panel to a recovery process.

  Hereinafter, the organic electroluminescent element of this embodiment is demonstrated based on FIGS.

  The organic electroluminescence element is on the base 20 that also serves as the first electrode, the functional layer 30 that is on one surface side of the base 20 and includes at least the light emitting layer 32, and the functional layer 30 on the side opposite to the base 20 side. And a second electrode 50.

  In addition, the organic electroluminescence element includes an extraction electrode portion 47 that is electrically connected to the second electrode 50 on the one surface side of the substrate 20, and an insulation that electrically insulates the extraction electrode portion 47 and the substrate 20. Layer 60. Here, the organic electroluminescence element includes a rectangular frame-shaped auxiliary electrode 46 electrically connected to the second electrode 50, and the extraction electrode portion 47 extends from the auxiliary electrode 46.

  In addition, the organic electroluminescence element is on the side opposite to the functional layer 30 side of the second electrode 50 and has a light-transmitting sealing member 70 and a transparent member interposed between the second electrode 50 and the sealing member 70. An optical resin layer 90 and a frame-shaped sealing portion 80 between the peripheral portion of the substrate 20 and the peripheral portion of the sealing member 70 are provided. Here, the organic electroluminescence element extracts light from the sealing member 70 side. In short, the organic electroluminescence element extracts light from the second electrode 50 side through the resin layer 90 and the sealing member 70.

  The functional layer 30 is formed between two sides along the prescribed direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1A) on the one surface of the substrate 20 and is orthogonal to the prescribed direction on the one surface. It is formed away from the side. Here, the functional layer 30 is formed by a coating method, and is applied along a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction.

  The base material 20 has both ends in a direction perpendicular to the specified direction on one surface folded together with each part of the functional layer 30 toward the sealing member 70, and the other surface sealed at the folded both ends. The stopper 80 is bonded. Further, the extraction electrode portion 47 is extracted to the outside of the sealing portion 80 along the prescribed direction.

  In the base material 20 in the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, the first portion 20a in which the extraction electrode portion 47 is formed at both end portions in the specified direction is folded back to the side opposite to the sealing member 70 side ( (Refer FIG.1 (c)). FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along lines C-C ′ and E-E ′ of FIG. 1A, and is a schematic cross-sectional view including the first portion 20 a. In the base material 20, it is only necessary that the first portion 20 a on which the extraction electrode portion 47 is formed is folded back to the side opposite to the sealing member 70 side at at least one of both ends in the specified direction. In addition, 2nd parts other than the 1st part 20a of the both ends of the said prescribed direction in the said one surface of the base material 20 are mentioned later.

  Moreover, as for the base material 20, the both ends (3rd part 20c) of the direction orthogonal to the said prescription | regulation direction in the said one surface are return | folded by the sealing member 70 side (refer FIG.1 (b)). FIG. 1B is a common schematic cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A ′ and D-D ′ in FIG. 1A, and is a schematic cross-sectional view including the third portion 20 c.

  Further, on the side opposite to the sealing member 70, the second portion 80 b other than the first portion 80 a bonded to a part of the extraction electrode portion 47 is bonded to the other surface of the base member 20. ing. In short, the sealing portion 80 includes, on the opposite side to the sealing member 70, the first portion 80 a bonded to each of the lead electrode portions 47 on the one surface side of the base material 20, and the other of the base material 20. And a second portion 80b bonded to the surface. A portion of the lead electrode portion 47 outside the sealing portion 80 is protected by the protective layer 91, and a portion exposed by the opening 92 provided in the protective layer 91 is a terminal portion 48 for external connection. Is configured.

  The second electrode 50 described above is configured so that light from the functional layer 30 can be extracted. The second electrode 50 includes a conductive polymer layer 39 that is in contact with the functional layer 30, and an opening for extracting light from the functional layer 30 that is located on the opposite side of the conductive polymer layer 39 from the functional layer 30 side. And electrode pattern 40 having 41 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In short, in the organic electroluminescence element, it is preferable that the second electrode 50 has an opening 41 for extracting light from the functional layer 30.

  In the organic electroluminescence element, the resistivity of each of the electrode pattern 40 of the base material 20 that also serves as the first electrode and the second electrode 50 is made lower than the resistivity of the transparent conductive oxide (TCO). . Examples of the transparent conductive oxide include ITO, AZO, GZO, and IZO.

  The resin layer 90 is preferably provided so as to cover the element portion including the first electrode, the functional layer 30, the second electrode 50, and the like in a space surrounded by the base material 20, the sealing member 70, and the sealing portion 80. . The resin layer 90 preferably has a refractive index that is equal to or higher than the refractive index of the conductive polymer layer 39.

  Hereinafter, each component of the organic electroluminescence element will be described in detail.

  The substrate 20 has a rectangular planar shape, but may be rectangular or square as long as it is rectangular.

  The base material 20 is comprised with the metal foil. Regarding the surface roughness of the one surface of the base material 20 made of metal foil, the arithmetic average roughness Ra defined by JIS B 0601-2001 (ISO 4287-1997) is preferably 10 nm or less, and several nm. The following is more preferable. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress a short circuit between the base material 20 also serving as the first electrode and the second electrode 50 due to the surface roughness of the one surface of the base material 20 also serving as the first electrode.

  As a material of the metal foil, for example, a metal such as copper, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, tin, lead, gold, silver, iron, titanium, or an alloy containing one or more of these metals may be employed. it can. However, in the present embodiment, since the first electrode serves as a reflective electrode, a material having a high reflectance with respect to light emitted from the light emitting layer 32 and a low resistivity is preferable. Moreover, as a material of metal foil, a material with high weather resistance is preferable.

  In the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, the first electrode constitutes a cathode and the second electrode 50 constitutes an anode. In this case, the first carrier injected from the first electrode into the functional layer 30 is an electron, and the second carrier injected from the second electrode 50 into the functional layer 30 is a hole. The functional layer 30 includes a first carrier injection layer 31, a light emitting layer 32, a second carrier transport layer 33, and a second carrier injection layer 34 in this order from the first electrode side. Here, the first carrier injection layer 31, the second carrier transport layer 33, and the second carrier injection layer 34 are an electron injection layer, a hole transport layer, and a hole injection layer, respectively. When the first electrode constitutes an anode and the second electrode 50 constitutes a cathode, for example, a hole injection layer as the first carrier injection layer 31, an electron transport layer as the second carrier transport layer 33, An electron injection layer may be employed as the second carrier injection layer 34.

  The structure of the functional layer 30 described above is not limited to the example of FIG. 1. For example, a first carrier transport layer is provided between the first carrier injection layer 31 and the light emitting layer 32, or the light emitting layer 32 and the second carrier are provided. A structure in which an interlayer is provided between the injection layer 34 and the injection layer 34 may be used. When the first electrode constitutes a cathode and the second electrode 50 constitutes an anode, the second carrier transport layer is a hole transport layer.

  Further, the functional layer 30 only needs to include at least the light emitting layer 32 (that is, the functional layer 30 may be only the light emitting layer 32), and the first carrier injection layer 31 and the first carrier transport other than the light emitting layer 32 may be used. The layer, the interlayer, the second carrier transport layer 33, the second carrier injection layer 34, and the like may be provided as appropriate. The light emitting layer 32 may have a single layer structure or a multilayer structure. For example, when the desired emission color is white, the light emitting layer 32 may be doped with three kinds of dopant dyes of red, green, and blue, or the blue hole transporting light emitting layer and the green electron transport. A laminated structure of a light emitting layer and a red electron transporting light emitting layer may be adopted, or a laminated structure of a blue electron transporting light emitting layer, a green electron transporting light emitting layer and a red electron transporting light emitting layer may be adopted. Also good.

  Examples of the material of the light emitting layer 32 include polyparaphenylene vinylene derivatives, polythiophene derivatives, polyparaphenylene derivatives, polysilane derivatives, polyacetylene derivatives, polyfluorene derivatives, polyvinylcarbazole derivatives, dye bodies, and metal complex light emitting materials. Anthracene, naphthalene, pyrene, tetracene, coronene, perylene, phthaloperylene, naphthaloperylene, diphenylbutadiene, tetraphenylbutadiene, coumarin, oxadiazole, bisbenzoxazoline, bisstyryl, cyclopentadiene, coumarin, oxadiazole , Bisbenzoxazoline, bisstyryl, cyclopentadiene, quinoline metal complex, tris (8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum complex, tris (4-mes Ru-8-quinolinato) aluminum complex, tris (5-phenyl-8-quinolinato) aluminum complex, aminoquinoline metal complex, benzoquinoline metal complex, tri- (p-terphenyl-4-yl) amine, pyran, quinacridone, Rubrene, and derivatives thereof, or 1-aryl-2,5-di (2-thienyl) pyrrole derivatives, distyrylbenzene derivatives, styrylarylene derivatives, styrylamine derivatives, and groups comprising these luminescent compounds are molecules And the like. Further, not only compounds derived from fluorescent dyes typified by the above compounds, but also so-called phosphorescent materials, for example, luminescent materials such as iridium complexes, osmium complexes, platinum complexes, europium complexes, or compounds or polymers having these in the molecule Can also be suitably used. These materials can be appropriately selected and used as necessary. The light emitting layer 32 is preferably formed by a wet process such as a coating method (for example, spin coating method, spray coating method, die coating method, gravure printing method, screen printing method, etc.). However, the method for forming the light emitting layer 32 is not limited to the coating method, and the light emitting layer 32 may be formed by a dry process such as a vacuum deposition method or a transfer method.

  Examples of the material for the electron injection layer include metal fluorides such as lithium fluoride and magnesium fluoride, metal halides such as sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, titanium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, An oxide such as barium or strontium can be used. In the case of these materials, the electron injection layer can be formed by a vacuum deposition method. As the material for the electron injection layer, for example, an organic semiconductor material mixed with a dopant (such as an alkali metal) that promotes electron injection can be used. In the case of such a material, the electron injection layer can be formed by a coating method.

The material for the electron transport layer can be selected from the group of compounds having electron transport properties. Examples of this type of compound include metal complexes known as electron transporting materials such as Alq ₃ and compounds having a heterocyclic ring such as phenanthroline derivatives, pyridine derivatives, tetrazine derivatives, and oxadiazole derivatives. Instead, any generally known electron transport material can be used.

  As a material for the hole transport layer, a low molecular material or a polymer material having a low LUMO (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital) level can be used. Examples thereof include polymers containing aromatic amines such as polyvinyl carbazole (PVCz), polyarylene derivatives such as polypyridine and polyaniline, and polyarylene derivatives having aromatic amines in the main chain, but are not limited thereto. . In addition, as a material of the hole transport layer, for example, 4,4′-bis [N- (naphthyl) -N-phenyl-amino] biphenyl (α-NPD), N, N′-bis (3-methylphenyl) -(1,1'-biphenyl) -4,4'-diamine (TPD), 2-TNATA, 4,4 ', 4 "-tris (N- (3-methylphenyl) N-phenylamino) triphenylamine (MTDATA), 4,4′-N, N′-dicarbazole biphenyl (CBP), spiro-NPD, spiro-TPD, spiro-TAD, TNB, and the like can be used.

  Examples of the material for the hole injection layer include organic materials including thiophene, triphenylmethane, hydrazoline, amiramine, hydrazone, stilbene, triphenylamine, and the like. Specifically, for example, polyvinyl carbazole, polyethylenedioxythiophene: polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS), aromatic amine derivatives such as TPD, etc., these materials may be used alone, or two or more kinds of materials. May be used in combination. Such a hole injection layer can be formed by a wet process such as a coating method (spin coating method, spray coating method, die coating method, gravure printing method, etc.).

  The interlayer is a carrier blocking function (here, an electron barrier) that suppresses leakage of first carriers (here, electrons) from the light emitting layer 32 side to the second electrode 50 side. , An electron blocking function), and further has a function of transporting second carriers (here, holes) to the light emitting layer 32, a function of suppressing quenching of the excited state of the light emitting layer 32, and the like. It is preferable. In the present embodiment, the interlayer constitutes an electron blocking layer that suppresses leakage of electrons from the light emitting layer 32 side.

  In the organic electroluminescence element, by providing an interlayer, it is possible to improve the light emission efficiency and extend the life. As an interlayer material, for example, polyarylamine or a derivative thereof, polyfluorene or a derivative thereof, polyvinylcarbazole or a derivative thereof, a triphenyldiamine derivative, or the like can be used. Such an interlayer can be formed by a wet process such as a coating method (spin coating method, spray coating method, die coating method, gravure printing method, or the like).

  The cathode is an electrode for injecting electrons (first carriers) that are first charges into the functional layer 30. When the first electrode is a cathode, it is preferable to use an electrode material made of a metal, an alloy, an electrically conductive compound and a mixture thereof having a low work function as the cathode material, and the LUMO (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital) level It is preferable to use a work function having a work function of 1.9 eV or more and 5 eV or less so that the difference between them is not too large. When the first electrode constitutes an anode that is an electrode for injecting holes (second carriers) that are second charges into the functional layer 30, the material of the first electrode is a metal having a high work function. Is preferably used, and a work function of 4 eV or more and 6 eV or less is preferably used so that the difference from the HOMO (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) level does not become too large.

  As a material of the conductive polymer layer 39 of the second electrode 50, for example, a conductive polymer material such as polythiophene, polyaniline, polypyrrole, polyphenylene, polyphenylene vinylene, polyacetylene, polycarbazole can be used. In addition, as the conductive polymer material of the conductive polymer layer 39, for example, a material doped with a dopant such as sulfonic acid, Lewis acid, proton acid, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, etc. in order to increase conductivity. It may be adopted. Here, it is preferable that the conductive polymer layer 39 has a lower resistivity. The lower the resistivity, the better the conductivity in the lateral direction (in-plane direction), and the in-plane variation of the current flowing through the light emitting layer 32. Can be reduced, and uneven brightness can be reduced.

  The electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 is made of an electrode containing metal powder and an organic binder. As this type of metal, for example, silver, gold, copper or the like can be employed. Thereby, the organic electroluminescence element can reduce the resistivity and the sheet resistance of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 as compared with the case where the second electrode 50 is a thin film formed of a conductive transparent oxide. This makes it possible to reduce uneven brightness. In addition, as a conductive material of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50, an alloy, carbon black, or the like can be used instead of a metal.

  The electrode pattern 40 can be formed, for example, by printing a paste (printing ink) in which an organic binder and an organic solvent are mixed with metal powder by, for example, a screen printing method or a gravure printing method. Examples of the organic binder include acrylic resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyether sulfone, polyarylate, polycarbonate resin, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetal, polyamide, polyimide, and diacryl phthalate resin. , Cellulose resins, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, other thermoplastic resins, and copolymers of two or more monomers constituting these resins, but are not limited thereto. It is not something.

  1 to 3, the electrode pattern 40 is formed in a lattice shape (mesh shape), and has a plurality of openings 41 (6 × 6 = 36 in the example shown in FIG. 3). Yes. Here, in the electrode pattern 40 shown in FIG. 3, each planar view shape of each opening 41 is a square shape. In short, the electrode pattern 40 shown in FIG. 3 is formed in a square lattice shape.

  Regarding the dimensions of the square grid electrode pattern 40, for example, the second electrode 50 has a line width L1 (see FIG. 2) of 1 μm to 100 μm, a height H1 (see FIG. 2) of 50 nm to 100 μm, and a pitch P1 (FIG. 2). Reference) may be set to 100 μm to 2000 μm. However, the numerical ranges of the line width L1, the height H1, and the pitch P1 of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 are not particularly limited, and may be set as appropriate based on the planar size of the element portion. Here, the line width L1 of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 is preferably narrow from the viewpoint of the utilization efficiency of the light emitted from the light emitting layer 32, and luminance unevenness is reduced by reducing the resistance of the second electrode 50. Therefore, it is preferable that the width is appropriately set based on the planar size of the organic electroluminescence element. Further, regarding the height H1 of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50, from the viewpoint of reducing the resistance of the second electrode 50, the material of the electrode pattern 40 when the electrode pattern 40 is formed by a coating method such as a screen printing method is used. 100 nm or more and 10 micrometers or less are more preferable from a viewpoint of use efficiency (material use efficiency), a viewpoint of the radiation angle of the light radiated | emitted from the functional layer 30, etc.

  In the organic electroluminescence element of this embodiment, each opening 41 in the electrode pattern 40 has an opening shape in which the opening area gradually increases as the distance from the functional layer 30 increases, as shown in FIG. Thereby, the organic electroluminescence element can increase the spread angle of the light emitted from the functional layer 30, and can further reduce the luminance unevenness. In addition, the organic electroluminescence element can reduce reflection loss and absorption loss at the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50, and can further improve the external quantum efficiency.

  When the electrode pattern 40 has a lattice shape, the shape of each opening 41 in plan view is not limited to a square shape, and may be, for example, a rectangular shape, a regular triangle shape, or a regular hexagonal shape.

  The electrode pattern 40 has a triangular lattice shape when each opening 41 has a regular triangular shape, and has a hexagonal lattice shape when each opening 41 has a regular hexagonal shape. It becomes a shape. The electrode pattern 40 is not limited to the lattice shape, and may be, for example, a comb shape or may be configured by two comb electrode patterns. Further, the number of the opening portions 41 is not particularly limited, and the electrode pattern 40 is not limited to a plurality and may be one. For example, when the electrode pattern 40 has a comb shape or is constituted by two comb-shaped electrode patterns, the number of openings 41 can be one.

  Further, the electrode pattern 40 may have a planar shape as shown in FIG. 4, for example. That is, in the electrode pattern 40, the line width of the linear thin line portion 44 is constant in a plan view, and the interval between the adjacent thin line portions 44 becomes narrower as the distance from the peripheral portion to the center portion of the electrode pattern 40 decreases. The opening area may be reduced. The organic electroluminescence element is drawn out in the second electrode 50 by making the planar shape of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 into a planar shape as shown in FIG. 4, compared with the planar shape as shown in FIG. It becomes possible to improve the light emission efficiency in the center part where the distance from the electrode part 47 (refer FIG. 1) is far from a peripheral part, and it becomes possible to aim at the improvement of external quantum efficiency. Further, the organic electroluminescence element has a functional shape of the functional layer 30 as compared with the planar shape as shown in FIG. 3 by making the planar shape of the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 as shown in FIG. Since it is possible to suppress current concentration in the peripheral portion where the distance from the extraction electrode portion 47 is short, it is possible to extend the life.

  Further, the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 may have a planar shape as shown in FIG. 5, for example. That is, the electrode pattern 40 has a line width of the four first thin wire portions 42 at the outermost periphery in the electrode pattern 40 and a line width of one second thin wire portion 43 at the center in the left-right direction in FIG. Are wider than the thin wire portion (third thin wire portion) 44 between the first thin wire portion 42 and the second thin wire portion 43. In the organic electroluminescence element, the electrode pattern 40 of the second electrode 50 has a planar shape as shown in FIG. 5, so that the lead electrode portion 47 ( It is possible to improve the light emission efficiency in the central part far from the peripheral part (see FIG. 1), and to improve the external quantum efficiency. When the electrode pattern 40 has a planar shape as shown in FIG. 5, the height of the first thin wire portion 42 and the second thin wire portion 43 having a relatively wide line width is higher than the height of the third thin wire portion 44. This makes it possible to further reduce the resistance of each of the first thin wire portion 42 and the second thin wire portion 43.

  In the organic electroluminescence device of this embodiment, the thickness of the first carrier injection layer 31 is 5 to 15 nm, the thickness of the light emitting layer 32 is 60 to 200 nm, and the thickness of the second carrier transport layer 33 is 5 to 30 nm. The film thickness of the second carrier injection layer 34 is set to 10 to 60 nm, and the film thickness of the conductive polymer layer 39 is set to 200 to 400 nm. These numerical values are merely examples, and are not particularly limited. Absent.

  As a material of the insulating layer 60, for example, polyimide resin, epoxy resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like can be used. Further, the insulating layer 60 may contain a hygroscopic agent.

  As the hygroscopic agent, an alkaline earth metal oxide or sulfate is preferable. Examples of the alkaline earth metal oxide include calcium oxide, barium oxide, magnesium oxide, and strontium oxide. Examples of the sulfate include lithium sulfate, sodium sulfate, gallium sulfate, titanium sulfate, and nickel sulfate. In addition, as the hygroscopic agent, for example, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, copper chloride, magnesium oxide and the like can be used. Moreover, as a hygroscopic agent, the organic compound which has hygroscopicity, such as a silica gel and polyvinyl alcohol, can also be used, for example. The hygroscopic agent is not limited to these, but among these, calcium oxide, barium oxide, silica gel and the like are particularly preferable. The content of the hygroscopic agent in the insulating layer 60 is not particularly limited.

  The insulating layer 60 is formed in a rectangular frame shape in plan view on the functional layer 30, and a portion interposed between the base material 20 and the extraction electrode portion 47 extends from the rectangular frame portion. Has been.

  The auxiliary electrode 46 is formed in a rectangular frame shape in plan view on the insulating layer 60. The auxiliary electrode 46 is formed between the insulating layer 60 and the second electrode 50.

  The auxiliary electrode 46 is composed of an electrode containing metal powder and an organic binder. As this type of metal, for example, silver, gold, copper or the like can be employed. The auxiliary electrode 46 may be made of an alloy, carbon black, or the like instead of the metal described above.

  The auxiliary electrode 46 can be formed, for example, by printing a paste (printing ink) in which an organic binder and an organic solvent are mixed with metal powder by, for example, a screen printing method or a gravure printing method. Examples of the organic binder include acrylic resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyether sulfone, polyarylate, polycarbonate resin, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetal, polyamide, polyimide, and diacryl phthalate resin. , Cellulose resins, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, other thermoplastic resins, and copolymers of two or more monomers constituting these resins, but are not limited thereto. It is not something. As the material of the extraction electrode 47, for example, the same material as that of the auxiliary electrode 46 can be used, but the material is not necessarily the same.

  The sealing member 70 has a rectangular planar shape. Although the glass substrate is used as the sealing member 70, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plastic plate or the like may be used, for example. As a material for the glass substrate, for example, soda lime glass, non-alkali glass, or the like can be employed. Moreover, as a material for the plastic plate, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethersulfone, polycarbonate, or the like can be employed. However, in the case of a plastic plate, it is preferable that a gas barrier layer is formed.

  As a material of the sealing portion 80, an epoxy resin is used. However, the material is not limited to this. For example, an acrylic resin may be used. The epoxy resin or acrylic resin used as the material of the sealing portion 80 may be, for example, an ultraviolet curable type or a thermosetting type. Here, the sealing portion 80 is hermetically bonded over the entire circumference on each of the base material 20 side and the sealing member 70 side. In addition, the epoxy resin or acrylic resin used as the material of the sealing unit 80 may be, for example, an ultraviolet curable type or a thermosetting type.

  By the way, in the organic electroluminescent element of this embodiment, as the translucent resin which is the material of the resin layer 90, the one having a refractive index equal to or higher than the refractive index of the material of the conductive polymer layer 39 of the second electrode 50 is used. It is preferable. As such a translucent resin, for example, an imide resin adjusted so as to increase the refractive index can be used.

  The material of the protective layer 91 is the same as that of the resin layer 90, but is not limited thereto, and for example, the same material as that of the sealing portion 80 may be used.

  The organic electroluminescence element described above can be manufactured by roll-to-roll using a coating method. Then, when the functional layer 30 is formed, the functional layer 30 is formed in a strip shape or a stripe shape by moving at least one of the die coater and the substrate 20 in the coating direction by the coating method. In some cases, the functional layer 30 can be formed as a continuous direction). At this time, after the functional layer 30 is formed by the coating method by setting the coating width perpendicular to the coating direction to be smaller than the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the prescribed direction on the one surface of the substrate 20, the functional layer A process for patterning 30 is not necessary, and the use efficiency of the material can be improved.

  Here, in the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, the functional layer 30 on the one surface side of the base material 20 also serving as the first electrode extends between two sides along the specified direction on the one surface of the base material 20. And formed away from the remaining two sides. Moreover, as for the base material 20 in the organic electroluminescent element of this embodiment, the both ends of the direction orthogonal to the said prescription | regulation direction in the said one surface are folded back to the sealing member 70 side together with each one part of the functional layer 30, The other surface is bonded to the sealing portion 80 at the folded end portions. Further, the lead electrode part 47 electrically connected to the second electrode 50 is drawn to the outside of the sealing part 80 along the prescribed direction. More specifically, in the base material 20, the first portion 20a in which the extraction electrode portion 47 is formed at both ends in the specified direction is folded back to the side opposite to the sealing member 70 side, and the one surface is Both end portions (third portion 20c) in the direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction are folded back to the sealing member 70 side. Further, the sealing part 80 in the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment has a second part 80b other than the first part 80a bonded to a part of the extraction electrode part 47 on the side opposite to the sealing member 70. It is adhered to the other surface of the substrate 20.

  Moreover, as for the base material 20, the said one surface is adhere | attached with the sealing part 80, without folding | folding about 2nd parts other than the 1st part 20a of the both ends of the said prescription | regulation direction, as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a common schematic cross-sectional view along the line B-B ′ and the line F-F ′ in FIG. When there is a functional layer 30 for the second part other than the first part 20a at both ends in the specified direction, the base material 20 is sealed together with the functional layer 30 as in FIG. It may be folded back to the stop member 70 side and the other surface may be bonded to the sealing portion 80.

  In any case, in the manufacture of the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, after forming the functional layer 30 by a coating method, the sealing portion 80 is part of the functional layer 30 without patterning the functional layer 30. It is possible to prevent adhesion. Thereby, in the organic electroluminescent element of this embodiment, it becomes possible to improve the adhesiveness of the sealing part 80. FIG.

  Thus, in the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, the functional layer 30 including the light emitting layer 32 is configured to be formed between two sides along the specified direction on the one surface of the substrate 20, but is moisture-proof. It becomes possible to improve the property.

  Further, when the second electrode 50 is configured by a transparent electrode made of a transparent conductive oxide, the sheet resistance of the second electrode 50 is higher than the sheet resistance of the first electrode 11, and thus the second electrode There is a concern that the potential gradient at 50 increases and the in-plane variation in luminance increases. However, in the organic electroluminescence element of this embodiment, the second electrode 50 is located on the side opposite to the functional layer 30 side of the conductive polymer layer 39 in contact with the functional polymer layer 30 and functions. And an electrode pattern 40 having an opening 41 for extracting light from the layer 30. Therefore, in the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the luminance unevenness and the light extraction efficiency as compared with the case where the second electrode 50 is configured by a transparent electrode made of a transparent conductive oxide. Can be improved. Furthermore, since the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment includes the auxiliary electrode 46, it is possible to further reduce luminance unevenness. Moreover, in the organic electroluminescent element of this embodiment, since the resin layer 90 has a refractive index equal to or higher than the refractive index of the conductive polymer layer 39, it is possible to improve the light extraction efficiency.

  In the organic electroluminescence element of the present embodiment, the base material 20 is preferably made of the metal foil 10. As a result, the organic electroluminescence element can be improved in reliability because heat generated in the functional layer 30 and the like is easily radiated through the base material 20. Further, in the organic electroluminescence element, since the base material 20 is made of a metal foil, the in-plane uniformity of the temperature of the functional layer 30 is improved, and the luminance unevenness can be reduced.

  Moreover, in this organic electroluminescent element, it is preferable that the 2nd electrode 50 is an anode and the functional layer 30 contains the 2nd carrier injection layer 34 which exists in the 2nd electrode 50 side rather than the light emitting layer 32. FIG. Thereby, in the organic electroluminescence element, it is possible to more efficiently inject holes as second carriers into the light emitting layer 32, and as a result, it is possible to improve the external quantum efficiency.

  Further, on the outer surface side (surface side opposite to the base material 20 side) of the sealing member 70, a light extraction structure portion (not shown) that suppresses reflection of light emitted from the light emitting layer 32 on the outer surface. It is preferable to provide. Examples of such a light extraction structure part include an uneven structure part having a two-dimensional periodic structure. The period of such a two-dimensional periodic structure is such that when the wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting layer 32 is in the range of 300 to 800 nm, for example, the wavelength in the medium is λ (the wavelength in vacuum is divided by the refractive index of the medium). Value), it is desirable to set appropriately within a range of 1/4 to 10 times the wavelength λ. Such an uneven structure portion is formed in advance on the outer surface side of the sealing member 70 by, for example, an imprint method such as a thermal imprint method (thermal nanoimprint method) or an optical imprint method (photo nanoimprint method). Is possible. In addition, depending on the material of the sealing member 70, the sealing member 70 may be formed by injection molding, and an uneven structure portion may be directly formed on the sealing member 70 using an appropriate mold at the time of injection molding. It is. In addition, the concavo-convex structure portion can be configured by a member different from the sealing member 70, for example, a prism sheet (for example, a light diffusion film such as Lightup (registered trademark) GM3 manufactured by Kimoto Co., Ltd.) ).

  In the organic electroluminescence element of this embodiment, by providing the above-described light extraction structure portion, it is possible to reduce the reflection loss of the light emitted from the light emitting layer 32 and reaching the outer surface side of the sealing member 70, and the light extraction efficiency is improved. It is possible to improve.

  By the way, in the organic electroluminescence element, with respect to the base material 20, both end portions in a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction on the one surface are folded back to the sealing member 70 side together with each part of the functional layer 30, and the folding is performed. It is only necessary that the other surface is bonded to the sealing portion 80 at both ends, and the lead electrode portion 47 is drawn to the outside of the sealing portion 80 along the prescribed direction.

  Here, in the organic electroluminescence element, the base material 20 and the sealing member 70 have the same outer size, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the extraction electrode portion 47 is provided on the surface of the sealing member 70 facing the base material 20, and a part of the sealing portion 80 is interposed between the extraction electrode portion 47 and the one surface of the base material 20. You may make it do. FIG. 7B is a common schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C ′ and the line E-E ′ of FIG. Further, a common schematic cross-sectional view along the line AA ′ and DD ′ in FIG. 7A is common to the lines AA ′ and DD ′ in FIG. The common schematic cross-sectional view along the line BB ′ and the FF ′ line is the same as FIG. 6.

  Further, the organic electroluminescence element has the same outer size of the base material 20 and the sealing member 70, and as shown in FIG. 8, the sealing member 70 has notches at both ends in the direction along the prescribed direction. 71 may be provided, and a part of the sealing portion 80 may be interposed between the extraction electrode portion 47 on the one surface side of the base material 20 and the sealing member 70. FIG. 8B is a common schematic cross-sectional view taken along line C-C ′ and line E-E ′ of FIG. Further, a common schematic cross-sectional view along the line AA ′ and DD ′ in FIG. 8A is common along the line AA ′ and DD ′ in FIG. The common schematic cross-sectional view along the line BB ′ and the FF ′ line is the same as FIG. 6.

  Although the organic electroluminescent element demonstrated by the above-mentioned embodiment can be used suitably as an organic electroluminescent element for illumination, for example, it can also be used not only for illumination but for another use.

  Each figure explained in the above-mentioned embodiment is typical, and the ratio of the size and thickness of each component does not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratio.

20 Base material (first electrode)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Functional layer 32 Light emitting layer 47 Lead electrode part 50 2nd electrode 60 Insulating layer 70 Sealing member 80 Sealing part 90 Resin layer

Claims (2)

  A base material also serving as a first electrode, a functional layer on one surface side of the base material including at least a light emitting layer, a second electrode on the side opposite to the base material side in the functional layer, and the base material An extraction electrode portion electrically connected to the second electrode on the one surface side, an insulating layer electrically insulating the extraction electrode portion and the base material, and the functional layer side of the second electrode; Is a translucent sealing member on the opposite side, a translucent resin layer interposed between the second electrode and the sealing member, a peripheral portion of the base material, and the sealing member An organic electroluminescence element that takes out light from the sealing member side, and the functional layer is in a specified direction on the one surface of the substrate. Formed between two sides along the two sides and perpendicular to the prescribed direction. The both ends of the base material in the direction perpendicular to the prescribed direction on the one surface are folded back to the sealing member side together with each part of the functional layer, and the folded both ends Then, the other surface is bonded to the sealing portion, and the lead electrode portion is drawn to the outside of the sealing portion along the prescribed direction.   The organic electroluminescence element according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of a metal foil.

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