Organic wrinkles embedded in high-index medium as planar internal scattering structures for organic light-emitting diodes

Abstract

Organic wrinkle structures are investigated as an internal scattering layer for the fabrication of highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The solution-processed wrinkle structures are planarized with a high-index layer, resulting in a reduced surface roughness and optical haze simultaneously. The OLED device including the wrinkle structures achieved external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24.2%, corresponding to a 1.24 time enhancement with respect to that of a control device having no internal scattering layer. By attaching a micro lens array (MLA) or a half ball lens (HBL) on the external surface of the substrate, the proposed device exhibits an EQE of 30.5% (1.56 time enhancement) and 41.8% (2.14 time enhancement), respectively. Randomness of the distributed wrinkle structures is shown to provide additional benefits of reduced angular spectral distortion and Lambertian-like emission properties. Trans-scale optical simulation combining wave-optics and the geometrical effect are used for the quantitative analysis of the emission characteristics of the device. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.