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Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Imprinted by Microlens Array for Enhanced Outcoupling Efficiency of Organic Light
Seongmin Lim1, Hyeon-Sik Ahn1, Eun-Jeong Jang1
1Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 34158, Republic of Korea.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 11, 2024
Summary
This study uses polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) with microlens arrays (MLAs) to boost organic light-emitting diode (OLED) light output. The new method enhances outcoupling efficiency by 37.5% without affecting device performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) suffer from low outcoupling efficiency due to light trapping.
- Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are known for their light-scattering properties, offering potential for efficiency enhancement.
- Existing PDLC techniques may not be optimal for integration with emerging solution-processed OLED fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the outcoupling efficiency of OLEDs using a novel PDLC structure.
- To develop a solution-processable fabrication method for PDLCs compatible with OLED manufacturing.
- To quantify the efficiency enhancement achieved by the MLA-imprinted PDLC.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of PDLC imprinted with a microlens array (MLA) using a solution process.
- Integration of the MLA-imprinted PDLC with OLED devices.
- Measurement of outcoupling efficiency and electrical properties of the modified OLEDs.
Main Results:
- The MLA-imprinted PDLC enhanced the outcoupling efficiency of OLEDs by a factor of 1.22 (a 37.5% increase).
- The applied PDLC did not alter the intrinsic electrical properties of the OLED devices.
- A simple spin-coating process was utilized, suitable for future solution-processed OLEDs.
Conclusions:
- Solution-processed MLA-imprinted PDLC is an effective method for significantly improving OLED outcoupling efficiency.
- This approach is compatible with flexible OLED manufacturing and roll-to-roll processing.
- Further research into patterning PDLCs with various templates could lead to even higher efficiencies via UV irradiation.
