Submicron Structure Confined Polymers for High-Performance Intrinsically Stretchable Light-Emitting Diodes.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Stretchable polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) are crucial for advanced wearable displays.
• Achieving high stretchability, efficient luminescence, and easy integration simultaneously remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop intrinsically stretchable PLEDs with improved performance and integration capabilities.
• To introduce a novel strategy for fabricating high-performance stretchable optoelectronic devices.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of microcrystalline elastomer into light-emitting polymer matrices.
• Formation of submicron optical self-gain structures and nanofiber morphology via spatial nanoconfinement.
• Fabrication of stretchable PLED arrays using electrohydrodynamic printing.

Main Results:

• Achieved current efficiency (CE) of 13.70 cd A⁻¹, external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.70%, and low turn-on voltage of 3.70 V.
• Demonstrated high luminance of 32,013 cd m⁻² at 9 V.
• Fabricated 12 × 12 stretchable PLED arrays with excellent photoelectric stability under strain.

Conclusions:

• The novel approach enables intrinsically stretchable PLEDs with enhanced crystallinity, carrier transport, and light outcoupling.
• This method offers a promising pathway for creating high-performance, stretchable, and wearable electronic displays.