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Solvent-Substrate Interaction-Controlled Single-Step Inkjet Printing of Micro-Inlaid IOLEDs
Wonsun Kim1, HyeRyun Jeong1, Kimin Lee1
1Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 4, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel inkjet printing method for creating high-resolution organic light-emitting diode (OLED) pixels. The technique uses controlled phase separation to directly pattern pixels, simplifying fabrication and improving efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Inkjet printing is a scalable method for optoelectronic devices.
- Conventional methods require complex multi-step alignment and bank structures.
- Direct patterning of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a single-step inkjet printing strategy for micro-inlaid inverted OLEDs (μ-inlaid IOLEDs).
- To enable direct fabrication of high-resolution OLED pixels on zinc oxide (ZnO) layers.
- To overcome limitations of conventional patterning methods in OLED manufacturing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized chloroform-based inks with semiconductor solutes deposited on poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) layers.
- Leveraged lateral phase separation for localized P4VP removal and solute inlay.
- Investigated interfacial dynamics, surface energy, and Hansen solubility parameters.
- Employed Micro-Raman spectroscopy for analyzing confined emissive regions.
Main Results:
- Achieved lithography-free fabrication of green-emitting μ-inlaid IOLED arrays with 250 dpi resolution.
- Demonstrated peak external quantum efficiencies of 3.4-3.8% and current efficiencies up to 14.7 cd/A.
- Obtained high luminance levels of 10,000-16,000 cd/m².
- Confirmed spatially confined emissive regions and exclusion of P4VP from inlaid sites.
Conclusions:
- The developed strategy enables scalable fabrication of high-resolution IOLEDs by decoupling printing from equilibrium miscibility.
- Transient wetting-controlled interfacial dynamics at oxide surfaces are key for phase-separation patterning.
- This approach simplifies OLED pixel definition, reducing process complexity and enhancing efficiency.
