Organic light emitting diode display

An organic light emitting diode display, including a substrate; a thin film transistor on the substrate; a first electrode on the thin film transistor and electrically connected to the thin film transistor; an organic emission layer on the first electrode; a second electrode on the organic emission layer; and a first capping layer on the second electrode and a second capping layer on the first capping layer, the second capping layer being thicker than the first capping layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0168660, filed on Nov. 28, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Organic Light Emitting Diode Display,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Provided is an organic light emitting diode display.

2. Description of the Related Art

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is a self-emissive display that displays an image with an organic light emitting element emitting light.

SUMMARY

Embodiments may be realized by providing an organic light emitting diode display, including a substrate; a thin film transistor on the substrate; a first electrode on the thin film transistor and electrically connected to the thin film transistor; an organic emission layer on the first electrode; a second electrode on the organic emission layer; and a first capping layer on the second electrode and a second capping layer on the first capping layer, the second capping layer being thicker than the first capping layer.

The first capping layer may include an organic layer with a thickness of 200-1,000 Å, and the second capping layer may include the organic layer with a thickness of 4,000-10,000 Å.

The first capping layer may have a thickness of 400-500 Å, and the second capping layer may have a thickness of 4,500-6,500 Å.

The first capping layer may have a refractive index of 1-1.4, and the second capping layer may have a refractive index of 1.5-2.5.

The first capping layer may have a refractive index of 1.2-1.3, and the second capping layer may have a refractive index of 1.8-2.0.

The organic emission layer may include a hole injection layer and a hole transferring layer on the first electrode, an emission layer on the hole transferring layer, and an electron transferring layer and an electron injection layer on the emission layer.

The first electrode may be an anode, and the second electrode may be a cathode.

The organic light emitting diode display may further include a third capping layer formed between the first capping layer and the second capping layer.

The second capping layer may be thicker than the third capping layer.

The thickness of the second capping layer may be larger than a sum of the thickness of the first capping layer and the third capping layer.

The first capping layer may have a thickness of 200-1,000 Å, the second capping layer may have a thickness of 4,000-10,000 Å, and the third capping layer may have a thickness of 500-1,500 Å.

The first capping layer may have a thickness of 400-500 Å, the second capping layer may have a thickness of 4,500-6,500 Å, and the third capping layer may have a thickness of 1,000-1,300 Å.

A refractive index of the first capping layer and the second capping layer may be 1.5-2.5, and a refractive index of third capping layer may be 1-1.4.

The refractive index of the first capping layer and the second capping layer may be 1.8-2.0, and the refractive index of the third capping layer may be 1.2-1.3.

The organic emission layer may include a hole injection layer and a hole transferring layer on the first electrode, an emission layer on the hole transferring layer, and an electron transferring layer and an electron injection layer on the emission layer.

The first electrode may be an anode, and the second electrode may be a cathode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Further, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it can be directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present.

An organic light emitting diode display according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. The structure of the organic light emitting diode display may include a structure of the driving thin film transistor and the emission layer.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, an organic light emitting diode display according to an exemplary embodiment may include a substrate123, a thin film transistor130, a first electrode160, first layers171and172, an emission layer173, second layers174and175, a second electrode180, and a first capping layer200aand a second capping layer200bformed on the second electrode180.

The first layers171and172may include a hole injection layer171and a hole transferring layer172, and the second layers174and175may include an electron transferring layer174and an electron injection layer175.

The substrate123may be formed as an insulating substrate made of, for example, glass, quartz, ceramics, metal, or plastic. In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate123may be formed of a metallic substrate made of a stainless steel.

A substrate buffer layer126may be formed on the substrate123. The substrate buffer layer126may prevent penetration of impurities and may planarize the surface.

The substrate buffer layer126may be made of various materials capable of performing the functions. For example, one of a silicon nitride (SiNx) layer, a silicon oxide (SiOx) layer, and a silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) layer may be used as the substrate buffer layer126. In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate buffer layer126may be omitted according to the substrate123, e.g., a kind of substrate123, and a process condition.

A driving semiconductor layer137may be formed on the substrate buffer layer126. The driving semiconductor layer137may be formed as a polysilicon layer. The driving semiconductor layer137may include a channel region135in which impurities are not doped, and a source region134and a drain region136in which the impurities are doped at respective sides of the channel region135. The doped ion materials may be P-type impurities such as boron (B), and B2H6may be used. The impurities may vary according to the thin film transistor, e.g., a kind of thin film transistor.

A gate insulating layer127made of a silicon nitride (SiNx) or a silicon oxide (SiOx) may be formed on the driving semiconductor layer137. A gate wire including a driving gate electrode133may be formed on the gate insulating layer127. The driving gate electrode133may be formed to overlap at least a part of the driving semiconductor layer137, for example, the channel region135.

An interlayer insulating layer128covering the driving gate electrode133may be formed on the gate insulating layer127. Contact holes exposing the source region134and the drain region136of the driving semiconductor layer137may be formed in the gate insulating layer127and the interlayer insulating layer128. The interlayer insulating layer128may be formed by using a ceramic-based material such as a silicon nitride (SiNx) or a silicon oxide (SiOx), like the gate insulating layer127.

A data wire including a driving source electrode131and a driving drain electrode132may be formed on the interlayer insulating layer128. The driving source electrode131and the driving drain electrode132may be connected with, e.g., to, the source region134and the drain region136of the driving semiconductor layer137through the contact holes128aformed in the interlayer insulating layer128and the gate insulating layer127, respectively.

A driving thin film transistor130including the driving semiconductor layer137, the driving gate electrode133, the driving source electrode131, and the driving drain electrode132may be formed. The configuration of the driving thin film transistor130may be variously modified as a configuration that may be implemented by those skilled in the art.

A planarization layer124covering the data wire may be formed on the interlayer insulating layer128. The planarization layer124may remove and planarize a step to increase emission efficiency of the organic light emitting element to be formed thereon. The planarization layer124may have an electrode via hole122aexposing a part of the drain electrode132.

The planarization layer124may be made of one or more materials of a polyacrylate resin, an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a polyphenylene ether resin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin, and benzocyclobutene (BCB).

In an exemplary embodiment, one of the planarization layer124and the interlayer insulating layer128may be omitted.

A first electrode of the organic light emitting element, for example, a pixel electrode160, may be formed on the planarization layer124. For example, the organic light emitting diode device may include a plurality of pixel electrodes160which may be disposed for every plurality of pixels, respectively. The plurality of pixel electrodes160may be spaced apart from each other. The pixel electrode160may be connected to the drain electrode132through the electrode via hole122aof the planarization layer124.

A pixel defining layer125having an opening exposing the pixel electrode160may be formed on the planarization layer124. For example, the pixel defining layer125may have a plurality of openings formed for each pixel. The organic emission layer170may be formed for each opening formed by the pixel defining layer125, and a pixel area in which each organic emission layer may be formed by the pixel defining layer125may be defined.

The pixel electrode160may be disposed to correspond to the opening of the pixel defining layer125. In an exemplary embodiment, the pixel electrode160may not be disposed only in the opening of the pixel defining layer125, and may be disposed below the pixel defining layer125, and a part of the pixel electrode160may overlap with the pixel defining layer125.

The pixel defining layer125may be made of resin such as, for example, a polyacrylate resin and a polyimide, or a silica-based inorganic material.

An organic emission layer170may be formed on the pixel electrode160.

A second electrode, for example, a common electrode180, may be formed on the organic emission layer170.

The first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bmay be formed on the second electrode180.

The structure of the organic emission layer170, the first capping layer200a, and the second capping layer200bwill be described in detail later.

The organic light emitting diode LD including the pixel electrode160, the organic emission layer170, the common electrode180, and the first and second capping layers200aand200bmay be formed.

Each of the pixel electrode160and the common electrode180may be made of a transparent conductive material or a transflective or reflective conductive material. According to the materials forming the pixel electrode160and the common electrode180, e.g., a kind of materials forming the pixel electrode160and the common electrode180, the organic light emitting diode device may be a top emission type, a bottom emission type, or a double-sided emission type.

The first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bmay be formed of an organic layer.

An overcoat190covering and protecting the common electrode180may be formed on the first capping layer200a, the second capping layer200b, and the common electrode180.

A thin film encapsulation layer121may be formed on the overcoat190. The thin film encapsulation layer121may encapsulate and protect the organic light emitting element LD and a driving circuit part formed on the substrate123from the outside.

The thin film encapsulation layer141may include organic encapsulation layers121aand121cand inorganic encapsulation layers121band121dwhich may be alternately laminated. For example,FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which two organic encapsulation layers121aand121cand two inorganic encapsulation layers121band121dmay be alternately laminated to configure the thin film encapsulation layer12.

The organic light emitting element will be described with reference toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the organic light emitting element ofFIG. 1.

The organic light emitting element (a portion X ofFIG. 1) according to an exemplary embodiment may have a structure in which the first electrode160, the hole injection layer171, the hole transferring layer172, the emission layer173, the electron transferring layer174, the electron injection layer175, the second electrode180, the first capping layer200a, and the second capping layer200bare sequentially laminated.

For example, the organic emission layer170ofFIG. 1may include the first electrode160, the hole injection layer171, the hole transferring layer172, the emission layer173, the electron transferring layer174, the electron injection layer175, the second electrode180, the first capping layer200a, and the second capping layer200bofFIG. 2.

The first electrode160may be the anode, and the second electrode180may be the cathode.

The hole injection layer171may be disposed on the first electrode160. The hole injection layer171may be a layer that may improve the injection of holes from the first electrode160into the hole transferring layer172. The hole injection layer171may be formed of, for example, copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), polyaniline (PANI), or N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-di-[4-(N,N-diphenyl-amino)phenyl]benzidine (NPNPB).

The thickness of the hole injection layer171may be in a range of 25 μm to 35 μm.

The hole injection layer171may be disposed on the hole transferring layer172. The hole transferring layer172may facilitate smooth transport of the holes transferred from the hole injection layer171. For example, the hole transferring layer172may be formed of N,N-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-di(phenyl)benzidine (NPD), N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N′-bis(phenyl) (TPD), s-TAD, or 4,4′,4″-tris(N-3-methylphenyl-N-phenyl-amino)-triphenylamine (MTDATA).

In an exemplary embodiment, the hole injection layer171may include a material applied with the dopant of the P type to the same material as the material included in the hole transferring layer172, the driving voltage of the organic light emitting element may be decreased, and the hole injection characteristic may be improved.

The thickness of the hole transferring layer172may be in a range of 15 nm to 25 nm.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the hole injection layer171and the hole transferring layer172may have the laminated structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the hole injection layer171and the hole transferring layer172may be formed of a singular layer.

The emission layer173may contain a light emitting material for displaying a predetermined color. For example, the emission layer173may display a primary color such as blue, green, or red, or a combination thereof.

The thickness of the emission layer173maybe in a range of 15 μm to 25 μm.

The emission layer173may contain a host and a dopant. The emission layer173may contain materials for emitting red, green, blue, and white light, and may be formed by using a phosphorescent or fluorescent material.

In a case where the emission layer173emits red light, it may contain a host material having carbazole biphenyl (CBP) or 1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl) (mCP), and may be formed of a phosphorescent material containing a dopant having at least one of, for example, PIQIr(acac) (bis(1-phenylisoquinoline)acetylacetonate iridium), PQIr(acac) (bis(1-phenylquinoline)acetylacetonate iridium), PQIr (tris(1-phenylquinoline)iridium), and PtOEP (platinum octaethylporphyrin).

In a case where the emission layer173emits green light, it may contain a host material having CBP or mCP, and may be formed of a phosphorescent material containing a dopant having Ir(ppy)3 (fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium) or a phosphorescent material containing a dopant having Alq3 (tris(8-hydroxyquinolino)aluminum).

In a case where the emission layer173emits green light, it may contain a host material having CBP or mCP, and may be formed of a phosphorescent material containing a dopant (4,6-F2ppy)2Irpic. In an exemplary embodiment, the emission layer173may be formed of a phosphorescent material containing one of spiro-DPVBi, spiro-6P, distyryl benzene (DSB), distyryl arylene (DSA), a PFO-based polymer, and a PPV-based polymer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electron transferring layer174may be disposed on the emission layer173. The electron transferring layer174may facilitate transfer of electrons from the second electrode180to the emission layer173. The electron transferring layer174may prevent the holes injected from the first electrode160from moving to the second electrode180through the emission layer173. For example, the electron transferring layer174may serve as a hole blocking layer to improve combination of the holes and electrons in the emission layer173.

The electron injection layer175may be formed on the electron transferring layer174. The electron injection layer175may be a layer that may improve the injection of the electrons from the second electrode180into the electron transferring layer174. The electron injection layer175may include, for example, Alq3, LiF, gallium mixture (Ga complex), or PBD.

The second electrode180may be formed on the electron injection layer175. On the second electrode180, the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bmay be sequentially deposited at the position corresponding to the organic emission layer170.

Referring to the first capping layer200a, the first capping layer200amay be formed of the organic layer, and the first capping layer200amay be formed of the organic layer having a refractive index of, for example, 1-1.4, e.g., 1.2-1.3.

The first capping layer200amay be formed with a thickness of, for example, 200-1,000 Å, e.g., 400-500 Å.

Referring to the second capping layer200b, the second capping layer200bmay also be formed of the organic layer, and the second capping layer200bmay be formed of the organic layer having a refractive index of, for example, 1.5-2.5, e.g., 1.8-2.0.

The second capping layer200bmay be relatively thicker than the first capping layer200a, with a thickness of, for example, 4,000-10,000 Å, e.g., 4,500-6,500 Å.

The following Examples and Comparative Example are provided in order to highlight characteristics of one or more embodiments, but it will be understood that the Examples and Comparative Example are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments, nor is the Comparative Example to be construed as being outside the scope of the embodiments. Further, it will be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the particular details described in the Examples and Comparative Example.

A function of the first capping layer and the second capping layer according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 3AandFIG. 3Billustrate graphs of result of measuring a reflectance of a light for each wavelength of an organic light emitting element according to a Comparative Example and an Example, respectively.

The Comparative Example used the organic light emitting element in which the second capping layer200bwas omitted, i.e., only the first capping layer200awas formed in the organic light emitting element. InFIG. 3AandFIG. 3B, a horizontal axis represents a wavelength band (nm) of light and a vertical axis represents reflectance (%) of the light.

Referring toFIG. 3A, in the Comparative Example, the reflection for the light of the entire wavelength band region was relatively uniform throughout a blue wavelength band (400-460 nm), a green wavelength band (500-600 nm), and a red wavelength band (600-680 nm).

Referring toFIG. 3B, in the Example, in which the second capping layer200bwas formed on the first capping layer200ain the organic light emitting element, a graph representing the reflectance of the light included antinodes1,2, and3in blue, green, and red wavelength regions required in the blue wavelength band, the green wavelength band, and the red wavelength band, and the graph representing the reflectance of the light in the rest of the wavelength region except for the blue, green, and red wavelengths included nodes4,5,6, and7, and the light of the required blue, green, and red wavelength regions was selectively reflected.

Accordingly, different from the organic light emitting element only formed with only the first capping layer200a, by additionally forming the second capping layer200b, while the light of the required wavelength band may be selected and reflected, the light of the unnecessary wavelength band may not be reflected, and the color purity of the organic light emitting element may be improved.

For example, the organic light emitting element according to the Comparative Example also may reflect the light of the unnecessary wavelength band, and the color purity may be deteriorated compared with the color purity of the organic light emitting element according to the Example.

The first capping layer200amay be formed of the organic layer having the refractive index of 1-1.4, the second capping layer200bmay be formed of the organic layer having the refractive index of 1.5-2.5, and by depositing the first and second capping layers200aand200bhaving the different of the refractive indexes, the light to be emitted may be amplified.

An effect according to the thickness of the first capping layer and the second capping layer according to additional Examples will be described with reference toFIG. 4andFIG. 5.

FIG. 4illustrates a graph of the result of measuring the reflectance of the light for each wavelength band measured by forming the first capping layer200aof the organic light emitting element according to additional Examples with thicknesses of 500 Å (“500 A”) and 800 Å (“800 A”). InFIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the wavelength band (nm) of the light and the vertical axis represents the reflectance (%) of the light.

As shown inFIG. 4, comparing the first capping layer200aof the thicknesses of 500 Å and 800 Å, the graph representing the reflectance of the wavelength band of the light was shifted right and left, e.g., along the horizontal axis.

The range of the wavelength region of the light to be reflected may be selectively controlled through the thickness of the first capping layer200a.

For example, as the thickness of the first capping layer200ais decreased, the graph representing the reflectance of the light for each wavelength band may be shifted left, e.g., along the horizontal axis, and as the thickness of the first capping layer200ais increased, the graph representing the reflectance of the light for each wavelength band may be shifted moved right, e.g., along the horizontal axis.

The thickness of the first capping layer200amay be in a range of 200-1,000 Å. If the thickness is less than 200 Å, the formation effect of the first capping layer200ato increase the reflectance may be slight, while if the thickness is more than 1,000 Å, the absorbed light may be increased compared with the reflected light, and the emission efficiency may be deteriorated.

FIG. 5illustrates a graph of the result of measuring the reflectance of the light for each wavelength band measured by forming the second capping layer200bof the organic light emitting element according to additional Examples with thickness of 1200 Å (“1.2 kA”), 4,500 Å (“4.5 kA”), and 9,000 Å (“9 kA”). InFIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the wavelength band (nm) of the light and the vertical axis represents the reflectance (%) of the light.

As shown inFIG. 5, as the thickness of the second capping layer200bis increased, for example, 1200 Å, 4,500 Å, and 9,000 Å, a number of antinodes and nodes of the graph representing the reflectance of the light for each wavelength band in the limited wavelength (0-750 nm) may be increased.

In the case of 1200 Å, there were two antinodes, in the case of 4,500 Å, there were three antinodes, and in the case of 9,000 Å, there were six antinodes. The number of wavelength regions of the light to be selectively reflected may be controlled through the thickness control of the second capping layer200b.

For example, whereas the number of antinodes is decreased as the thickness of the second capping layer200bis decreased, and the number of wavelength regions of the light to be selectively reflected may be decreased, the number of antinodes may be increased as the thickness of the second capping layer200bis increased, and the number of wavelength regions of the light to be selectively reflected may be increased.

The second capping layer200bmay be formed with the thickness of 4,500-10,000 Å. If the thickness is less than 4,500 Å, there may be less than three antinodes, making it difficult to reflect all the light of three wavelength bands of blue, green, and red, while, if the thickness is more than 10,000 Å, the antinodes may be excessively generated, e.g., an antinode may also be generated in the wavelength region to be removed, and the color purity may be deteriorated.

As described above, the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bmay selectively reflect only light of the wavelength regions of blue, green, and red corresponding to the wavelength regions of the light to be reflected to improve the color purity, and in an exemplary embodiment, the first capping layer200amay have a thickness of 400-500 Å and the second capping layer200bmay have a thickness of 4,500-6,500 Å.

The wavelength regions of blue, green, and red may best accord, e.g., correspond, with the antinode regions of the graph representing the reflectance for each wavelength band of the light when the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bare formed with the thickness of the above-described range.

An organic light emitting element according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 6andFIG. 7.

FIG. 6illustrates a cross-sectional view of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display based on a thin film transistor and an organic light emitting element used therein in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 7illustrates a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of an organic light emitting element shown inFIG. 6.

The organic light emitting diode display according to the current exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7illustrates substantially the same as an exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2except for a third capping layer200cbetween the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200band the refractive indexes of the first to third capping layers200a,200b, and200c.

As shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the organic light emitting diode display according to an exemplary embodiment further may include the third capping layer200cinserted between the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200b.

The third capping layer200cmay be formed of the organic layer like the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200b, with a thickness of, for example, 500-1,500 Å, e.g., 1,000-1,300 Å.

The first capping layer200amay be formed with a thickness of, for example, 200-1,000 Å, e.g., 400-500 Å.

The second capping layer200bmay be formed with a thickness of, for example, 4,000-10,000 Å, e.g., 4,500-6,500 Å.

In an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the second capping layer200bmay be larger than the thickness of the first capping layer200aand the third capping layer200c.

When additionally including the third capping layer200c, the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bmay have refractive indexes of 1.5-2.5 and the third capping layer200bmay have a refractive index of 1-1.4.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first capping layer200aand the second capping layer200bmay have a refractive index of 1.8-2.0 and the third capping layer200cmay have a refractive index of 1.2-1.3.

For example, in the sequentially deposited first to third capping layers200a,200b, and200c, they may be deposited while having differences of refractive indexes between adjacent capping layers, and the reflectance of the light may be further improved.

By way of summation and review, a configuration of an OLED display may include a substrate, a pixel electrode located on the substrate, an organic film including an emission layer (EML) located on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode located on the organic film. The organic film may include a hole injection layer (HIL) and a hole transport layer (HTL) between the pixel electrode and the emission layer, and an electron transport layer (ETL) and an electron injection layer (EIL) between the EML and a common electrode.

The organic light emitting diode display of the described structure may include an organic emission layer between the anode and the cathode, a hole supplied from the anode may be combined with an electron supplied from the cathode in the organic emission layer to form an exciton, and the light may be emitted by the energy generated while the exciton is again restored into a ground state.

The organic light emitting diode display may determine efficiency according to an optical characteristic of the transparent electrode and the reflecting electrode, and an electrical characteristic of an organic thin film including the emission layer.

In the organic light emitting diode display of a top emissive type, the emission layer may be positioned between the reflective anode and the reflective portion of the transflective cathode, and it may be difficult to obtain a desired emission efficiency and color purity although the thickness of the thin film may be appropriately determined.

Provided is an organic light emitting diode display that may exhibit improved color purity and emission efficiency through control of a thickness of a capping layer formed on the cathode. As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment, by controlling the thicknesses of the capping layers formed on the cathode, the color purity and the emission efficiency may be improved.