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Critical role of electrons in the short lifetime of blue OLEDs

Author

Listed:
  • Jaewook Kim

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST)

  • Joonghyuk Kim

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Yongjun Kim

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST)

  • Youngmok Son

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Youngsik Shin

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Hye Jin Bae

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Ji Whan Kim

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Sungho Nam

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Yongsik Jung

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Hyeonsu Kim

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST)

  • Sungwoo Kang

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST
    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Yoonsoo Jung

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST)

  • Kyunghoon Lee

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST)

  • Hyeonho Choi

    (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

  • Woo Youn Kim

    (Department of Chemistry, KAIST)

Abstract

Designing robust blue organic light-emitting diodes is a long-standing challenge in the display industry. The highly energetic states of blue emitters cause various degradation paths, leading to collective luminance drops in a competitive manner. However, a key mechanism of the operational degradation of organic light-emitting diodes has yet to be elucidated. Here, we show that electron-induced degradation reactions play a critical role in the short lifetime of blue organic light-emitting diodes. Our control experiments demonstrate that the operational lifetime of a whole device can only be explained when excitons and electrons exist together. We examine the atomistic mechanisms of the electron-induced degradation reactions by analyzing their energetic profiles using computational methods. Mass spectrometric analysis of aged devices further confirm the key mechanisms. These results provide new insight into rational design of robust blue organic light-emitting diodes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaewook Kim & Joonghyuk Kim & Yongjun Kim & Youngmok Son & Youngsik Shin & Hye Jin Bae & Ji Whan Kim & Sungho Nam & Yongsik Jung & Hyeonsu Kim & Sungwoo Kang & Yoonsoo Jung & Kyunghoon Lee & Hyeonho C, 2023. "Critical role of electrons in the short lifetime of blue OLEDs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43408-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43408-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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