Advances in Condensed Matter Physics
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 2414798, 6 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2414798

Research Article

Characteristic Evaluation of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Prepared with Stamp Printing Technique

Apisit Chittawanij and Kitsakorn Locharoenrat

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand

Correspondence should be addressed to Kitsakorn Locharoenrat; kitsakorn.lo@kmitl.ac.th

Received 16 March 2017; Accepted 11 April 2017; Published 10 May 2017

Academic Editor: Kiyokazu Yasuda

Copyright © 2017 Apisit Chittawanij and Kitsakorn Locharoenrat. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

We have reported on a stamp printing technique that uses PET release film as a printing stamp to deposit TPBi thin film served as the electron transport layer of the organic light-emitting diodes. TPBi thin film was printed with a good uniformity and resolution. Effect of deposition conditions on optical and electrical properties and surface roughness of TPBi thin film have been studied under spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. It is found that characteristic of TPBi thin film is improved via controlled stamp temperature and time. Since TPBi thin film exhibits the surface morphology comparable to that of conventional spin-coating thin film, our findings suggest that PET release film-based stamp printing approach is possible to use as an alternative deposition of the organic thin film as compared with a traditional one.

1. Introduction

Properties of organic light-emitting devices or OLEDs especially in the optoelectronic applications show some benefits in terms of common structure, low-driving voltage, and flexible as well as high throughput [1, 2]. In the solution-based OLEDs, there is a dissolution limitation of the individual layer in order to form the multilayers [3, 4]. To solve this issue, different printing approaches have been introduced [5–8]. Stamp printing methods are one of the fabrication techniques in which the stacking multilayer is needed [9]. For instance, Choi et al. have demonstrated transferring of a completed OLED structure from a patterned mold [10]. This technique, ready fabrication of solution-processed organic materials, was also reported by Ferenczi et al. [11]. Similarly, Chen et al. have demonstrated a new PDMS stamp, which was simultaneously used to define the lateral patterns [12]. PDMS-based printing was also used to structure OLED components [13, 14]. However, a few limitations of PDMS-based printing are still remaining [15–20].

Recently, one demonstrates that, by controlling the surface polarity and stiffness of stamp, thin film is replicated to get better resolution and uniformity [21]. Release film (RF) stamp method is one of the easiest processes to fabricate the organic materials together with the uniform layers. Although we are able to use PET release film stamp material, a detailed investigation of the stamp printing by RF has not been reported yet. Therefore, the further study is necessary to improve the use of RF to form the multilayer of OLEDs device.

In this study, an electron transport layer (ETL) of soluble OLEDs is developed using a PET release film (RF) stamp printing method by varying stamping time and temperature of the deposited TPBi. Effects of these parameters on physical, optical, and electrical properties of TPBi thin film are studied and discussed. All organic layers stacked without any intermixing of electron transport layer by the stamp printing method are also demonstrated.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

(1) Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated glass was used as a conductive transparent material because it is very easy to clean, available on large scale, and easy to structure as a substrate.

(2) We used poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) because of the good film-forming properties in terms of a hole transport layer (HTL) [22]. It was also served as an ameliorating coating for ITO as it allowed us to overcome a lot of drawbacks of ITO by raising its work function from 4.8 to 5.2 eV [23].

(3) We used 2,6-bis(3-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)pyridine (26DCzPPy) (−5 cm²/Vs) [24, 25] and bis(3,5-difluoro-2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl-(2-carboxypyridyl) iridium III) (FIrpic) served as bipolar host and blue dopant, respectively.

(4) We used 2,2′,2′′-(1,3,5-benzinetriyl)-tris(1-phenyl-1-H-benzimidazole) (TPBi) as an electron transport material, partly due to its excellent electron transport material and high mobility [26, 27]. It was also broadly used in OLEDs displays.

(5) Lithium fluoride (LiF) and aluminum (Al) were used as a cathode site.

2.2. Substrate and Solution Preparation

ITO substrate was immersed into ultrasonic bath for 15 min using acetone, followed by ethanol. DI water was finally used to remove any contaminants. The substrates were then blown with N₂ gas to dry it. After that, 26DCzPPy and FIrpic 15 wt% were dissolved by chlorobenzene as an emitting layer, whereas TPBi of 0.15 wt% was dissolved by chloroform. Solution was stirred on a hot plate for 30 min to dissolve all the ingredients. Final solution was white and clear appearances without any suspension of the particles. On the other hand, PET release film (RF) with silicone as release agent was used as a stamp. It was made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as carrier, high temperature resistance (up to 210°C), and good flexibility. RF was cut into an appropriate dimension (1.5 × 1.5 cm²). RF was hence contacted on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at the same size as a stamp.

2.3. Deposition of TPBi Thin Film Using RF Stamp Printing

PEDOT:PSS was firstly spin-coated onto ITO substrate (3500 rpm, 15 sec). It was then baked on a hot plate at 120°C for 20 min. The TPBi 0.15 wt% in chloroform was therefore spin-coated (3500 rpm, 5 sec) onto the RF surface. Subsequently, a thin TPBi was deposited on a surface of ITO substrate by attaching PDMS/RF/TPBi film on a sample under a specific temperature, pressure, and time. After that, the whole system was cooled down to room temperature and carefully peeled PDMS/RF out and left the TPBi with uniform distribution on a device. The elevated temperature was beneficial of completing transfer of the thin film from the stamp to the substrate and hence enables a high-yield process [9, 28, 29]. The fabrication steps of TPBi thin films were displayed in Figure 1. Optical measurement under a range of UV-Vis region was carried out using a UV-Vis spectrometer (model: AVANTES).

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: Schematic illustration of release film stamping processes: (a) pressing stamp and (b) peeling stamp.

2.4. Fabrication of Blue OLEDs Using RF Stamp Printing

Solution process of OLEDs was begun with spin-coating PEDOT:PSS onto ITO-coated PEN substrate. After spin-coating was over, this sample was immediately treated by heating on a hot plate at 120°C for 20 min to eliminate the residual solution. Then it was taken out of a hot plate to decrease the temperature, awaiting for the deposition of the next layer. EML was then spin-coated onto PEDOT:PSS layer to form 45 nm thickness. Subsequently, sample was directly put onto a hot plate at 100°C for 15 min to improve the properties of the organic film. RF stamp was subsequently used to transfer TPBi film onto EML surface. TPBi film was formed onto RF surface via spin-coating. After that, the stamp printing process was carried out by attaching the PDMS/RF/TPBi film on EML under different temperatures and times as shown in Figure 1. The stamp was peeled away from the substrate to complete the printing process. Finally, LiF and Al were thermally evaporated as a cathode side. Final structure of the resulting device was ITO/spin-PEDOT:PSS (100 nm)/spin-TCTA:26DCzPPy:FIrpic (45 nm)/RF stamping-TPBi (35 nm)/LiF/Al (0.8/150 nm). The energy band diagram of our materials was shown in Figure 2. The devices were measured by a PR650 spectra scan spectrometer and Keithley 2400 voltage-current source.

Figure 2: Energy band diagram of materials under this study.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Absorption

Transferred TPBi thin films at the different thicknesses are investigated by UV-Vis spectrometer in which the obtained thickness depends on the stamping temperatures and times (under a constant load of 6 N). Absorption of the films as a function of stamp temperature (under a constant time of 100 sec) is shown in Figure 3. The film shows large absorbance in UV wavelength. Peak absorbance of the film at 390 nm is attributable to transition [30]. The small and broad absorption of the film around 560 nm is assigned to its well ordered structure and free-carrier absorption, revealing a semiconducting nature of TPBi film [31]. Peak absorbance versus stamping temperature is therefore plotted in Figure 4. It is found that the optimum film thickness is achieved if the stamp printing temperature is 120°C. On the other hand, absorption of the film as a function of stamp printing time (under a constant temperature of 120°C) is shown in Figure 5. The film shows large absorbance in UV regime. Peak absorbance versus stamping time is therefore plotted in Figure 6. It is seen that the optimum film thickness is achieved if the stamp printing time is 120 sec.

Figure 3: Absorption spectra of TPBi film in different stamping temperatures.

Figure 4: Peak absorbance at 390 nm of TPBi as a function of stamping temperature.

Figure 5: Absorption spectra of TPBi in different stamping times.

Figure 6: Peak absorbance at 390 nm of TPBi film as a function of stamping times.

3.2. Morphology

Morphology of TPBi thin film is characterized using AFM as it results in the device performances [32]. To check the surface roughness of the film, the specimen with dimension of 5 μm × 5 μm is scanned under the tapping mode. Figure 7 illustrates AFM images of PEDOT:PSS, PEDOT:PSS/spin TPBi, RF/spin TPBi, and PEDOT:PSS/RF stamp TPBi film. AFM images of the film onto the RF before and after transferring from the substrates are seen in Figures 7(c) and 7(d), respectively. The TPBi thin film from RF donor is reproducibly transferred without any critical film fractures. There is a bit different mean surface roughness between spin-coated and stamp printed films. Roughness root mean square of PEDOT:PSS, PEDOT:PSS/spin TPBi, RF/spin TPBi, and PEDOT:PSS/RF stamp TPBi film is 10.85, 0.56, 0.72, and 3.64 nm, respectively. They show similar morphology; even some spikes are seen in spin-coated films. The TPBi film printed from RF stamp shows a smooth surface, resulting in the low surface roughness. This explains that the TPBi film morphology of spin-coated TPBi film is not affected by the stamp printing process. Smooth surface film morphology is kept during processing. It demonstrates that a TPBi film can be fabricated effectively not only by the spin-coating process but also by the RF stamp printing process. This indicates that our deposition of TPBi film by using the RF stamp printing process is successfully achieved. It is therefore expected that the device performances might not be degraded by the RF stamp printing technique.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 7: AFM images of the organic thin films: (a) PEDOT:PSS, (b) PEDOT:PSS/spin TPBi, (c) release film/spin TPBi, and (d) PEDOT:PSS/RF stamp TPBi.

3.3. Electrical Properties

In order to evaluate the properties of the TPBi thin film in OLEDs device, the structure of the following layers, PEN/ITO/spin-PEDOT:PSS/RF stamp-TPBi/spin-EML/LiF/Al, is fabricated. To understand the effect of RF stamp printed TPBi on the characteristics of the devices, we select three concentrations of TPBi to fabricate three kinds of devices; namely, TPBi concentration of 0.1% is device A, 0.15% is device B, and 0.2% is device C. The concentration of TPBi is diluted by solvent. The thickness of TPBi is decreased which in turn affects the J-V-L characteristics of the devices. As seen with solid lines in Figure 8, at a certain driving voltage, the current density somewhat enhances when TPBi concentration decreases from 0.2% to 0.1%. Reduction of current density and enhancement of turn-on voltage possibly comes from the enhancing of TPBi thickness. Further increasing TPBi concentration results in the high performance. For instance, the luminance and efficiency of the devices are enhanced from 695 cd/m² (3.5 cd/A) to 900 cd/m² (4.5 cd/A) and 1250 cd/m² (6.3 cd/A) when the TPBi concentration increases from 0.1% to 0.15% and 0.2%, respectively, as shown with dotted lines in Figure 8 and with solid lines in Figure 9. It is clearly seen that the concentration of TPBi results in the thickness and the film quality of the stamping film which in turn affects the charge balance of the devices.

Figure 8: Current density and luminance characteristics as a function of the applied voltage.

Figure 9: Current efficiency characteristics as a function of the current density.

4. Conclusions

We have demonstrated that PET release film can be used as the stamp for the printing organic thin films. TPBi electron transport layer of organic light-emitting diodes is produced using PET release film-based printing with a good uniformity printing area of 1.5 × 1.5 cm². Optical properties and morphology of TPBi thin film are improved via temperature and time of the stamp printing process. Together, our results serve as a firm foundation for exploring PET release film-based printing in the deposition of multilayer of OLED displays. It is very useful in potential applications for the low-cost electroluminescent devices in the solid-state lighting and large-area light sources. Overall, these results demonstrate that PET release film as the stamp offers an attractive option for printing organic thin layers in OLEDs devices. Further attempts will concentrate on improvements of a full device including application for high efficiency OLEDs.

Conflicts of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest in this paper.

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KREF145901).

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