The Role of Emission Layer Morphology on the Enhanced Performance of Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Quantum Dot-Semiconducting Polymer Hybrids
The influence of the morphology of quantum dot (QD)-semiconducting polymer hybrid emission layers on the performance of quantum dot-based light emitting diodes (QLEDs) is systematically investigated. Chemically grafted QD-semiconducting polymer hybrids are fabricated by the ligand exchange procedure between CdSe/CdxZn1−xS QDs and a new block copolymer consisting of a carbazole-based electroactive block with a low highest occupied molecular orbital level and a disulfide-based anchor block. The performance of QLEDs with hybrid emission layers is compared with QLEDs utilizing QD-only and physically mixed QD/polymer emission layers. It is shown that only in the emission layers formed by chemica…
Quantum dot-block copolymer hybrids with improved properties and their application to quantum dot light-emitting devices.
To combine the optical properties of CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with the electrical properties of semiconducting polymers, we prepared QD/polymer hybrids by grafting a block copolymer (BCP) containing thiol-anchoring moieties (poly(para-methyl triphenylamine-b-cysteamine acrylamide)) onto the surfaces of QDs through the ligand exchange procedure. The prepared QD/polymer hybrids possess improved processability such as enhanced solubility in various organic solvents as well as the film formation properties along with the improved colloidal stability derived from the grafted polymer shells. We also demonstrated light-emitting diodes based on QD/polymer hybrids, exhibiting the improved device …
Surface Coatings Based on Polysilsesquioxanes: Solution-Processible Smooth Hole-Injection Layers for Optoelectronic Applications
Optoelectronic devices usually consist of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) as one electrode. Interfacial engineering between the TCO electrode and the overlying organic layers is an important method for tuning device performance. We introduce poly(methylsilsesquioxane)-poly(N,N-di-4-methylphenylamino styrene) (PMSSQ-PTPA) as a potential hole-injection layer forming material. Spin-coating and thermally induced crosslinking resulted in an effective planarization of the anode interface. HOMO level (-5.6 eV) and hole mobility (1 × 10(-6) cm(2) · Vs(-1) ) of the film on ITO substrates were measured by cyclovoltammetry and time-of-flight measurement demonstrating the hole injection capabili…
The effect of band gap alignment on the hole transport from semiconducting block copolymers to quantum dots
Semiconducting hole transporting block copolymers were chemically modified to adjust their energy levels to that of CdSe/CdS/CdZnS red quantum dots. Hybrids with optimized energy levels could be used to build strongly improved quantum dot based LEDs (QLEDs).
Toward mass producible ordered bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices.
A strategy to fabricate nanostructured poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films for organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells by a direct transfer method from a reusable soft replica mold is presented. The flexible polyfluoropolyether (PFPE) replica mold allows low-pressure and low- temperature process condition for the successful transfer of nanostructured P3HT films onto PEDOT/PSS-coated ITO substrates. To reduce the fabrication cost of masters in large area, we employed well-ordered anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as a template. Also, we provide a method to fabricate reversed nanostructures by exploiting the self-replication of replica molds. The concept of the transfer method in low temperature with a fl…
Characterization of quantum dot/conducting polymer hybrid films and their application to light-emitting diodes.
Quantum dot/conducting polymer hybrid films are used to prepare light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The hybrid films (CdSe@ZnS quantum dots excellently dispersed in a conducting polymer matrix, see figure) are readily prepared by various solution-based processes and are also easily micropatterned. The LEDs exhibit a turn-on voltage of 4 V, an external quantum efficiency greater than 1.5%, and almost pure-green quantum-dot electroluminescence.
Push‐Pull Design of Bis(tridentate) Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine Chromophores as Deep Red Light Emitters in Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells
Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) with a simple device structure were prepared by using heteroleptic bis(tridentate) ruthenium(II) complexes [1](PF6)(2)-[3](PF6)(2) as emitters. The push-pull substitution shifts the emission energy to low energy, into the NIR region. The devices emit deep red light up to a maximum emission wavelength of 755 nm [CIE (International Commission on Illumination) coordinates: x = 0.731, y = 0.269 for [3](PF6)(2)], which, to the best of our knowledge, is the lowest emission energy for LECs containing bis(tridentate) ruthenium(II) complexes. A device structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ruthenium(II) complex/Ag was used, and the thickness of the emitting layer was …
Plasmon-induced slow aging of exciton generation and dissociation for stable organic solar cells
Fast degradation is a major issue with organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Integrating plasmonics with OPVs has improved their efficiency; however, the stability effects are unknown. We demonstrate that plasmonic effects can improve the lifetime and efficiency. The aging effects on charge carrier generation and transport are investigated. Confocal time-resolved photoluminescence of Au nanoparticle (NP) doped polymer blend was performed to understand the plasmonic effects on excited-state dynamics. Hot exciton generation is observed directly at the Au-NP surface, which contributed to achieving a nearly perfect exciton dissociation yield. We found that slow aging of the plasmonic effect and the hot…
Side-chain conjugated polymers for use in the active layers of hybrid semiconducting polymer/quantum dot light emitting diodes
Three monomers, M1–M3, with modified carbazole cores and styrene functionality were prepared for use in the active layers of hybrid polymer/quantum dot light emitting diodes. Utilizing reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, side-chain conjugated polymers, P1–P3, with narrow polydispersities and disulfide end groups were obtained. The thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of the polymers varied depending on the substituents of the carbazole cores. Through the disulfide end groups the polymers were chemically blended with quantum dots to obtain QD/polymer hybrids, which were further used as active layers in light emitting diodes. The fabricated devices ret…
Reduced efficiency roll-off in light-emitting diodes enabled by quantum dot–conducting polymer nanohybrids
We demonstrate QLEDs implementing wider active layers (50 nm) based on QD–conducting polymer nanohybrids, which exhibit a stable operational device performance across a wide range of current densities and brightness. A comparative study reveals that the significant suppression of efficiency roll-off in the high current density regime is primarily attributed to a sufficient charge carrier distribution over the wider active layer and improved charge carrier balance within QDs enabled by the hybridization of QDs with conducting polymers. Utilization of this finding in future studies should greatly facilitate the development of high performance, stable QLEDs at high current density or luminance…