Optoelectronic Device

Abstract

An optoelectronic device is disclosed. In an embodiment the optoelectronic device includes a light-transmissive first electrode, an electrically conductive track including a metal, and a functional organic region having at least one active region, wherein the electrically conductive track is arranged between the first electrode and the functional organic region and wherein the electrically conductive track is in direct contact with the first electrode and the functional organic region.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An optoelectronic device comprising: a light transmissive first electrode; an electrically conductive track comprising a metal; and a functional organic region comprising at least one active region, wherein the electrically conductive track is arranged between the first electrode and the functional organic region, and wherein the electrically conductive track is in direct contact with the first electrode and the functional organic region.

15. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive track is formed by a metallic ink that comprises a dopant for the functional organic region, and wherein the dopant is configured to deactivate another opposite-type dopant present in an adjacent functional organic region such that in a boundary region between the electrically conductive track and the functional organic region at least one area is formed that is free from charge carriers or reduced in charge carriers.

16. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive track is a printed structure.

17. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the functional organic region directly adjoins the first electrode and, during operation, a current density between the functional organic region and the first electrode is greater than a current density between the electrically conductive track and the functional organic region.

18. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein a charge carrier injection from the electrically conductive track into the functional organic region is inhibited or prevented.

19. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein a work function for charge carriers from the electrically conductive track is lower than a work function from the first electrode when the first electrode is an anode, or wherein the work function for charge carriers from the electrically conductive track is greater than the work function from the first electrode when the first electrode is a cathode.

20. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive track comprises a dopant for the functional organic region, and wherein the dopant is configured to deactivate another opposite-type dopant present in an adjacent functional organic region.

21. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive track and the functional organic region form a p-n junction, which is in antiparallel connection with the active region of the organic functional region.

22. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the first electrode is a layer having a main extension plane, wherein an area of the main extension plane is at least 90% of an area of a cross-sectional area of the functional organic region, and wherein the cross-sectional area is arranged parallel to the main extension plane.

23. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein the first electrode comprises a transparent conductive oxide.

24. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive tracks.

25. The optoelectronic device according to claim 14, further comprising a second electrode arranged on a side of the functional organic region facing away from the first electrode.

26. The optoelectronic device according to claim 25, wherein the second electrode is light-transmissive and an additional electrically conductive track is arranged between the second electrode and the functional organic region, and wherein the additional electrically conductive track is in direct contact with the second electrode and the functional organic region.

27. An optoelectronic device comprising: a light transmissive first electrode; an electrically conductive track comprising a metal; and a functional organic region comprising at least one active region, wherein the electrically conductive track is arranged between the first electrode and the functional organic region, wherein the electrically conductive track is in direct contact with the first electrode and the functional organic region, wherein the electrically conductive track comprises a dopant for the functional organic region, and wherein the dopant is configured to deactivate another opposite-type dopant present in an adjacent functional organic region.

28. A method for producing an optoelectronic device, the method comprising: applying a light transmissive first electrode to a carrier; printing an electrically conductive track, which comprises a metal, on a side of the first electrode which faces away from the carrier; and applying a functional organic region, which comprises at least one active region, on a side of the first electrode and the electrically conductive track which faces away from the carrier, wherein the electrically conductive track is in direct contact with the first electrode and the functional organic region, and wherein the electrically conductive track is formed by a metallic ink.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the metallic ink comprises a dopant for the functional organic region, and wherein the dopant is configured to deactivate another opposite-type dopant present in an adjacent functional organic region such that in a boundary region between the electrically conductive track and the functional organic region at least one area that is free from charge carriers or reduced in charge carriers is formed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In conjunction with FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, method steps for producing an optoelectronic device as described herein are explained in more detail by means of sectional illustrations.

[0037] In conjunction with the sectional illustration of FIG. 2, a further exemplary embodiment of an optoelectronic device described herein is explained in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Same, similar or like elements or elements having the same effect are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. The figures and the size ratios to one another of the elements illustrated in the figures should not be considered as being to scale. Rather, individual elements may be illustrated in an exaggerated size for the purpose of better illustration and/or understanding.

[0039] FIG. 1A, shows a first process step for the production of an optoelectronic device as described here using a sectional view. Here, a carrier 1 is initially provided. The carrier 1 is preferably of light-transmissive design and can be formed by a glass substrate, for example.

[0040] On a cover surface of the carrier 1, the first electrode 2 is arranged. The first electrode 2 can, for example, be a light-transmissive electrode that consists of a TCO material such as ITO.

[0041] In a further step of the method, electrically conductive tracks 3 are attached onto the cover surface of the first electrode 2 facing away from the carrier 1 by means of a printing process. For example, the electrically conductive tracks 3 are generated by inkjet printing. In this case, the electrically conductive tracks 3 are formed by a metallic ink, which is modified such that no injection or only a reduced injection of charge carrier into the functional organic region 4 takes place, which is attached in the process step shown in conjunction with FIG. 1B. The functional organic region 4 surrounds the printed conductive tracks 3, so that these directly adjoin the first electrode 2 and the functional organic region 4. The functional organic region 4 here comprises at least one active region 5, in which light is generated during operation, for example.

[0042] In the next process step, FIG. 1C, a second electrode 6 is attached to the side of the functional organic region facing away from the first electrode 2. The second electrode 6 can, for example, be configured to reflect radiation, so that light enters or exits through the light-transmissive carrier 2.

[0043] In further process steps (not illustrated), an encapsulation of the optoelectronic device is effected by applying, e.g., a cover and/or an encapsulating layer sequence in order to hermetically seal the optoelectronic device.

[0044] In conjunction with the sectional illustration of FIG. 2, a more detailed explanation is given of an exemplary embodiment of the optoelectronic device, in which light is emitted on both sides and the optoelectronic device itself is of light-transmissive design. In this case, the optoelectronic device can be a so-called transparent OLED, for example.

[0045] The optoelectronic device comprises the carrier 1, which is formed, e.g., by glass, a first electrode 2, which is formed by a TCO material, and the electrically conductive tracks 3, which are modified in such a way that a charge carrier injection into the adjacent functional organic region is reduced or prevented.

[0046] The functional organic region 4 comprises a light-generating active region 5. On the side of the functional organic region 4 facing away from the first electrode 2, the second electrode 2 is applied, which is also of light-transmissive design and is formed by a TCO material or a thin metal layer. Between the second electrode 6 and the functional organic region 4, additional conductive tracks 3′ are arranged, which are also modified such that a charge carrier injection from the conductive tracks 3′ into the surrounding organic material of the functional organic region 4 is inhibited or prevented compared with a charge carrier injection from the second electrode 6 into the functional organic region 4.

[0047] The device is closed off by a covering 7, which can again be an encapsulation and/or a covering body such as, e.g., a cover glass.

[0048] Overall, the optoelectronic devices described herein can be produced particularly cost-effective, since structuring of the electrically conductive tracks already takes place while the tracks are being produced and not subsequently and, because of the reduced charge carrier injections from the electrically conductive tracks into the surrounding organic material of the functional organic region, there is no need for any additional covering, electrically insulating layers on the electrically conductive tracks. Furthermore, the electrically conductive tracks between the electrodes and the organic functional region are particularly well protected from chemical and mechanical influences and the electrically conductive tracks can perform further functional tasks in the optoelectronic device, such as, e.g., increasing the ESD resistance of the optoelectronic device.

[0049] The invention is not limited to the description by said description by means of the exemplary embodiments. Rather, the invention comprises any new feature and any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the patent claims, even if this feature or this combination per se is not explicitly stated in the patent claims or exemplary embodiments.