Organic light emitting diodes (devices) or OLEDs are monolithic, solid-state devices that typically consist of a series of organic thin films sandwiched between two thin-film conductive electrodes. When electricity is applied to an OLED, under the influence of an electrical field, charge carriers (holes and electrons) migrate from the electrodes into the organic thin films until they recombine in the emissive zone forming excitons. Once formed, these excitons, or excited states, relax to a lower energy level by giving off light (electroluminescence) and/or unwanted heat.
• Hole Injection Layer (HIL) – Deposited on top of the anode this layer receives holes from the anode and injects them deeper into the device
• Hole Transport Layer (HTL) – This layer supports the transport of holes across it so they can reach the emissive layer
• Emissive Layer– The heart of the device and where light is made, the emissive layer consists of a color defining emitter doped into a host. This is the layer where the electrical energy is directly converted into light.
• Blocking layer (BL) – Commonly used to improve OLED technology by confining electrons (charge carriers) to the emissive layer
• Electron Transport Layer (ETL) – Supports the transport of electrons across it so they can reach the emissive layer.