Enhanced stability of organic light-emitting devices fabricated under ultra-high vacuum condition

• Published in: Chemical physics letters 2006-07, Vol.426 (1), p.111-114
• Main Authors: Ikeda, Takeshi, Murata, Hideyuki, Kinoshita, Yoshiki, Shike, Junichi, Ikeda, Yoshikazu, Kitano, Masahiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2006.06.002

Enhanced stability of organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) was observed in the device fabricated under ultra-high vacuum condition. Studies on the intrinsic degradation of the OLEDs based on tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq 3) reveal that the degradation of the OLEDs is associated with the electrochemical reaction of Alq 3 with water. Studies on the intrinsic degradation of organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) based on tris(8-hydroxyquinolinolato)aluminum (III) (Alq 3) revealed that the operation stability of the OLEDs depends on the process pressure during device fabrication. Lowering of the pressure resulted in stable devices. In sharp contrast, differences in the initial device characteristics were marginal in all devices. Analyses with a quadrupole mass spectrometer indicated that the primary difference in the pressure during device fabrication was attributable to the amount of residual water. The results show that the degradation of OLEDs is associated with the electrochemical reaction of Alq 3 with water.