Invited SS6-1

Organic Light Emitting Diodes for Lighting Applications

Takeshi Sano, Yoshiyuki Suzuri, Mitsuhiro Koden, Toshinao Yuki,

Hitoshi Nakada and Junji Kido1

Yamagata University, Innovation Center for Organic Electronics

1-808-48 Arcadia, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-0119, Japan
E-mail: takeshi.sano@yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp
1
Yamagata University, Frontier Center for Organic Materials
4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-8510, Japan

The efficiency and lifetime of white organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have now reached at sufficient level for practical use in displays
and lightings. High-resolution OLED TVs can be fabricated with highly-efficient white OLEDs and color filters. There are several attractive
features in white OLEDs such as non-glare, less blue-light, high color-rendering index, linear brightness control, thin and lightweight, that are
great advantage for the lighting applications. In this paper, first some key technologies for highly-efficient white OLEDs are explained, and
then new material challenge for next-generation OLED is discussed. In addition, the latest researches on flexible OLEDs are also shown in
some photographs. Finally, well-designed lightings for Smart Mirai House are introduced.

1. Key technologies for white OLEDs energy transfer is allowed in certain molecules. To control triplet
There have been remarkable improvements in efficiency and energy is important. Highly-efficient blue emission with good
lifetime of white OLEDs in this quarter century after the first report stability is still difficult in TADF.
in 1993.1-3) The improvements include material and device Multi photon emission or tandem device architecture provides
innovation. There are multiple ways to realize white OLEDs. One a practical method to achieve high brightness and lifetime.16-20)
method is to mix dopants having different emission wavelengths Luminance can be doubled by stacking two OLED units. By
into a host. The other one is to use plural emission layers having developing an effective interunit structure, maximum six OLED
different host-guest set. It is more controllable to utilize plural stacks have been successfully developed reaching 230 cd/A.17)
layers since exciton energy transfer can be controlled by the More important aspect of the multi photo emission device
thickness. One example of white OLED which consists of blue architecture is a lifetime. It is reported that the degradation of
and orange adjacent emitting layers was disclosed by Sanyo OLEDs are strongly correlated with current density. Luminance
Electric company.4) Assist dopants were used both in blue and decay is accelerated by the excess current. By introducing a
orange emitting layers. Assist dopant configuration provides a tandem structure, required current for a certain luminance becomes
good methodology to obtain high efficiency and long lifetime in half, which greatly contributes to improve lifetime of OLED
5-6)
the same time. device.
Phosphorescent materials opened a route to achieve 100
percent internal quantum efficiency. Nearly perfect
electron-to-photon conversion is achievable in green and red colors
with sufficient stability,7-8) however highly-efficient and stable
pure-blue phosphorescent emission was difficult to achieve since
high triplet-energy materials are needed for all the host, electron-
and hole-transport layers. Light blue phosphorescent material is
available and there have been intensive research done for blue and
white phosphorescent devices.9-11) It is also practical to use
fluorescent blue combined with phosphorescent green and red
materials. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) 12-15) White organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel
material is another candidate to convert all exciton energy into light fabricated on a plastic substrate
emission. Singlet and triplet energy levels are very close and

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 Reducing driving voltage is important to obtain low power
consumption device. Hole-injection and electron-injection layers
play important roll to lower turn-on voltage. High-mobility
electron-transport materials have been appeared and are also
effective to reduce driving voltage.21-23)
Optical design and light extraction technology are also
important since OLED emitters have relatively high refractive
index. By using phosphorescent materials and well-designed
device architecture, efficiency of 156 lm / W has been reported as a
white OLED prototype.24)
Manufacturing cost is a main issue at present. Some promising
result has been obtained for a printable OLED.25-26) Multiple layers
and tandem devices will be prepared by coating process in the near
future. Changing from glass substrate to plastic film also has a
great impact to reduce cost, which is described below.
2. Recent developments on flexible OLEDs
Since OLEDs can be fabricated by a low temperature process
below 150 degrees Celsius, it is possible to use inexpensive and
versatile plastic films, such as PET, PEN, and polycarbonate, as a
substrate. However, small amount of water or moisture getting
through the film gives a serious damage to a device, for example,
generation of dark spots, and shrinkage of the light emitting area. A
barrier-film and an encapsulation technology are essential for
successful development of flexible OLEDs. By combining those
technologies, Yamagata University has realized prototypes of
flexible and transparent OLED panels.27) A bending test is also
executed to check and improve reliability of flexible OLED panels
with specialized testing equipment.
Flexible and transparent OLED panel
There have been a couple of interesting trials to utilize new
substrates for flexible OLEDs. One is to use ultra-thin (for example,
50 micrometer thick) glass substrate, which is flexible and a
roll-to-roll process is applicable. The advantage of ultra-thin glass
is a perfect blocking of water to gain practical reliability. Ultra-thin
and lightweight panel is also attractive at designing point of view.
Another trial is to use metal foil for a substrate. In such case,
planarization layer is often needed to avoid leakage. Top emission
device architecture is applied.
Bending test equipment for flexible OLED panel
Transparent electrode for a flexible OLED is another
important study. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is commonly used for a
transparent electrode. However, sheet resistance of ITO formed on
plastic film is much higher than ITO on glass substrate due to
process temperature. The problem is material and process cost of
ITO. For the ITO alternative, conducting polymer has been used as
a transparent electrode combined with conducting metal lines.
3. OLED applications for lighting
OLED technology is now used in nearly 25% share of world
smartphones and a part of high-end televisions market. Lighting
applications, which have already been installed as a lighting fixture
for restaurant, museum, library, office lobby and food store, are
being a hot topic recently. Specially designed OLED tail lamps
have been used in a premium car.
OLED desk light installed at Yonezawa City Library
The advantages of OLED lighting are thin design, light weight,
flexibility, quick response, less blue light, less glare, linear control
of brightness, low voltage DC driving, low power consumption,
long lifetime, wide-range temperature usage, and so on.
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 Yamagata University has built an experimental house called
“Smart Mirai House” to test a future lighting and other organic
28)
electronics devices. A house the people need in 10 years with
health, longevity, happiness and high-tech has been imaged. Smart
Mirai House is a proposal for future lifestyle, concentrating the
ideas and technologies.
Smart Mirai House for experimental research
OLED lighting at Smart Mirai House
(a bathroom, a washroom and a guest room
from the left)
OLED pendant light
A guest room is installed with a Japanese window-like OLED
panel which reproduces natural soft light through the window. A
bathroom is installed with waterproof OLED panels. A washroom
is installed with an OLED panel embedded mirror. The OLED
panel has high color rendering index of Ra = 93, which shows skin
tones more natural.
A dining kitchen is installed with OLED pendant light. OLED
cultivation system is also installed and kinds of safe vegetables are
available year-round. A bedroom is installed with OLED
embedded cabinet board and color tunable ceiling light. Various
lighting conditions can be tested to find a good lighting for
comfortable sleep and for a well-controlled circadian rhythm.
Plant cultivation experiment with OLED lighting
Bedroom lighting at Smart Mirai House
4. Summary
OLEDs are suitable for lighting applications especially for a
house due to its eye-friendly nature. By the development of
flexible OLEDs, it is expected that car and mobile applications will
be extended.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science
and Technology-Japan (MEXT) and Japan Science and Technology
Agency (JST) for the support through the Center of Innovation (COI)
Program and the Program on Open Innovation Platform with Enterprises,
Research Institute and Academia (OPERA). We also thank the companies
who join COI, OPERA, YU-FLEC and Smart Mirai House Project.
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