Inkjet Printing Systems and Techniques for Light-Emitting Devices with Enhanced Light Outcoupling

Abstract

The present teachings relate to various embodiments of ink compositions, which once printed and cured on a substrate form a continuous composite film layer that includes a first pattern of polymeric areas having a first refractive index (RI) interspersed within a second pattern of polymeric areas having an RI that is higher in comparison to the RI of the first pattern of polymeric areas. Various embodiments of composite thin films so formed on a substrate can be tuned so as to enhance light outcoupling or extraction for various light-emitting devices of the present teachings, such as, but not limited by, an OLED display or lighting device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optoelectronic device comprising:
 a material layer that forms part of the optoelectronic device, the material layer comprising a first material;   a composite polymeric film on the material layer, the composite polymeric film comprising a first pattern of polymeric areas and a second pattern of polymeric areas, wherein the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas have a lenslet shape and are in direct physical contact with the material layer, and the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas are in direct physical contact with the material layer; and   a film layer over the composite polymeric film, wherein the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas have refractive indices that are closer to the refractive index of the material layer than to the refractive index of the film layer, and further wherein the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas have refractive indices that are closer to the refractive index of the film layer than to the refractive index of the material layer.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the material layer is in the range from 1.45 to 1.5. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the refractive indices of the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas are in the range from 1.45 to 1.5. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the film layer is in the range from 1.6 to 1.9. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the refractive indices of the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas are in the range from 1.6 to 1.9. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas comprise a polymerization product of an acrylate monomer, a methacrylate monomer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas comprise the polymerization product of an acrylate monomer, a methacrylate monomer, or combinations thereof, and nanoparticles. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the optoelectronic device is an organic light emitting diode. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is glass. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas are in direct physical contact with the film layer and the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas are in direct physical contact with the film layer. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas are dome-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the film layer comprises metal nanowires. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise zirconium oxide nanoparticles, titanium oxide nanoparticles, or aluminum oxide nanoparticles. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the film layer comprises metal nanowires. 
     
     
         16 . An optoelectronic device comprising:
 a material layer that forms part of the optoelectronic device, the material layer comprising a first material;   a composite polymeric film on the material layer, the composite polymeric film comprising a first pattern of polymeric lenslet areas and a second pattern of polymeric areas, wherein the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas are in direct physical contact with the material layer and comprise the polymerization product of an acrylate monomer, a methacrylate monomer, or combinations thereof, and nanoparticles; and   an anode comprising metal nanowires over the composite polymeric film, wherein the polymeric areas of the first pattern of polymeric areas are in direct physical contact with the material layer and have refractive indices that are closer to the refractive index of material layer than to the refractive index of the anode, and further wherein the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas have refractive indices that are closer to the refractive index of the anode than to the refractive index of the material layer.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise zirconium oxide nanoparticles, titanium oxide nanoparticles, or aluminum oxide nanoparticles. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the lenslet areas are dome-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the polymeric areas of the second pattern of polymeric areas have a refractive index that matches the refractive index of the anode. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the first material is glass or a polymeric material.