Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with a use of Hole-injection Buffer Layer

We have seen the effects of hole-injection buffer layer in organic light-emitting diodes using copper phthalocyanine(CuPc), poly(vinylcarbazole)(PVK), and Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene-sulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) in a device structure of ITO/buffer/TPD/$Alq_3$/Al. Polymer PVK and PEDOT:PSS buffer layer was made using spin casting method and the CuPc layer was made using thermal evaporation. Current-voltage characteristics, luminance-voltage characteristics and efficiency of device were measured at room temperature with a thickness variation of buffer layer. We have obtained an improvement of the external quantum efficiency by a factor of two, four, and two and half when the CuPc, PVK, and PEDOT:PSS buffer layer are used, respectively. The enhancement of the efficiency is attributed to the improved balance of holes and elelctrons due to the use of hole-injection buffer layer. The CuPc and PEDOT:PSS layer functions as a hole-injection supporter and the PVK layer as a hole-blocking one.