Highly Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Devices for General Illumination

Innovative solutions to improve light extraction efficiency from organic light emitting devices used for general illumination can help the nation achieve significant energy savings. Currently, only approximately one-fourth of photons generated by these devices are released, while the remaining photons are re-absorbed as heat. Improvement of the light extraction efficiency is needed to make the new devices competitive with conventional lighting devices, and thereby achieve the expected cost and energy savings. This project will improve the light extraction efficiency of organic light emitting devices by eliminating the total internal reflection at the glass-substrate/air interface. The approach involves the deposition of an additional layer of material, which has an extremely low refraction index, between the glass and the device structure. In Phase I, a theoretical model will be developed to simulate the performance of the new device, and a proof-of-concept prototype will be fabricated to experimentally demonstrate the improved light extraction efficiency. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new design should contribute to achieving the national goal of decreasing energy consumption by 29 percent by 2025. With the improved lighting devices, the U.S. can accumulate energy savings of $125 billion from 2005 to 2025, defer the construction of forty 1000 megawatt power plants, and create solid-state lighting revenue of $10 billion annually.