Realization of efficient light out-coupling in organic light-emitting diodes with surface carbon-coated magnetic alloy nanoparticles

Abstract

A significant enhancement in light extraction in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is realized by using composite hole transport layers (HTLs) with surface carbon-coated magnetic alloy nanoparticles (NPs). Compared to the control device with a standard architecture, the current efficiencies of fluorescent green OLEDs can be enhanced by 47.1% and 48.5% by mixing the surface carbon-coated magnetic FePt (0.5 wt‰) and CoPt (0.5 wt‰) alloy NPs into poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), yielding the maximum values of 5.40 cd A⁻¹ and 5.45 cd A⁻¹, respectively. The presence of an alloy NP-incorporated PEDOT:PSS HTL also acts as an optical out-coupling layer contributing to the efficiency enhancement, accomplished through the collective effects of light-scattering, localized surface plasmon resonance and increased electron trap density induced by magnetic alloy NPs.