In situ patterning of microgrooves via inkjet etching for a solution-processed OLED display

Abstract

Inkjet-printing a solvent onto an insulating polymer layer is employed to in situ build microgrooves as bank structures in the application of a solution-processed OLED display. The inkjet-etching process not only eliminates photolithography's shadow mask and photo exposure, but is also capable of constructing bank structures on any functional layer. The orthogonal solubility between the CYtop polymer and the organic layer avoids any solvent erosion. A pixelated display is successfully fabricated by inkjet-printing a blue-emitting polymer onto inkjet-etched CYtop microgrooves with a pixel resolution of 140 lines per inch. Forming a bank structure in situ on any layer as needed offers more choices to design a new panel structure, device architecture, and deposition methods.