Hybrid Light Emitter by IMEC Exhibits High Current Density

摘要

Combining high current density with decreased optical absorption losses, a hybrid organic light-emitting device from the Inter-University MicroElectronics Center (IMEC) in Belgium represents a cross between a light-emitting diode (LED) and a field effect transistor (FET). Researchers believe the device eventually could serve in waveguides or in laser structures. In conventional organic LEDs (OLEDs), the low mobility of the charge carriers in the organic semiconductor layer tends to limit the current. Additionally, the total layer thickness can be only 80 to 100nm, because charge transport occurs perpendicularly to the organic layers. Under these conditions, the OLED generates light within about 50nm of the metallic cathode. When the OLED serves as a waveguide, these conditions result in severe absorption losses.