We demonstrated light extraction improvement by applying a scattering layer of Ag nanoparticles physically synthesized through a low-temperature annealing process to flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In general, increasing the size of Ag nanoparticles is preferred to increase light scattering, but a high-temperature annealing process (∼400 °C) is required to produce them. However, flexible substrates generally cannot withstand high-temperature processes. In this study, we formed Ag nanoparticles at a low temperature of ∼200 °C by inserting a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate buffer layer, thus promoting Ag dewetting. As a result, the scattering layer of enlarged Ag nanoparticles formed at low temperatures increased the external quantum efficiency by 24% in a flexible OLED compared to a reference device.
Light extraction in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) was improved by applying SnOx nanocones grown via thermal annealing in a low-O2 atmosphere. SnOx was easily fabricated through thermal processing after Sn deposition. The diameter of the SnOx nanocones was controlled by changing the deposition thickness of Sn. The SnOx nanocones induced strong Mie scattering, which reduced the total internal reflection in the glass substrate. Consequently, the OLED with SnOx nanocones exhibited a 23% increase in the external quantum efficiency compared with a reference device.
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