Operation mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells: A cheaper alternative to organic light-emitting diodes

Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are a type of organic light-emitting devices. Compared to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), LECs exhibit a simpler structure, greater flexibility, and can be manufactured at lower costs using the printing technology.

Moreover, LECs require lower voltages than OLEDs for operation, making them an appealing prospect for the next generation of energy-saving light-emitting devices. Despite their potential, the microscopic-level functioning of these devices remains unclear, impeding research on their practical applications.

Herein, the researchers investigated LECs made from Super Yellow, a commonly used organic light-emitting material. By employing the electron spin resonance (ESR) method, they examined the spin states of the charges within the LECs during operation. They noted that as the voltage applied to the LECs was increased, emission and ESR increased.

Further, theoretical analysis of the observed signals led to the conclusion that the increasing ESR originated from holes and electrons being electrochemically doped (injected) into Super Yellow. Interestingly, the correlation between the progress of this doping and the increase in luminance suggests that as part of the device’s operation mechanism, these doped charges spread across the light-emitting layer.

The techniques developed by this research team provide unprecedented molecular-level insights into the operation mechanisms of LECs. It is anticipated that these insights can help to effectively drive the development of affordable, environment-friendly light-emitting devices.

The research is published in the journal Communications Materials.