Graphene and mobile ions: the key to all-plastic, solution-processed light-emitting devices

ACS Nano. 2010 Feb 23;4(2):637-42. doi: 10.1021/nn9018569.

Abstract

The emerging field of "organic" or "plastic" electronics has brought low-voltage, ultrathin, and energy-efficient lighting and displays to market as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) televisions and displays in cameras and mobile phones. Despite using carbon-based materials as the light-emitting layer, previous efficient organic electronic light-emitting devices have required at least one metal electrode. Here, we utilize chemically derived graphene for the transparent cathode in an all-plastic sandwich-structure device, similar to an OLED, called a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC). Using a screen-printable conducting polymer as a partially transparent anode and a micrometer-thick active layer solution-deposited from a blend of a light-emitting polymer and a polymer electrolyte, we demonstrate a light-emitting device based solely on solution-processable carbon-based materials. Our results demonstrate that low-voltage, inexpensive, and efficient light-emitting devices can be made without using metals. In other words, electronics can truly be "organic".

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Light*
  • Plastics / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Plastics
  • Polymers
  • Solutions
  • Carbon