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Light-emitting diodes based on conjugated polymers

Nature volume 347, pages 539–541 (1990)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 22 November 1990

CONJUGATED polymers are organic semiconductors, the semiconducting behaviour being associated with the π molecular orbitals delocalized along the polymer chain. Their main advantage over non-polymeric organic semiconductors is the possibility of processing the polymer to form useful and robust structures. The response of the system to electronic excitation is nonlinear—the injection of an electron and a hole on the conjugated chain can lead to a self-localized excited state which can then decay radiatively, suggesting the possibility of using these materials in electroluminescent devices. We demonstrate here that poly(p-phenylene vinylene), prepared by way of a solution-processable precursor, can be used as the active element in a large-area light-emitting diode. The combination of good structural properties of this polymer, its ease of fabrication, and light emission in the green–yellow part of the spectrum with reasonably high efficiency, suggest that the polymer can be used for the development of large-area light-emitting displays.

There has been long-standing interest in the development of solid-state light-emitting devices. Efficient light generation is achieved in inorganic semiconductors with direct band gaps, such as GaAs, but these are not easily or economically used in large-area displays. For this, systems based on polycrystalline ZnS have been developed, although low efficiencies and poor reliability have prevented large-scale production. Because of the high photoluminescence quantum yields common in organic molecular semiconductors, there has long been interest in the possibility of light emission by these organic semiconductors through charge injection under a high applied field (electroluminescence)1"7. Light-emitting devices are fabricated by vacuum sublimation of the organic layers, and although the efficiencies and selection of colour of the emission are very good, there are in general problems associated with the long-term stability of the sublimed organic film against recrystallization and other structural changes.

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Author notes

  1. J. H. Burroughes

    Present address: IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre, Yorktown Heights, New York, 10598, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CBS OHE, UK

    J. H. Burroughes, D. D. C. Bradley, A. R. Brown, R. N. Marks, K. Mackay & R. H. Friend

  2. University Chemistry Laboratory, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK

    P. L. Burns & A. B. Holmes

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  1. J. H. Burroughes
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  2. D. D. C. Bradley
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  6. R. H. Friend
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Burroughes, J., Bradley, D., Brown, A. et al. Light-emitting diodes based on conjugated polymers. Nature 347, 539–541 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347539a0

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