초록 ▼

An environmentally-stable organic electroluminescent (“EL”) fiber comprises at least one layer of an organic EL material formed on a fiber, cable, or wire; associated electrodes for providing a voltage to activate the organic EL material; and a barrier layer formed around the EL and el

An environmentally-stable organic electroluminescent (“EL”) fiber comprises at least one layer of an organic EL material formed on a fiber, cable, or wire; associated electrodes for providing a voltage to activate the organic EL material; and a barrier layer formed around the EL and electrode materials for reducing the permeation of oxygen, water vapor, and other reactive materials into the underlying layers. The barrier layer comprises either (1) alternating sublayers of a polymeric material and an inorganic material, or (2) alternating sets of adjacent sublayers of polymeric materials and adjacent sublayers of inorganic materials. Color of light emitted from the fiber may be modified by one or more layers containing inorganic and/or organic phosphor materials.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flexible organic electroluminescent fiber (“OLEF”) comprising:a core that comprises a first electrically conducting material forming a first electrode;at least one layer of at least one organic electroluminescent (“EL”) material formed on said first electrically cond

1. A flexible organic electroluminescent fiber (“OLEF”) comprising:a core that comprises a first electrically conducting material forming a first electrode;at least one layer of at least one organic electroluminescent (“EL”) material formed on said first electrically conducting material;a second electrode layer of a second electrically conducting material forming a second electrode that is formed on said at least one layer of said at least one organic EL material; andat least one barrier layer formed over said second electrode, said barrier layer surrounding said at least one organic EL material and said second electrode, said barrier layer comprising a plurality of sublayers of a polymeric material and an inorganic material;wherein at least two of said sublayers are selected from the group consisting of said polymeric material and said inorganic material. 2. The flexible OLEF according to claim 1, wherein said barrier layer comprises a plurality of alternating sublayers of at least one polymeric material and at least one inorganic material. 3. The flexible OLEF according to claim 1, wherein said barrier layer comprises a plurality of alternating sets of adjacent sublayers of polymeric materials and adjacent sublayers of inorganic materials; and wherein adjacent sublayers of a set of sublayers of polymeric materials comprise different polymeric materials, and adjacent sublayers of a set of sublayers of inorganic materials comprise different inorganic materials. 4. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said core has a structure selected from the group consisting of fiber, cable, and wire and comprises a core material selected from the group consisting of glass, polymers, metals, and composites thereof. 5. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said at least one organic EL material is selected from the group consisting of poly(n-vinylcarbazole), poly(alkylfluorene), poly(paraphenylene), polysilanes, derivatives thereof, mixtures thereof, and copolymers thereof. 6. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said at least one organic EL material is selected from the group consisting of 1,3,5-tris[n-(4-diphenylaminophenyl) phenylamino] benzene, phenylanthracene, tetraarylethene, coumarin, rubrene, tetraphenylbutadiene, anthracene, perylene, coronene, aluminum-(picolymethylketone)-bis[2,6-di9t-butyl)phenoxide, scandium-(4-methoxy-picolymethylketone)-bis(acetylacetonate), aluminum-acetylacetonate, gallium-acetylacetonate, indium-acetylacetonate, and tris(8-quinolinolato)-aluminum III. 7. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said at least one layer of at least one organic EL material has a thickness from about 100 nm to about 300 nm. 8. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said at least one layer of at least one organic EL material further comprises a phosphor material dispersed therein. 9. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2 further comprising a wavelength-adjusting layer that comprises at least one phosphor dispersed in a polymer, said wavelength-adjusting layer being disposed around said at least one barrier layer, and said at least one phosphor being selected from the group consisting of inorganic phosphors and organic phosphors. 10. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2 comprising a plurality of layers of organic EL materials, each layer being in contact with another layer, and each layer comprising a different organic EL material. 11. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said second electrically conducting material is selected from the group consisting of ITO, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, indium zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof. 12. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2, wherein said at least one barrier layer comprising a plurality of alternating sublayers of at least a polymeric material and at least an inorganic material. 13. The flexible OLEF according to claim 2 further comprising an encapsulating layer covering an entire surf ace of said barrier layer. 14. The flexible OLEF according to claim 4, wherein said core has a largest dimension of a cross section in a range from about 1 micrometer to about 10 mm. 15. The flexible OLEF according to claim 14, wherein said largest dimension is preferably in a range from about 10 micrometers to about 2 mm, and more preferably from about 100 micrometers to about 1 mm. 16. The flexible OLEF according to claim 15, wherein said core comprises said structure, a portion of an outer surface of which comprises said first electrically conducting material. 17. The flexible OLEF according to claim 16, wherein said first electrically conducting material is selected from the group consisting of K, Li, Na, Mg, La, Ce, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ag, In, Sn, Zn, Zr, alloys thereof, and mixtures thereof. 18. The flexible OLEF according to claim 16, wherein said first electrically conducting material is formed in a layer having a thickness in a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm. 19. The flexible OLEF according to claim 18, wherein said thickness is preferably in a range from about 50 nm to about 200 nm. 20. The flexible OLEF according to claim 6, wherein said at least one organic EL material is carried in a substantially transparent polymer. 21. The flexible OLEF according to claim 8, wherein said phosphor absorbs a portion of EM radiation emitted by said at least one organic EL material in a first wavelength range and emits EM radiation in a second wavelength range. 22. The flexible OLEF according to claim 8, wherein said phosphor is selected from the group consisting of (Y 1−x Ce x ) 3 Al 5 O 12 ; (Y 1−x−y Gd x Ce y ) 3 Al 5 O 12 ; (Y 1−x Ce x ) 3 (Al 1−y Ga y )O 12 ; (Y 1−x−y Gd x Ce y )(Al 5−z Ga z )O 12 ; (Gd 1−x Ce x )Sc 2 Al 3 O 12 ; Ca 8 Mg(SiO 4 ) 4 Cl 2 :Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ ; GdBO 3 :Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ ; CeMgAl 11 O 19 :Tb 3+ ; Y 2 SiO 5 :Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ ; BaMg 2 Al 16 O 27 :Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ ; Y 2 O 3 :Bi 3+ , Eu 3+ ; Sr 2 P 2 O 7 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ ; SrMgP 2 O 7 :Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ ; (Y,Gd)(V,B)O 4 :Eu 3+ ; 3.5MgO.0.5MgF 2 .GeO 2 :Mn 4+ ; BaMg 2 Al 16 O 27 :Eu 2+ ; Sr 5 (PO 4 ) 10 Cl 2 :Eu 2+ ; and mixtures thereof; wherein 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦5 and x+y≦1. 23. The flexible OLEF according to claim 8, wherein said phosphor is selected from the group consisting of perylenes, benzopyrenes, coumarin dyes, polymethine dyes, xanthene dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, perylenebis(dicarboximide), pyrans, thiopyrans, and azo dyes. 24. The flexible OLEF according to claim 9, wherein said inorganic phosphors are selected from the group consisting of (Y 1−x Ce x ) 3 Al 5 O 12 ; (Y 1−x−y Gd x Ce y ) 3 Al 5 O 12 ; (Y 1−x Ce x ) 3 (Al 1−y Ga y )O 12 ; (Y 1−x−y Gd x Ce y )(Al 5−z Ga z )O 12 ; (Gd 1−x Ce x )Sc 2 Al 3 O 12 ; Ca 8 Mg(SiO 4 ) 4 Cl 2 :Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ ; GdBO 3 :Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ ; CeMgAl 11 O 19 :Tb 3+ ; Y 2 SiO 5 :Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ ; BaMg 2 Al 16 O 27 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ ; Y 2 O 3 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ ; Sr 2 P 2 O 7 :Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ ; SrMgP 2 O 7 :Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ ; (Y,Gd)(V,B)O 4 :Eu 3+ ; 3.5MgO.0.5MgF 2 .GeO 2 :Mn 4+ ; BaMg 2 Al 16 O 27 :Eu 2+ ; Sr 5 (PO 4 ) 10 Cl 2 :Eu 2+ ; and mixtures thereof; wherein 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦5 and x+y≦1. 25. The flexible OLEF according to claim 9, wherein said organic phosphors are selected from the group consisting of perylenes, benzopyrenes, coumarin dyes, polymethine dyes, xanthene dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, perylenebis(dicarboximide), pyrans, thiopyrans, and azo dyes. 26. The flexible OLEF according to claim 11 further comprising a layer of a metal disposed between said second electrically conducting material and said at least one layer of at least one organic EL material, said metal being selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ag, Au, mixtures thereof, and alloys thereof. 27. The flexible OLEF according to claim 11, wherein said second electrode layer has a thickness in a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm. 28. The flexible OLEF according to claim 27, wherein said thickness is preferably in a range from about 50 nm to about 200 nm. 29. The flexible OLEF according to claim 12, wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polyepoxides, poly(vinyl fluoride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl alcohol), polyethyleneterephthalate, copolymer of vinyl alcohol and glyoxal, parylenes, polymers derived from cycloolefins and their derivatives, and mixtures thereof. 30. The flexible OLEF according to claim 12, wherein said inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, and metal nitrides. 31. The flexible OLEF according to claim 30, wherein said metals are selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, copper, gold, platinum, palladium, and alloys thereof. 32. The flexible OLEF according to claim 30, wherein said metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of ITO, tin oxide, silicon oxides, cadmium oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, composites thereof, and solutions thereof. 33. The flexible OLEF according to claim 30, wherein said metal nitrides are selected from the group consisting of nitrides of Groups IVA, VA, VIA, IIIB, and IVB of the Periodic Table. 34. The flexible OLEF according to claim 33, wherein said metal nitrides are selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride. 35. The flexible OLEF according to claim 13 further comprising a wavelength-adjusting layer surrounding said encapsulating layer, wherein said wavelength-adjusting layer comprises at least one phosphor dispersed in a polymer. 36. The flexible OLEF according to claim 13, wherein said encapsulating layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone and epoxy. 37. A flexible organic electroluminescent fiber (“OLEF”) comprising:a core that comprises a first electrically conducting material forming a first electrode;at least one layer of at least one organic electroluminescent (“EL”) material formed on said first electrically conducting material;a second electrode layer of a second electrically conducting material forming a second electrode that is formed on said at least one layer of said at least one organic EL material;at least one barrier layer formed over said second electrode, said barrier layer completely surrounding said at least one organic EL material and said second electrode, said barrier layer comprising a plurality of alternating sublayers of a polymeric material and an inorganic material;an encapsulating layer formed over said at least one barrier and covering an entirety of said fiber; anda wavelength-adjusting layer that comprises at least one phosphor dispersed in a polymer, said wavelength-adjusting layer being disposed on a surface selected from the group consisting of surface of said at least one barrier layer and surface of said encapsulating layer;wherein at least two of said sublayers are selected from the group consisting of said polymeric material and said inorganic material, said core comprises a core material selected from the group consisting of glass, polymers, metals, and composites thereof; said core has a largest dimension in a range from about 1 micrometer to about 10 mm; said first electrically conducting material is selected from the group consisting of K, Li, Na, Mg, La, Ce, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ag, In, Sn, Zn, Zr, alloys thereof, and mixtures thereof, forms said first electrode over said core, and has a thickness in a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm; said at least one organic EL material is selected from the group consisting of poly(n-vinylcarbazole), poly(alkylfluorene), poly(paraphen ylene), polysilanes, derivatives thereof, mixtures thereof, copolymers thereof, 1,3,5-tris[n-(4-diphenylaminophenyl) phenylamino] benzene, phenylanthracene, tetraarylethene, coumarin, rubrene, tetraphenylbutadiene, anthracene, perylene, coronene, aluminum-(picolymethylketone)-bis[2,6-di9t-butyl)phenoxide, scandium-(4-methoxy-picolymethylketone)-bis(acetylacetonate), aluminum-acetylacetonate, gallium-acetylacetonate, and indium-acetylacetonate; said at least one layer of said organic EL material has a thickness in a range from about 100 nm to about 300 nm; said phosphor is selected from the group consisting of inorganic and organic phosphors and absorbs EM radiation emitted by said organic EL material in a first wavelength range and emits EM radiation in a second wavelength range; said second electrically conducting material is selected from the group consisting of ITO, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, indium zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof; said second electrode layer has a thickness in a range from about 50 nm to about 200 nm; said at least one barrier layer comprising a plurality of alternating sublayers of at least a polymeric material that is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, poly(vinyl fluoride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl alcohol), polyethyleneterephthalate, copolymer of vinyl alcohol and glyoxal, and mixtures thereof and sublayers of at least an inorganic material that is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, and metal nitrides; and said encapsulating layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone and epoxy. 38. A display comprising at least one OLEF according to claim 1. 39. A display comprising at least one OLEF according to claim 2. 40. A display comprising at least one OLEF according to claim 9.