초록 ▼

An organic electronic device consists of one or more electro-active organic or polymer materials sandwiched between electrodes. Critical in such devices is the interface between the electrode and the polymer, where degradation or chemical reaction products may develop that are deleterious to the pr

An organic electronic device consists of one or more electro-active organic or polymer materials sandwiched between electrodes. Critical in such devices is the interface between the electrode and the polymer, where degradation or chemical reaction products may develop that are deleterious to the proper functioning of the device. This is solved by introducing a functional interlayer composed of one or more materials consisting of a molecular backbone bearing phosphonate or phosphate functions, either directly attached or through side chains, said functional layer being disposed between at least one of the respective electrodes and said one or more electro-active materials in the device.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An organic electronic device comprising electro-active organic materials provided in a capacitor-like structure and capable of responding physically or chemically when subjected to electric fields or currents, wherein the capacitor-like structure is a layered structure

The invention claimed is: 1. An organic electronic device comprising electro-active organic materials provided in a capacitor-like structure and capable of responding physically or chemically when subjected to electric fields or currents, wherein the capacitor-like structure is a layered structure comprising first set and second set of respective electrodes contacting a layer of the electro-active organic materials on either side thereof, wherein at least one electro-active organic material in the capacitor-like structure forms a dielectric material of the capacitor-like structure, and can be accessed electrically directly or indirectly via the electrodes, wherein each capacitor-like structure can be addressed selectively for evoking an electro-active response, and further comprising at least one functional interlayer composed of one or more high-ε dielectric materials comprising molecular moieties linked to phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same, wherein one functional interlayer is provided between at least one of the electrodes and the interfacing electro-active organic materials, and wherein, in case more than one interlayer is provided, said interlayers can have similar or different compositions. 2. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic electronic device is a non-volatile memory device with said capacitor-like one or more memory cells in the form of said capacitor-like structure, wherein the electro-active material provided in said one or more memory cells, that the electro-active material is an electrically polarizable dielectric memory material with ferroelectric or electret properties and capable of exhibiting hysteresis or remanence, that memory cells in the non-volatile memory device form the elements of an active or passive matrix, such that the evoked electro-active response constitutes a write/read/erase operation establishing a desired polarization state in a memory cell or performing a polarization switching thereof, and that a definite polarization state established in the memory cell defines a logical state thereof. 3. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic electronic device is a light-emitting device, wherein the electro-active material is a light emitting material, such that the evoked electro-active response constitutes an emission of light when stimulated by an electric field or current. 4. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the molecular electronic device is a capacitor, wherein the functional interlayer itself constitutes the electro-active material. 5. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electro-active organic materials consist of single molecules, oligomers, homopolymers, copolymers, or blends or compounds thereof. 6. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional interlayer materials consist of single molecules, oligomers, homopolymers, copolymers, or blends or compounds thereof. 7. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said molecular moieties include molecules of the form: RP, where R represents an organic molecule and P represents one or more phosphonic acid or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same. 8. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said molecular moieties include polymers bearing phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same. 9. An organic electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that said polymers are one or more of the following: polyvinyls, polyacrylates, polyacrylamids, polyethers, polyglycidyl ethersand/or esters, polyesters, polyetherketones, polyamides, polyurethanes, or polyureas. 10. An organic electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that said phosphonic-or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same are connected to a polymer backbone via amide, urethane, amine, ester, carbonate or ether groups. 11. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said molecular moieties include homopolymers with monomers bearing one or more phosphonic or phosphonic acid groups or salts of the same. 12. An organic electronic device according to claim 9, characterized in that said homopolymers are one or more of the following: poly[I-phosphonic acid-1 , 2-ethanediyl], more commonly known as poly(vinylphosphonic acid) or PVP A, or homopolymers of allyl phosphonic acid, alkenylphosphonic acids such as isopropenylphosphonic acid, 1,1vinylidene diphosphonic acid, or 2-phosphonomethyl acrylates. 13. An organic electronic device according to claim 11, characterized in that said monomers are of one or more of the following types: vinyl, vinylidene, alkenyl, acrylate or acrylic acids, acrylic esters, methacrylic acids, methacrylic esters, acrylic esters, acrylamides, vinyl ethers, glycidyl ethers and/or esters and styrenes. 14. An organic electronic device according to claim 11, characterized in that said monomers comprise one or more other functional groups for the purpose of improving adhesion and/or enabling cross-linking or otherwise facilitate processing. 15. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said molecular moieties include copolymers of two or more comonomers with at least one of the latter bearing phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups, or salts of the same. 16. An organic electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said comonomers are of one or more of the following types: vinyl, vinylidene, alkenyl, acrylate or acrylic acid, methacrylic acids, methacrylic esters, acrylic esters, acrylamides, vinyl ethers, glycidyl ethers and/or esters and styrenes. 17. An organic electronic device according to claim 15, purpose of improving adhesion and/or making the material composition insoluble or otherwise characterized in that one or more comonomers comprises one or more functional groups for the facilitate processing. 18. An organic electronic device according to claim 17, characterized in that said functional group is one or more of the following: carboxylic acid, carboxylic ester, mono-and diesters of phosphonic-or phosphoric acids, fluoroalkyl chains, or ethers. 19. An organic electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said copolymer is poly(vinylphosphonic acid-coacrylic acid) P(VP A-co-AA). 20. An organic electronic device according to claim 19, characterized in that the weight percentage of vinylphosphonic acid is between 50% and 100%. 21. An organic electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said molecular moieties include copolymers of phosphonic acid bearing monomers and and phosphonic ester bearing monomers, said ester being a monoester or a diester of the phosphonic acid. 22. An organic electronic device according to claim 21, characterized in that copolymers of phosphonic esters and phosphonic acids are formed by partial hydrolysis of a polymeric phosphonic acid. 23. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said molecular moieties are included in blends of polymers with one or more polymer bearing phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups and/or esters or salts of the same. 24. An organic electronic device according to claim 23, characterized in that at least one polymer bears one or more functional groups for the purpose of improving adhesion and/or making the material composition insoluble or otherwise facilitate processing. 25. An organic electronic device according to claim 24, characterized in that said functional groups are one or more of the following: a carboxylic acids, carboxylic esters, amides, mono-and diesters of phosphonic-or phosphoric acids, ethers, alcohols or phenols, mercaptanes or amines. 26. An organic electronic device according to claim 23, characterized in that one polymer is poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVP A), and another polymer is poly(maleic acid). 27. An organic electronic device according to claim 23, characterized in that one polymer is poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVP A), and another polymer is poly(methacrylic acid). 28. An organic electronic device according to claim 23, characterized in that one polymer is poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVP A), and another polymer is poly(acrylic acid) (P AA). 29. An organic electronic device according to claim 28, characterized in that the PVPA:PAA weight ratio is in the range 85:15 to 95:5. 30. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the salts comprise one or more of the following: Alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, Zn, AI, Ti, Zr, substituted imidazoles and triazoles in general, ammonia, alkyl-or arylsubstituted amines in general, polyvinylpyridines, substituted polyaminostyres in general, substituted polyvinylamines, polyallylamines, polydiallylamines and polyethyleneimines in general. 31. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that a top functional interlayer thickness is in the range of 50 Å-500 Å. 32. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that a bottom functional interlayer thickness is less than 500 Å. 33. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the functional interlayers is resistant to degradation during electrode deposition. 34. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the electrodes is chosen such that they react in a controlled manner with the functional interlayer to create an interface with high complex dielectric constant. 35. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the material in at least one of the electrodes is one or more of the following elements: Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, or Al. 36. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the electrodes is composed of Ti or Ti/TiOx. 37. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that a protective layer is provided between the electrode and the functional interlayer. 38. An organic electronic device according to claim 37, characterized in that the protective layer is an oxide or a nitride. 39. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the functional interlayers is patterned. 40. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic electronic device comprises parallel stripe electrodes provided on a surface, and an insulating material is provided on the surface and flush with the electrodes in the spacings therebetween. 41. A method for manufacturing an organic electronic device comprising electro-active organic materials provided in a capacitor-like structure and capable of responding physically or chemically when subjected to electric fields or currents, wherein the capacitor-like structure is a layered structure comprising first set and second set of respective electrodes, contacting a layer of the electro-active organic materials on either side thereof, wherein at least one electro-active organic material in the capacitor-like structure forms a dielectric material of the capacitor-like structure, and can be accessed electrically directly or indirectly via the electrodes, wherein each capacitor-like structure can be addressed selectively for evoking an electro-active response, and further comprising at least one functional interlayer composed of one or more high-ε dielectric materials comprising molecular moieties linked to phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same, and wherein one functional interlayer is provided between at least one of the electrodes and the interfacing electro-active organic materials, characterized by depositing the functional interlayer material by one of the following processes: spin coating, evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapour deposition, self-assembly or alternating layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, or LBL structures built by metal phosphonate chemistry. 42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the functional interlayer material is deposited by spin coating, characterized by the spin coating taking place in an evacuated chamber. 43. A method according to claim 41, wherein the functional interlayer material is deposited by spin coating, characterized by the spin coating taking place in an atmosphere consisting of one or more of the following gases or vapours: N2, inert gases, noble gases, or vapours of one or more spin coating materials and solvents. 44. A method according to claim 41, wherein the functional interlayer material is deposited by spin coating, characterized by using a heated spin coating solution. 45. A method according to claim 41, wherein the functional interlayer material is deposited by spin coating, characterized by using a solvent that is a mixture of water with one or more alcohols. 46. A method according to claim 45, characterized by the mixture being 1-propanol and/or 2-propanol and/or 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol with water, with an alcohol to water weight ratio selected in the range 50:50 to 90:10. 47. A method according to claim 41, wherein the functional interlayer material is deposited by spin coating, characterized by pretreating a deposition surface with peroxides such as H2O2 or alkyl-or aryl peroxides. 48. A method for manufacturing an organic electronic device comprising electro-active organic materials provided in a capacitor-like structure and capable of responding physically or chemically when subjected to electric fields or currents, wherein the capacitor-like structure is electro-active materials are provided in a layered structure comprising first set and second set of respective electrodes contacting a layer of the electro-active organic materials on either side thereof, wherein at least one electro-active organic material in the capacitor-like structure forms a dielectric material of the capacitor-like structure and can be accessed electrically directly or indirectly via the electrodes, wherein each capacitor-like structure can be addressed selectively for evoking an electro-active response, and further comprising at least one functional interlayer composed of one or more high-ε dielectric materials comprising molecular moieties linked to phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same, and wherein one functional interlayer is provided between at least one of the electrodes and the interfacing electroactive organic materials, characterized by stabilizing and/or insolubilizing at least one of the functional interlayer materials. 49. A method according to claim 48, characterized by including crosslinking molecules in the funcational interlayer material and inducing a crosslinking post-deposition reaction by heating or irradiation. 50. A method according to claim 48, characterized by using crosslinking agents to promote stability and/or decrease solubility of the functional interlayer. 51. A method according to claim 49, characterized by said crosslinking molecules having two or more epoxide groups. 52. A method according to claim 49, characterized by crosslinking using heat-induced reactions. 53. A method according to claim 49, characterized by crosslinking using UV-induced reactions. 54. A method for manufacturing an organic electronic device comprising electro-active organic materials capable of responding physically or chemically when subjected to electric fields or currents, wherein the electro-active materials are provided in a layered structure between a first set and a second set of respective electrodes, wherein a cell with a capacitor-like structure is defined in the electro-active materials and can be accessed electrically directly or indirectly via the electrodes, wherein each cell can be addressed selectively for evoking an electro-active response, and further comprising at least one functional interlayer composed of one or more high-ε dielectric materials comprising molecular moieties linked to phosphonic or phosphoric acid groups or salts of the same, and wherein one functional interlayer is provided between at least one of the electrodes and the interfacing electro-active organic materials, characterized by patterning at least one of the functional interlayers. 55. A method according to claim 54, characterized by performing the patterning using a hard mask. 56. An organic electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional interlayer materials further have high ohmic resistivity. 57. A method according to claim 41, wherein the functional interlayer materials further have high ohmic resistivity.