Polymer organic light-emitting devices with cathodes transferred under ambient conditions

We fabricated polymer organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) with an aluminum cathode transferred under ambient conditions from a separately prepared transfer film in order to achieve complete, vacuum-free fabrication of polymer OLEDs. Transfer of aluminum (Al) and lithium fluoride on aluminum (LiF/Al) onto polymer OLEDs as a cathode revealed problems in device performance due to native aluminum oxide and the stability of the LiF layer under ambient conditions, respectively. In contrast, the device fabricated with the transfer of cesium carbonate (Cs₂CO₃)-doped poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) on aluminum as a cathode showed lower turn-on voltage, and enhanced efficiency and stability. This method may provide an easy way to fabricate low-cost polymer OLEDs using complete, vacuum-free processes.