Toward a Stretchable Organic Light-Emitting Diode on 3D Microstructured Elastomeric Substrate and Transparent Hybrid Anode

Stretchable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are attractive for applications in wearable displays, conformal optical biomedical devices, and healthcare monitoring. Although many stretchable OLEDs have been demonstrated, their fabrication process still faces some limitations, including fabrication complexity, high cost and low yield, as well as difficulty controlling and obtaining materials for all constituent layers. Herein, a simple approach toward a stretchable OLED is proposed by directly depositing all constituent layers in the device on a 3D microstructured elastomeric substrate (3D-MSES) with stress-adaptable characteristics. A hybrid electrode of ultrathin metal and conductive polymer is developed as an anode. This electrode also serves as a planarization layer to reduce the surface defects and roughness of 3D-MSES. The optical, electrical, and mechanical performance of the OLED on 3D-MSES containing the hybrid anode is higher than those of OLED on 3D-MSES containing an ultrathin metallic anode and an OLED on a planar substrate containing a hybrid anode. This approach is promising toward low cost stretchable OLEDs for lighting and healthcare applications based on a simple fabrication process.