Enhancing light-extraction efficiency of OLEDs with high- and low-refractive-index organic-inorganic hybrid materials

High- and low-refractive-index hybrid materials were prepared by an in situ acid-free sol-gel process for internal and external light-extraction layers in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). A random copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MSMA), poly(MMA-co-MSMA), which was capped with trialkoxysilane in MSMA units, was used as a precursor. The precursor was further reacted with titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to synthesize the high- and low-refractive-index hybrid materials, respectively, in which TiO₂ and SiO₂ nanoparticles were well dispersed, respectively, in the polymer matrix. After the reactions with TTIP and TEOS, the refractive index increased to 1.81 and decreased to 1.44 from 1.50 of the precursor, respectively. The luminance, power, and current efficiency of the OLED with an external light-extraction layer were enhanced by 21.3, 28.6, and 29.1%, respectively, those of the OLED with an internal light-extraction layer were increased by 62.4, 76.9, and 59.2%, respectively, and those of the device with combined ELEL and ILEL were enhanced by 62.7, 77.2, and 59.3%, respectively, when compared to values for the reference OLED without an internal or external light-extraction layer. These results indicate that high- and low-refractive-index materials are desirable for enhancement in light-extraction efficiency, and they can provide practical solutions for various applications such as OLED displays and lighting.