Osaka Metropolitan University scientists succeeded in directly observing how LECs change their electronic state.   Light Emitting electrochemical Cells are attracting attention as one of the post-organic LEDs.

LEC observation shows they change their electronic state over time during field emission. OMU scientists found the result by measuring their optical absorption via lamp light irradiation for the first time. This research method can be applied to all light-emitting devices, including not only LECs but also organic LEDs. This method is expected to reveal detailed electroluminescence processes and lead to the early detection of factors that reduce the efficiency of electroluminescence.

Their findings have been published in Nature Communications where the study was selected for the Editors’ Highlights.

Electroluminescence Measurement Experimental Setup. Lamp light passes through the light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), driven by square wave bias, to observe signal absorption using spectrophotometry. Electroluminescence (EL) generates light when electrons recombine with electron holes, shedding excess energy in the form of photons. Image Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University. Click the press release link for the largest view. Note the press release and the study links are both fully viewable at posting.

Electroluminescence is the production of light with an electrical current, without relying on heat or chemical reactions. This makes electroluminescent lights reliable and highly efficient: they are used as backlights in digital watches and in the displays of Apollo space shuttle guidance computers. Like OLEDs, LECs – which emit light through electroluminescence – have undergone many technological advancements. Close examination of the processes that lead to luminescence is essential for improving luminescence efficiency, however, until now there has been no experimental method for examining these processes directly.

A research team led by Professor Katsuichi Kanemoto from the Graduate School of Science and the Nambu Yoichiro Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics at Osaka Metropolitan University, successfully observed changes, for the first time, in the electronic state of LECs over time during field emission, by measuring their optical absorption via lamp light irradiation.

Electroluminescence occurs when electrons recombine with electron holes – areas that could hold an electron, but which lack them. When an electron enters the hole it releases energy, in the form of a photon.

Analysis of the results revealed that the luminescence mechanism of LECs follows a two-step process. (1) After the voltage is applied, holes in the LEC are generated immediately, and the layer that accommodates these holes grows close to the interface with the electron-side electrode before recombining with a few electrons to generate the electroluminescence. (2) The amount of electroluminescence then becomes steady while the layer that accommodates electrons gradually grows at the same rate as the hole layer recedes.

Professor Kanemoto explained, “The spectroscopic observation method used in this study is applicable not only to the LECs but to all light-emitting devices, including OLEDs. Using this technique we expect to reveal the details of the electroluminescence process and furthermore, it will lead to the early detection of processes that interfere with device operation. In the future, we will strive to shorten the measurement time of our system to create a rapid device diagnosis system.”

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This is good news for the LED and LEC manufacturing industry as well as the end consumer. The innovation to look and find a way to do it is worthy of note and congratulations.

One suspects this work will prolong the dominance of the LED field in lighting as well as improve performance and longevity. The team’s notoriety might not make big news, but over time its going to save everyone some money.


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