Increased light outcoupling efficiency in dye-doped small molecule organic light-emitting diodes with horizontally oriented emitters

Small molecule organic light-emitting diodes (SM-OLEDs) are efficient large area light sources facing their market entry. However, a low light outcoupling efficiency of typically 20% still strongly limits device performance. Here, we highlight the potential of employing dye-doped emission layers with emitting molecules having horizontally oriented transition dipole moments. The effect of molecular orientation is explained by studying optical simulations that distinguish between horizontal and vertical dipole orientation. In addition, an experimental method that enables straightforward determination of dipole orientation in guest–host systems is presented and used for the analysis of two materials that are very similar except for their orientation. By measuring the external electroluminescence quantum efficiency of SM-OLEDs based on these materials, evidence is found that a mainly horizontal dipole orientation enhances light outcoupling by around 45%. Furthermore, the effect of orientation in SM-OLEDs offers many additional benefits concerning stack design and has fundamental implications for material choice.

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► Dye-doped OLEDs with emitting molecules having horizontally oriented transition dipole moments.
► A horizontal dipole orientation enhances light outcoupling and external quantum efficiency of small molecule OLEDs by a factor of around 1.5.
► Determination of molecular orientation in guest-host systems by photoluminescence measurements.
► Analysis of OLED outcoupling efficiency and influence of molecular orientation by optical simulations.