Sharply directed emission in microcavity organic light-emitting diodes with a cholesteric liquid crystal film

A flexible microcavity organic light-emitting diode (OLED) was fabricated and the emitting characteristics were examined. A pair of right- and left-handed cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) films were attached to the microcavity OLED between aluminum (Al) and silver (Ag). Sharply directed spontaneous emission was observed from microcavity OLEDs, in which a typical luminescent material, 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq3), with a broad emission spectrum was used for emitting layer. The introduction of the CLC film improved both the emission bandwidth and directionality, preserving the turn-on voltage and maximum brightness.