The modification of silver anode by an organic solvent (tetrahydrofuran) for top-emissive polymer light-emitting diodes

An organic solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF), was employed to modify the Ag anode of a top-emissive polymer light-emitting diode (T-PLED) for improving the hole injection capability and the performance of a T-PLED device. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscope analysis shows that the THF molecules were chemically adsorbed on the Ag surface, forming oxygen-rich species by substrate-catalyzed decomposition. The THF-modification were found to enhance the hole injection on the Ag anode, decrease the threshold voltage, and increase the light intensity and luminous efficiency of a T-PLED device, attributing mainly to the increase of work function of the Ag anode.