Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells (OLECs) with Blue Colour Emission via Silver-Nanowires (AgNWs) as Cathode

Organic light-emitting polymers can be formulated into solutions that can be printed in ambient atmospheres and cured at low temperatures of <120 °C. The deposition techniques that can be employed include spin coating, spray coating and ink-jet printing. This provides the possibility of fabricating OLECs onto to a range of flexible substrates including textiles, hence enabling wearable electronics. In addition, the utilization of different polymers could produce light-emitting textiles in a range of colors. This work details the optimisation steps and challenges involved in the fabrication of OLECs on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass prior to the transfer of the process onto a textile. A blue-emitting polymer Merck (NCMP) is used for the active layer and the device fabrication process is carried out at low temperatures in an ambient atmosphere. Working devices have been created on ITO glass to achieve the top blue emission with the next phase being the transfer onto textile. Blue LECs emission peak is captured at 520 nm with brightness of ~25 cd·m−2.