Electroluminescent devices fabricated with encapsulated light emitting polymer particles

1. A method for fabricating an electroluminescent display device comprising:

encapsulating particles of a light emitting polymer with a conductive polymer to form encapsulated light emitting polymer particles having a conformal coating of a conductive polymer;

formulating a printing ink by mixing the encapsulated light emitting polymer particles with a binder polymer;

depositing a rear electrode onto a substrate in a pattern;

depositing the printing ink onto the rear electrode to form an illumination layer;

depositing a transparent hole transporting electrode onto the illumination layer;

depositing a front outlining electrode onto the hole transporting electrode; and

depositing connection leads to the rear electrode and the front outlining electrode.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said display device is an electroluminescent panel.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting polymer comprises at least one member that is selected from the group consisting of polypyridine, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], poly[(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene)-alt-co-(4,4′-biphenylene-vinylene)], poly[(9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)-alt-co-(9,10-anthracene)], poly[(9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)-alt-co-(4,4′-biphenylene)], poly[{9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylene-fluorenylene}-alt-co-{2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenel], poly[{9,9-dioctyl-2,7-bis(2-cyanovinylene-fluorenylene}-alt-co-{2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene}], poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-(1-cyanovinylenephenylene)], poly[{9,9-dihexyl-2,7-bis(1-cyanovinylene)fluorenylene}-alt-co-{2,5-bis(N,N′-diphenylamino)-1,4-phenylene}], poly[{9-ethyl-3,6-bis(2-cyanovinylene)carbazolylene)}-alt-co-{2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene}], poly[(9,9-di(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(N,N′-diphenyl)-N,N′-di-(p-butyl phenyl)-1,4-diaminobenzene], poly[2-(6-cyano-6-methylheptyloxy)-1,4-phenylene), poly[{9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl}-co-{1,4-(2,5-dimethoxy)benzene}], poly[{9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl}-co-{1,4-(2,5-dimethoxy)benzene}], poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-ethylenylbenzene)], poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-diphenylene-vinylene-2-methoxy-5-{2-ethylhexyloxy}-benzene)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)], poly[(9,9-dihexyl-2,7-(2-cyanodivinylene)-fluorenylene)], poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-vinylenephenylene)], poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-vinylenephenylene)], poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl, poly(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl), poly[9,9-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl], poly[(9,9-diootylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(N,N′-diphenyl)-N,N′-di(p-butyloxyphenyl)-1,4-diaminobenzene)], poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(N,N′-diphenyl)-N,N′-di(p-butyloxy-phenyl) 1,4-diaminobenzene)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1 ′,3}-thiadiazole)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(9,10-anthracene)], poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(N,N′-bis{4-butylphenyl}-benzidine-N,N′-{1,4-diphenylenel})], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(2-methoxy-5-{2-ethylhexyloxy}-1,4-phenylene)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(9,ethyl-3,6-carbazole)]; poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(9 ,ethyl-3,6-carbazole)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(9,9′-spirobifluorene-2,7-diyl], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(2,5-p-xylene)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(3,5-pyridine)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-phenylene)], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(9,9-di-{5-pentanyl}-fluorenyl-2′,7′-diyl, poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(6,6′{2,2′-bipyridine})], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(6,6′-{2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridine})], poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(N,N′bis{p-butylphenyl}-1,4-diamino phenylene)}, and combinations thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated light emitting polymer particles further comprise at least one member that is selected from the group consisting of tris(8-hydroxyquinolato) aluminum, tetra(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolato) boron, 4,4′-bis(9-ethyl-3-carbazovinylene)-1,1′-biphenyl, 9,10-di[(9-ethyl-3-carbazoyl)-vinylenyl)]-anthracene, 4,4′-bis(diphenylvinylenyl)-biphenyl, 1,4-bis(9-ethyl-3-carbazovinylene)-2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)benzene, tris(benzoylacetonato)mono(phenanthroline) europium (III), tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(phenanthroline) europium (III), tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(5-aminophenanthroline)europium (III), tris(dinapthoylmethane)mono(phenanthroline) europium (III), tris(biphenoylmethane)mono(phenanthroline) europium (III), tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(4,7-diphenyl phenanthroline)europium (III), tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(4,7-dimethyl-phenanthroline)europium (III), tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(4,7-dihydroxy-phenanthroline)europium (III), tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(4,7-dihydroxyloxy-phenanthroline)europium (III), lithium tetra(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato) boron, lithium tetra(8-hydroxyquinolinato) boron, 4,4′-bis(9-ethyl-3-carbazovinylene)-1,1′-biphenyl, bis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)zinc, bis(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato)zinc, iridium (III) tris(2-phenylpyridine), tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum, tris[1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethylpropan-1-oyl)-pyrazolin-5-one]-terbium, and combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises at least one member that is selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said binder polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(methylmethacrylate), poly(butylmethacrylate), poly(vinylbutyral), poly(vinylalcohol), poly (vinylchloride), polycarbonate, polystyrene, poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(acrylonitrile), poly(oxyethylene), cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, nylon 6,6, nylon 12, nylon 6,12, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) ,poly(vinylcarbazole), poly(caprolactone), polysulfone, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(4-vinylphenol), poly(methyloctadecylsiloxane), and combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rear electrode comprises an inorganic compound.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said inorganic compound comprises indium tin oxide.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rear electrode comprises an organic compound.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said organic compound is a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), and combinations thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rear electrode is a mixture of inorganic and organic compounds.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said compounds are selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), and combinations thereof.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hole transporting electrode comprises a material that is selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polyaniline, indium tin oxide, polypyrrole, and combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said front outlining electrode comprises a material that is selected from the group consisting of silver and carbon.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said electroluminescent display device comprises an organic/inorganic hybrid.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein any of the depositing steps are performed by a printing process.

17. A method for fabricating an electroluminescent display device comprising:

providing particles of a light emitting polymer having a coating comprising a hole transporting material and an electron transporting material wherein both the hole transporting material and the electron transporting material contact the particle of the light emitting polymer;

formulating a printing ink by mixing the coated light emitting polymer particles with a binder polymer;

depositing a rear electrode onto a substrate in a pattern;

depositing the printing ink onto the rear electrode to form an illumination layer;

depositing a transparent hole transporting electrode onto the illumination layer;

depositing a front outlining electrode onto the hole transporting electrode; and

depositing connection leads to the rear electrode and the front outlining electrode.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the hole-transporting material is selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(phenylenevinylene), indium tin oxide, and combinations thereof; and the electron-transporting material is selected from the group consisting of silver, magnesium, aluminum, copper, and combinations thereof.