Metal compound-metal multilayer electrodes for organic electronic devices

1. A multilayer cathode comprising:

(a) a conductive layer, said conductive layer being electrically connected as a bus;

(b) a layer comprising at least one source of metal ions of formula M n X m ; and

(c) a conductive metal layer comprising at least one conductive metal species,

wherein M is an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, a lanthanide metal ion, or a combination thereof;

X is an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, sulfide, selenide, telluride, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphite, hydrogen phosphite, phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, perchlorite, BF 4 − , PF 6 − , phosphonate, sulfonate, boronate, carbonate, bicarbonate, and organic carboxylate, and

n and m are independently integers from 1 to about 20.

2. The multilayer cathode according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

3. The multilayer cathode according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

4. The multilayer cathode according to claim 1 wherein said layer (b) comprises at least one source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions further comprises at least one conductive metal, said conductive metal being the same or different as the conductive metal species of layer (c).

5. The multilayer cathode according to claim 4 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

6. The multilayer cathode according to claim 4 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

7. The multilayer cathode according to claim 1 further comprising a layer (b′), said layer (b′) comprising at least one source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions, and at least one conductive metal, said conductive metal being the same or different as the conductive metal species of layer (c).

8. The multilayer cathode according to claim 7 , wherein said source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions comprising said layer (b′), has formula:

M n X m

wherein M is independently at each occurrence an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, or a lanthanide metal ion, and X is independently at each occurrence an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, oxide, sulfide, selenide, telluride, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphite, hydrogenphosphite, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, perchlorite, BF 4 − , PF 6 − , phosphonate, sulfonate, boronate, carbonate, bicarbonate, and organic carboxylate, and n and m are independently integers from 1 to about 20.

9. The multilayer cathode according to claim 7 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

10. The multilayer cathode according to claim 7 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

11. A multilayer cathode comprising:

a layer (b) comprising at least one source of alkali metal ions, an alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions;

a conductive metal layer (c) comprising at least one conductive metal species; and

a layer (b′) comprising at least one source of metal ions, and at least one conductive metal, said conductive metal being the same or different as the conductive metal species of layer (c), and said source of metal ions having formula M n X m ;

wherein M is an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, a lanthanide metal ion, or a combination thereof;

X is an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, sulfide, selenide, telluride, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphite, hydrogen phosphite, phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, perchlorite, BF 4 − , PF 6 − , phosphonate, sulfonate, boronate, carbonate, bicarbonate, and organic carboxylate, and

n and m are independently integers from 1 to about 20.

12. The multilayer cathode according to claim 11 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

13. The multilayer cathode according to claim 11 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

14. An organic electronic device comprising:

(i) a multilayer cathode; said cathode comprising:

(a) a conductive layer said conductive layer being electrically connected as a bus;

(b) a layer comprising at least one source of metal ions of formula; and

(c) a conductive metal layer comprising at least one conductive metal species;

(ii) at least one electro-active organic layer; and

(iii) an anode, said anode being electrically connected to the conductive metal layer;

wherein M is an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, a lanthanide metal ion, or a combination thereof;

X is an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, sulfide, selenide, telluride, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphite, hydrogen phosphite, phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, perchlorite, BF 4 − , PF 6 − , phosphonate, sulfonate, boronate, carbonate, bicarbonate, and organic carboxylate, and

n and m are independently integers from 1 to about 20.

15. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a substrate.

16. The organic electronic device according to claim 15 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one of a ceramic, a glass, a composite, a plastic, or a combination thereof.

17. The organic electronic device according to claim 15 wherein said substrate comprises a polycarbonate, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

18. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

19. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

20. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein said anode comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

21. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a hole injection layer positioned between said anode and said electro-active organic layer.

22. The organic electronic device according to claim 20 , wherein said hole injection layer comprises at least one of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene), or a combination thereof.

23. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 wherein said electro-active layer is an electro-luminescent organic layer comprising at least one of poly(n-vinylcarbazole) and its derivatives, polyfluorene and its derivatives, poly(dioctylfluorene) and its derivatives, poly(paraphenylene) and its derivatives; poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and its derivatives, polythiophene and its derivatives; poly(pyridine vinylene) and its derivatives; polyquinoxaline and its derivatives; and poly quinoline and its derivatives, or a combination thereof.

24. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 further comprising an electron injection layer positioned between said electro-active organic layer and said conductive metal layer (c).

25. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 wherein said layer (b) comprising at least one source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions further comprises at least one conductive metal, said conductive metal being the same or different as the conductive metal species of layer (c).

26. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a substrate.

27. The organic electronic device according to claim 26 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one of a ceramic, a glass, a composite, a plastic, or a combination thereof.

28. The organic electronic device according to claim 26 wherein said substrate comprises a polycarbonate, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

29. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

30. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

31. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 , wherein said anode comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

32. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a hole injection layer positioned between said anode and said electro-active organic layer.

33. The organic electronic device according to claim 32 , wherein said hole injection layer comprises at least one of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene), or a combination thereof.

34. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 wherein said electro-active layer is an electro-luminescent organic layer comprising at least one of poly(n-vinylcarbazole) and its derivatives, polyfluorene and its derivatives, poly(dioctylfluorene) and its derivatives, poly(paraphenylene) and its derivatives; poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and its derivatives, polythiophene and its derivatives; poly(pyridine vinylene) and its derivatives; polyquinoxaline and its derivatives; and poly quinoline and its derivatives, or a combination thereof.

35. The organic electronic device according to claim 25 further comprising an electron injection layer positioned between said electro-active organic layer and said conductive metal layer (c).

36. The organic electronic device according to claim 14 wherein the multilayer cathode (i) further comprises a layer (b′), said layer (b′) comprising at least one source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions, and at least one conductive metal, said conductive metal being the same or different as the conductive metal species of layer (c).

37. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 , wherein said source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions comprising said layer (b′), has formula:

M n X m

wherein M is independently at each occurrence an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, or a lanthanide metal ion, and X is independently at each occurrence an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, oxide, sulfide, selenide, telluride, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphite, hydrogenphosphite, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, perchlorite, BF 4 − , PF 6 − , phosphonate, sulfonate, boronate, carbonate bicarbonate, and organic carboxylate, and n and m are independently integers from 1 to about 20.

38. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a substrate.

39. The organic electronic device according to claim 38 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one of a ceramic, a glass, a composite, a plastic, or a combination thereof.

40. The organic electronic device according to claim 38 wherein said substrate comprises a polycarbonate, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

41. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 , wherein said conductive layer (a) comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

42. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

43. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 , wherein said anode comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

44. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a hole injection layer positioned between said anode and said electro-active organic layer.

45. The organic electronic device according to claim 44 , wherein said hole injection layer comprises at least one of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene), or a combination thereof.

46. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 wherein said electro-active layer is an electro-luminescent organic layer comprising at least one of poly(n-vinylcarbazole) and its derivatives, polyfluorene and its derivatives, poly(dioctylfluorene) and its derivatives, poly(paraphenylene) and its derivatives; poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and its derivatives, polythiophene and its derivatives; poly(pyridine vinylene) and its derivatives; polyquinoxaline and its derivatives; and poly quinoline and its derivatives, or a combination thereof.

47. The organic electronic device according to claim 36 further comprising an electron injection layer positioned between said electro-active organic layer and said conductive metal layer (c).

48. An organic electronic device comprising:

(i) a multilayer cathode; said cathode comprising:

(b) a layer comprising at least one source of alkali metal ions, an alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions;

(c) a conductive metal layer comprising at least one conductive metal species; and

(b′) a layer comprising at least one source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions, and at least one conductive metal, said conductive metal being the same or different as the conductive metal species of layer (c);

(ii) at least one electro-active organic layer; and

(iii) an anode, said anode being electrically connected to the conductive metal layers,

wherein said source of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, or lanthanide ions present in layers (b) and (b′) may be the same or different and has formula:

M n X m

wherein M is an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, a lanthanide metal ion, or a combination thereof;

X is an anion selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, sulfide, selenide, telluride, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphite, hydrogen phosphite, phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, perchlorite, BF 4 − , PF 6 − , phosphonate, sulfonate, boronate, carbonate, bicarbonate, and organic carboxylate, and

n and m are independently integers from 1 to about 20.

49. The organic electronic device according to claim 48 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a substrate.

50. The organic electronic device according to claim 49 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one of a ceramic, a glass, a composite, a plastic, or a combination thereof.

51. The organic electronic device according to claim 49 wherein said substrate comprises a polycarbonate, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

52. The organic electronic device according to claim 48 , wherein said conductive metal layer (c) comprises at least one of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, mercury, cobalt, copper, nickel, gallium, carbon, or a combination thereof.

53. The organic electronic device according to claim 48 , wherein said anode comprises at least one of indium-tin oxide, gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, chromium, palladium, or a combination thereof.

54. The organic electronic device according to claim 48 , wherein said organic electronic device further comprises a hole injection layer positioned between said anode and said electro-active organic layer.

55. The organic electronic device according to claim 54 , wherein said hole injection layer comprises at least one of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene), or a combination thereof.

56. The organic electronic device according to claim 48 wherein said electro-active organic layer is an electro-luminescent organic layer comprising at least one of poly(n-vinylcarbazole) and its derivatives, polyfluorene and its derivatives, poly(dioctylfluorene) and its derivatives, poly(paraphenylene) and its derivatives; poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and its derivatives, polythiophene and its derivatives; poly(pyridine vinylene) and its derivatives; polyquinoxaline and its derivatives; and poly quinoline and its derivatives, or a combination thereof.

57. The organic electronic device according to claim 48 further comprising an electron injection layer positioned between said electro-active organic layer and said conductive metal layer (c).