IP Library Granted Patent US 8,357,849
Granted Patent B2
US 8,357,849 · App. 10/949,375 · Granted Jan 22, 2013

Organic photosensitive devices

Inventors: Peter Peumans (Palo Alto, CA); Stephen R. Forrest (Princeton, NJ)
Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,357,849
App. No.
10/949,375
Granted
Jan 22, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A photoactive device is provided. The device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The photoactive region further includes an organic donor layer and an organic acceptor layer that form a donor-acceptor heterojunction. The mobility of holes in the organic donor region and the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor region are different by a factor of at least 100, and more preferably a factor of at least 1000. At least one of the mobility of holes in the organic donor region and the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor region is greater than 0.001 cm 2 /V-sec, and more preferably greater than 1 cm 2 /V-sec. The heterojunction may be of various types, including a planar heterojunction, a bulk heterojunction, a mixed heterojunction, and a hybrid planar-mixed heterojunction.

Claims (16)

1. A photoactive device for generating an electrical current by converting electromagnetic radiation into electricity, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, the photoactive region further comprising:

an organic donor layer;

an organic acceptor layer, disposed such that the organic donor layer and the organic acceptor layer form a donor-acceptor heterojunction that forms excitons by absorption of photons in the organic photoactive region, wherein said electrical current is generated when said excitons dissociate at the donor-acceptor heterojunction;

wherein the mobility of holes in the organic donor layer is greater than the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor layer by a factor of at least 100, and

the mobility of holes in the organic donor layer is greater than 0.001 cm 2 /V-sec.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mobility of holes in the organic donor layer is greater than the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor layer by a factor of at least 1000.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mobility of holes in the organic donor layer is greater than 1 cm 2 /V-sec.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the donor-acceptor heterojunction is a planar heterojunction.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the donor-acceptor heterojunction is a bulk heterojunction.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the donor-acceptor heterojunctionis a mixed heterojunction.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the donor-acceptor heterojunction is a hybrid planar-mixed heterojunction.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the HOMO of the donor layer is greater than the HOMO of the acceptor layer by 0.5 to 0.65 eV, and the LUMO of the donor layer is greater than the LUMO of the acceptor layer by 0.5 to 0.65 eV.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the organic layers has a thickness and a characteristic exciton diffusion length and the characteristic exciton diffusion length is not less than the thickness of the organic layer.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 25, 2011
From: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
To: UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Reel/Frame 026420/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2005
From: PEUMANS, PETER; FORREST, STEPHEN R.
To: TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, THE
Reel/Frame 016205/0270 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60611874 · Sep 22, 2004
Related Publication 20060060239A1 · Mar 23, 2006