IP Library Granted Patent US 12,414,426
Granted Patent B2
US 12,414,426 · App. 14/434,897 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Organic photosensitive devices with reflectors

Inventor: Stephen R. Forrest (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
H10K30/87H10K30/80H10K30/81H10K30/83H10K77/111Y02E10/549
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,414,426
App. No.
14/434,897
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to organic photosensitive devices comprising a substrate; a first electrode disposed over the substrate; a second electrode disposed over the first electrode; a photoactive region positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one reflector disposed over the second electrode, wherein the at least one reflector is configured to at least partially reflect one or more desired wavelengths. Also disclosed are methods of preparing photosensitive devices having at least one reflector configured to at least partially reflect one or more desired wavelengths.

Claims (37)

1. An organic photosensitive device comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode disposed over the substrate;

a second electrode disposed over the first electrode;

a photoactive region positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode comprising an organic donor material and an organic acceptor material;

a reflector comprising a first reflector and a second reflector, wherein the second reflector is disposed over the second electrode, the second reflector and the first electrode define an optical microcavity, and the first reflector comprises at least one notch filter configured to exhibit reflectivity at a range of one or more wavelengths of incident light,

wherein the reflectivity includes reflectivity greater than 30%,

wherein the at least one notch filter comprises a reflection band,

wherein the reflection band has a width no greater than 5% of a reflected wavelength of the range of one or more wavelengths of incident light,

wherein the reflector is configured to partially reflect one or more wavelengths in a transparent range of the photoactive region,

wherein the device has an inverted structure,

wherein the device exhibits a color corresponding to the range of one or more wavelengths; and

wherein the optical microcavity comprises a metal grid and an optical spacer, wherein each of the metal grid and the optical spacer is positioned between the second electrode and the second reflector, wherein a thickness of the optical spacer is resonant with the reflected wavelength of the range of one or more wavelengths of incident light.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch filter is chosen from a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and a rugate reflector.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch filter comprises one or more dielectric materials chosen from organic and inorganic polymers, organic small molecules, oxides, nitrides, and oxynitrides.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible material.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises an architectural pane or automotive glass.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the flexible material comprises a moldable sheet that forms the substrate or a plastic sheet that can be applied to a secondary surface.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from motor vehicle bodies and components, watercraft bodies and components, aircraft bodies and components, spacecraft bodies and components, windows, mirrors, mobile devices, cell phones, computers, build surfaces, building sheetings, building sidings, roofing shingles, and rechargeable batteries.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is an organic solar cell.

9. An organic photosensitive device comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode disposed over the substrate;

a second electrode disposed over the first electrode;

a photoactive region positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode comprising an organic donor material and an organic acceptor material;

a reflector disposed over the second electrode,

wherein the reflector comprises a first reflector and a second reflector, wherein the second reflector is disposed over the second electrode, the second reflector and the first electrode define an optical microcavity, and the first reflector comprises at least a first notch filter and a second notch filter,

wherein at least one of the first notch filter or the second notch filter are a distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR),

wherein the first notch filter is configured to exhibit reflectivity at a range of one or more first wavelengths of incident light, and the second notch filter is configured to exhibit reflectivity at a range of one or more second wavelengths of incident light, and wherein the reflectivity includes reflectivity greater than 30%,

wherein the first notch filter comprises a first reflection band and the second notch filter comprises a second reflection band,

wherein the one or more second wavelengths are different from the one or more first wavelengths, and wherein the first and second reflection bands each have a width no greater than 5% of their respective reflected wavelengths of the range of one or more of their respective wavelengths of incident light,

wherein the reflector is configured to partially reflect one or more wavelengths in a transparent range of the photoactive region,

wherein the device has an inverted structure,

wherein the device exhibits a color corresponding to the range of one or more first wavelengths and the range of one or more second wavelengths; and

wherein the optical microcavity comprises a metal grid and an optical spacer, wherein each of the metal grid and the optical spacer is positioned between the second electrode and the second reflector, wherein a thickness of the optical spacer is resonant with the reflected wavelength of the range of one or more second wavelengths of incident light.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second notch filters are independently chosen from distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and rugate reflectors.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first notch filter comprises one or more dielectric materials chosen from organic and inorganic polymers, organic small molecules, oxides, nitrides, and oxynitrides, and the second notch filter comprises one or more dielectric materials chosen from organic and inorganic polymers, organic small molecules, oxides, nitrides, and oxynitrides.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Aug 11, 2015
From: MICHIGAN, UNIVERSITY OF
To: ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
Reel/Frame 036343/0533 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2015
From: FORREST, STEPHEN R.
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Reel/Frame 035410/0979 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61712782 · Oct 11, 2012
Related Publication 20150287945A1 · Oct 8, 2015
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