Examining microcavity organic light-emitting devices having two metal mirrors

Optical characteristics of microcavity organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) having two metal mirrors are examined. Analyses show that a high-reflection back mirror and a low-loss high-reflection exit mirror are essential for such microcavity devices to obtain luminance enhancement relative to conventional noncavity devices. An enhancement of 2 in cd/A efficiencies has been experimentally achieved for microcavity top-emitting OLEDs using an exit mirror composing thin metal and dielectric capping. The capping layer in the composite mirror plays the role of enhancing reflection and reducing absorption loss, rather than enhancing transmission. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.