Determination of the emission zone in a single-layer polymer light-emitting diode through optical measurements

We study the emission zone in a single-layer polymer light-emitting diode. The emission zone is found by studying the angular distribution of the electroluminescence. The emission is modeled by accounting for optical interference. We account for birefringence of the anode layer in our model. The active polymer was, however, found to be isotropic. The anode consists of a single-layer of the conducting polymer complex poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS), with enhanced conductivity. As a cathode we use plain aluminum. By using only PEDOT-PSS we avoid having a thin metal layer or indium-tin-oxide as the anode in the path of the escaping light. The active material is a substituted polythiophene with excellent film forming properties. A comparison between the experimental and calculated angular distribution of light emission from a single-layered polymer light-emitting diode was shown to be in good agreement for the spectral region studied. By assuming a distribution of the emission zone, we deduce the position as well as the width of the zone. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.