Improvement of output coupling efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes by backside substrate modification

The emission intensity of an organic light-emitting diode at normal viewing angle and the total external emission efficiency have been increased by factors of 9.6 and 3.0, respectively, by applying spherically shaped patterns to the back of the device substrate. The technique captures light previously lost to waveguiding in the substrate and, with proper choice of substrate, light previously lost to waveguiding in the organic/anode layers. A method of applying the technique using laminated films and an optical model for evaluating coupling efficiency are also presented. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)01613-2].