Ph-OLED devices were shown to operate with nearly 100% internal quantum efficiencies. However, only a fraction of the total photons generated in these devices are usefully extracted because of the total internal reflection (TIR) and wave-guiding effects of the high-index layers comprising the device and anode. The loss mechanism is associated with the absorption of the reflected and wave-guided photons by the metal electrode, the organic layers themselves, and the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. Consequently, the measured external quantum efficiencies of these devices are typically only ?20% of the internal efficiency (T. Tsutsui, E. Aminaka, C. P. Lin, D.-U. Kim, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London A 1997, 355, 801, N. K. Patel, S. Cina, J. H. Burroughes, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 2002, 8, 346)
While many methods have been proposed and attempted to increase the light out-coupling efficiency within an OLED device structure, considerable improvements are still needed to enable OLEDs to achieve the performance and cost needed to enter the solid state lighting (SSL) market.
While increases in extraction efficiency have been realized, considerable room for improvement remains.