| Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) are traditionally patterned either through vacuum deposition masks or by UV lithographs. However, such patterning routes are relatively expensive, time consuming, and geometry limited. On the other hand, developments in the use of inkjet printing as a tool to pattern a given electrode promise a low cost, maskless, and non-contact approach to generate a myriad of patterns. In this dissertation, I will present our exploratory works in ink jet printing techniques, to pattern conductive polymers for use as electrodes with predefined shapes and controlled conductivity. Our works have been extended to explore printing with multiple inks, which mix and/or react with each other, for the use in making artificial muscles and for the developments of inkjet combinatorial techniques. Many factors including surface tension of the printed solution, substrate surface properties, and drying conditions have a direct effect on the final quality and performance of the organic based devices. Issues related to device fabrication on flexible substrates will be discussed and the results of tested devices are shown. |
