LIGHT-EMITTING-DIODES WITH VARIABLE COLORS FROM POLYMER BLENDS

THE range of materials now available for polymer-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is such that electroluminescence can be obtained through out the visible spectrum(1-12). Here we show that, by blending polymer s with different emission and charge-transport characteristics, LEDs c an be fabricated in which the emission colour varies as a function of the operating voltage. This phenomenon arises from the self-organizing properties of the blends, in which entropy drives phase separation of the constituent polymers and gives rise to submicrometre-sized domain s having a range of compositions and emission characteristics. Emissio n from domains of different composition is controlled by the ease with which charge is injected, which in turn depends on the applied voltag e.