Field-effect electroluminescence in a polymer channel

We built a new type of light-emitting device in which the emission layer is confined inside an aluminum channel. A 1200 Angstrom aluminum layer was fi rst deposited on glass by vacuum evaporation and then carved using microlit hographic techniques. Channels were typically 1.5 mu m width. A 2000 Angstr om thick electroluminescent polymer film was spin coated on top of the Al-c hannel. The diode emits light under alternative voltages. It can be seen un der room illumination. We studied the current-voltage characteristics and L ED quantum efficiency. We also studied the glow-discharge effect of the nit rogen gas on the emission spectrum. Efficient electroluminescence may resul t from a field-induced ionization and recombination process. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.