Trap-assisted recombination in polymer light-emitting diodes

PhD ceremony: Mr. M. Kuik, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Trap-assisted recombination in polymer light-emitting diodes

Promotor(s): prof. P.W.M. Blom

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Organic light emitting diodes and organic solar cells are promising candidates for future lighting emitting and solar light harvesting applications. However, in order to improve their performance understanding of their loss mechanisms is essential. In this work we have shown that trap-assisted recombination is amongst others one of the prime loss mechanisms present in the operation of these devices, not considered before. Additionally, we have introduced a method of recognizing the presence of trap-assisted recombination for both the emissive as the non-emissive recombination of charge carriers. The knowledge of the origin of this behavior enables us to do predictive modeling of new organic materials.