Light-emitting device and electronic apparatus

Abstract

A light-emitting device includes: a plurality of light-emitting elements each of which has an anode, a thin organic light-emitting layer, and a cathode sequentially stacked on a substrate and emits light by excitation due to an electric field, the anode being separated from another anode by an insulating pixel partition wall; an organic buffer layer that is formed of an organic compound, covers an area larger than a region where the plurality of light-emitting elements are formed, has a step difference smaller than that of an upper surface of the cathode on the substrate, and is approximately flat; and first and second gas barrier layers that are formed of an inorganic compound, are disposed on an outer surface of the organic buffer layer, and protect the plurality of light-emitting elements against air. Only one of the first and second gas barrier layers is adjacent to an upper surface of an insulating layer formed of an inorganic compound on the substrate so as to cover an area larger than that of the organic buffer layer.

1. A light-emitting device, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 an insulating layer formed of an inorganic compound and having an upper surface, the insulating layer formed on the substrate; 
 a plurality of light-emitting elements formed in a region over the insulating layer, each of the light-emitting elements having an anode, a thin organic light-emitting layer, and a cathode sequentially stacked above the insulating layer, the cathode of at least one of the light emitting elements having an upper surface defining a step, the light-emitting elements emitting light by excitation due to an electric field; 
 an insulating pixel partition wall separating the anodes of at least two of the light-emitting elements; 
 an organic buffer layer having outer and inner surfaces, the organic buffer layer being formed of an organic compound and covering an area that is larger than the region in which the light-emitting elements are formed, the inner surface of the organic buffer layer filling the step of the upper surface of the cathode such that the outer surface of the organic buffer layer is substantially flat; and 
 first and second gas barrier layers, formed of an inorganic compound, disposed on the outer surface of the organic buffer layer, and shielding the plurality of light-emitting elements from an environment external to the device, 
 only one of the first and second gas barrier layers covering an area larger than the organic buffer layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The light-emitting device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cathode protection layer that is provided between the cathode and the organic buffer layer and is formed of an inorganic compound. 
 
     
     
       3. The light-emitting device according to  claim 1 ,
 the first gas barrier layer covering an area larger than the organic buffer layer, and 
 the second gas barrier layer covering an area that is smaller than the organic buffer layer and larger than the region where the light-emitting elements are formed. 
 
     
     
       4. The light-emitting device according to  claim 1 ,
 the second gas barrier layer being thicker than the first gas barrier layer. 
 
     
     
       5. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 the light-emitting device according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       6. A light-emitting device, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 an insulating layer on the substrate; 
 a plurality of light-emitting elements formed in a region over the substrate, each of the light-emitting elements having an anode, a thin organic light-emitting layer, and a cathode sequentially stacked above the insulating layer, the cathode of at least one of the light-emitting elements having an upper surface defining a step, the light-emitting elements emitting light by excitation due to an electric field; 
 an insulating pixel partition wall separating the anodes of at least two of the of light-emitting elements; 
 an organic buffer layer having outer and inner surfaces, the organic buffer layer being formed of an organic compound and covering an area that is larger than the region in which the light-emitting elements are formed, the inner surface of the organic buffer layer filling the step of the upper surface of the cathode such that the outer surface of the organic buffer layer is substantially flat, the organic buffer layer having end portions; and 
 a gas barrier layer formed of an inorganic compound and covering the organic buffer layer in order to protect the plurality of light-emitting elements from an environment external to the device, 
 the gas barrier layer having a first portion and a peripheral portion, the first portion covering the region where the plurality of light-emitting elements are formed and being thicker than the peripheral portion, the peripheral portion covering the end portions of the organic buffer layer. 
 
     
     
       7. The light-emitting device according to  claim 6 , wherein the insulating layer has an upper surface, the light-emitting device further comprising:
 in the end portions of the organic buffer layer, an angle between the outer surface of the organic buffer layer and the upper surface of the insulating layer on the substrate being 20° or less, the insulating layer being formed of an inorganic compound. 
 
     
     
       8. A light-emitting device, comprising:
 a substrate having a light-emitting region;   a light-emitting element disposed above the substrate in the light-emitting region, the light-emitting element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;   an organic buffer layer disposed over the light-emitting element and being formed of an organic compound, a region of forming of the organic buffer layer being larger than the light-emitting region;   a first gas barrier layer disposed over the organic buffer layer and being formed of an inorganic compound, a region of forming of the first gas barrier layer being larger than the region of forming of the organic buffer layer; and   a second gas barrier layer disposed on the first gas barrier layer and formed of an inorganic compound, a region of forming of the second gas barrier layer being smaller than the region of forming of the organic buffer layer.   
     
     
       9. A light-emitting device, comprising:
 a substrate having a light-emitting region;   a light-emitting element disposed above the substrate in the light-emitting region, the light-emitting element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;   an organic buffer layer disposed over the light-emitting element and being formed of an organic compound, a region of forming of the organic buffer layer being larger than the light-emitting region; and   a gas barrier layer disposed over the organic buffer layer and being formed of an inorganic compound, a region of forming of the gas barrier layer being larger than the region of forming of the organic buffer layer, the gas barrier layer having a first portion covering the light-emitting region and a second portion covering an edge portion of the organic buffer layer, the thickness of the first portion is larger than the thickness of the second portion.