Simple model-free estimation of orientation order parameters of vacuum-deposited and spin-coated amorphous films used in organic light-emitting diodes

Abstract

Molecular orientation in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is now regarded as an important factor that affects device efficiency. However, methods to quantitatively estimate the degree of molecular orientation in OLEDs are currently limited, and they require constructing a model of an optical structure. Here, we propose a simple model-free method to estimate the orientation order parameters (S) of molecules in amorphous OLED films from their absorption spectra using the randomization of molecular orientation induced by heating. This method is used to quantitatively estimate the S values of vacuum-deposited and spin-coated films and clearly demonstrate the random orientation in the latter.