There is a need for low cost, stable and efficient light emitting devices for solid-state lighting and polymer light emitting electrochemical cells (PLECs) are being actively explored for their potential in this area.
The stability and efficiency of current PLECs needs to be improved if they are going to be practical. In order to improve stability and efficiency, one must be able to independently control electron and hole injection and such control cannot be achieved with current technologies. Research in the Lonergan lab has shown that independent control over carrier injection can be achieved using a new class of polymers, known as conjugated ionomers, in a two layer device architecture.
U.S. Patent Application No. 12/002,306.