阅读说明：本技术 用于制造有机材料的装置 (Apparatus for manufacturing organic material ) 是由 韩根熙 李宗禹 李明基 奇锡 孙正贤 于 2019-08-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于制造有机材料的装置,包括：包括内部容纳空间的外管；和设置在所述内部容纳空间中的至少一个装载内管和至少一个收集内管,所述装载内管包括沿所述装载内管延伸的第一方向设置的网式器皿。(An apparatus for manufacturing an organic material, comprising: an outer tube including an inner receiving space; and at least one loading inner tube and at least one collecting inner tube disposed in the inner receiving space, the loading inner tube including a mesh vessel disposed in a first direction in which the loading inner tube extends.)

1. An apparatus for manufacturing an organic material, the apparatus comprising:

an outer tube including an inner receiving space; and

at least one loading inner tube and at least one collection inner tube disposed in the interior receiving space, the loading inner tube including a mesh vessel disposed in a first direction extending along the loading inner tube.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a buffer inner tube disposed between the loading inner tube and the collection inner tube, wherein the buffer inner tube comprises a mesh filter disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mesh vessel comprises a flat portion disposed along the first direction, and the flat portion is a metal mesh.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the mesh vessel comprises a plurality of flat portions, and the plurality of flat portions are spaced apart from each other along the second direction.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the mesh filter comprises a frame portion and a filter portion, and the filter portion is a metal mesh.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the buffer inner tube comprises a plurality of mesh filters, and the plurality of mesh filters are spaced apart from each other along the first direction.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the filter portions respectively included in the plurality of mesh filters do not overlap each other.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filter portions respectively included in the plurality of mesh filters partially overlap each other.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein the mesh filter is semi-circular.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the mesh filter includes a first mesh filter and a second mesh filter spaced apart from each other along the first direction, and the first mesh filter and the second mesh filter are located in different regions when projected on a cross-section of the cushioning inner tube cut along the second direction.

Technical Field

Embodiments relate to an apparatus for manufacturing an organic material and a method of manufacturing an organic material using the same.

Background

Organic materials used in organic light emitting devices require purification. The technique of purifying the organic material is designed to separate only pure pigment components from the synthetic material and perform thin film deposition using the pure pigment components. With the improvement of organic material purification technology, color purity and luminous efficiency are improved, and the light emitting life of the organic light emitting device is extended.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments are directed to an apparatus for manufacturing an organic material, the apparatus comprising: an outer tube including an inner receiving space; and at least one loading inner tube and at least one collecting inner tube disposed in the inner receiving space, the loading inner tube including a mesh boat disposed in a first direction in which the loading inner tube extends.

Embodiments are also directed to a method of manufacturing organic material, including loading organic material to be purified on a mesh vessel, sublimating the organic material above and below the mesh vessel by applying heat to the organic material, and obtaining at least a portion of the sublimated organic material.

Drawings

Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for fabricating organic material according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an outer tube and an inner tube of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a loading inner tube of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment;

fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a mesh vessel of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment;

fig. 5 to 8 respectively show schematic views of an example mesh vessel of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a buffer inner tube of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a mesh filter of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment;

11-15 respectively show schematic views of an example mesh filter of an apparatus for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment; and

fig. 16 shows a flow diagram schematically illustrating a method of manufacturing an organic material according to an example embodiment.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey example embodiments to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first," "second," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present inventive concept.

Spatially relative terms, such as "under," "below," "lower," "over," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present specification and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 100 for fabricating organic material according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1, an apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to the present exemplary embodiment includes: an outer tube 120 including an inner receiving space; an inner tube 110 disposed in the inner receiving space of the outer tube 120; a heating unit 130 disposed outside the outer tube 120; a heat conductive pipe 170 disposed between the outer pipe 120 and the heating unit 130; a cooling unit 160 disposed at a distal end of the heat conductive pipe 170; and a vacuum pump 140 connected to the outer tube 120 to provide a low pressure state to the interior of the outer tube 120 and the inner tube 110.

The inner receiving space included in the outer tube 120 may be, for example, in the shape of a hollow tube.

The inner tube 110 may include a plurality of inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118, and the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be continuously arranged in the inner receiving space inside the outer tube 120 along the first direction X in which the outer tube 120 extends. In addition, the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be separated from each other when the organic material 150 to be purified is loaded and after the purification operation is completed.

The inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may include at least one loading inner tube 112 for loading the organic material 150 to be purified, one or more collection inner tubes 116 and 118 for collecting the purified organic material, and a buffer inner tube 114 disposed between the loading inner tube 112 and the collection inner tubes 116 and 118.

The buffer inner tube 114 may prevent the temperature of the loading inner tube 112 from decreasing due to a temperature difference between the loading inner tube 112 and the collection inner tube 116 adjacent to the loading inner tube 112. The buffer inner tube 114 may be heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the heating temperature of the loading inner tube 112.

The collection inner tubes 116 and 118 may collect different materials. The collection inner tubes 116 and 118 may be disposed closer to the vacuum pump 140 than the loading inner tube 112.

In the loading inner pipe 112 of the apparatus for manufacturing an organic material 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, a mesh vessel MB for loading an organic material 150 to be purified may be disposed along a first direction X in which the loading inner pipe 112 extends.

The organic material 150 to be purified loaded on the mesh-type vessel MB may be sublimated in upward and downward directions. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent ash generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 from covering the organic material 150 in the loading inner tube 112 to interrupt the purification process.

The organic material 150 to be purified can be separated and loaded onto multiple layers of mesh vessels MB. Therefore, the purification time can be shortened, and the yield can be improved.

The mesh filter MF may be disposed in the buffer inner pipe 114 in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. The mesh filter MF disposed in the buffer inner pipe 114 may filter ash generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 during purification of the organic material for manufacturing the organic light emitting device, which may help prevent the ash from flowing into the collection inner pipes 116 and 118 to reduce the quality of the collected organic material.

The mesh vessel MB and the mesh filter MF will be described in more detail below.

At least one surface of loading inner tube 112 may be open or closed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the surface of the loading inner tube 112 on the side of the vacuum pump 140 is open, and the surface opposite to the vacuum pump 140 is closed, so that a part of the organic material flowing to the outside of the loading inner tube 112 may be blocked by the closed surface on the side of the loading inner tube 112 and flow back toward the vacuum pump 140. Accordingly, the amount of organic material crystallized on the closed surface can be minimized, thereby improving the yield.

The heating unit 130 may include two or more independent heaters divided along the outer tube 120. In the present exemplary embodiment, a case where four heaters 132, 134, 136, and 138 are provided will be described.

Heaters 132, 134, 136 and 138 may be heated to the same temperature or different temperatures to adjust inner tubes 112, 114, 116 and 118 to the same temperature or different temperatures.

The heat conductive pipe 170 may be disposed between the outer pipe 120 and the heaters 132, 134, 136, and 138. The heat pipe 170 may conduct heat generated by the heaters 132, 134, 136 and 138, and may further include a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the inner tubes 112, 114, 116 and 118.

Cooling lines may be installed at the distal end of the heat conductive pipes 170 to provide a cooling unit 160 for cooling the inner pipes 112, 114, 116 and 118.

In the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to the present example embodiment, the vacuum pump 140 may be provided to place the interiors of the outer tube 120 and the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 in a low pressure state. For example, it may be provided with the pressure inside the outer tube 120 being at 10^-5A vacuum pump 140 of Pa to 200 Pa.

According to the above-described configuration, the organic materials sublimated in the upward and downward directions on the mesh vessel MB loaded with the inner pipe 112 by the operation of the heating unit 130 may be moved to the collection inner pipes 116 and 118 through the buffer inner pipe 114 by the driving of the vacuum pump 140 and crystallized in the collection inner pipes 116 and 118. After all operations are completed, the organic material crystallized in the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 may be collected.

In the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to the present exemplary embodiment, a buffer inner pipe 114 is disposed between the loading inner pipe 112 and the collection inner pipes 116 and 118, and a mesh filter MF is disposed in the buffer inner pipe 114 to filter ash generated during sublimation of the organic material.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an outer tube 120 and an inner tube 110 of an apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 2, the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to the present exemplary embodiment (see fig. 1) includes: an outer tube 120 including an inner receiving space; an inner tube 110 disposed in the inner receiving space of the outer tube 120; and a vacuum pump 140 connected to the outer tube 120 to provide a low pressure state to the interior of the outer tube 120 and the inner tube 110.

Here, a vacuum atmosphere is formed inside the outer tube 120. The outer tube 120 may have a predetermined length and may be configured to receive the inner tube 110.

The outer tube 120 may include a transfer unit at an inner lower portion thereof for moving the inner tube 110 from the central portion in a first direction X in which the outer tube 120 extends and inserting the inner tube 110 into the outer tube 120. In another embodiment, the outer tube 120 may not include a transfer unit, and may be configured such that the inner tube 110 may be manually pushed and inserted into the outer tube 120.

The inner tube 110 may have a smaller diameter than the outer tube 120, may have a predetermined length corresponding to the outer tube 120, and may be inserted into the outer tube 120.

The inner tube 110 may include a plurality of inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118, and the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be arranged in series in the first direction X.

In addition, the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be separated from each other when the organic material 150 to be purified is loaded and after the purification operation is completed.

The inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may include at least one loading inner tube 112 for loading the organic material 150 to be purified, one or more collection inner tubes 116 and 118 for collecting the purified organic material, and a buffer inner tube 114 disposed between the loading inner tube 112 and the collection inner tubes 116 and 118.

Here, a case where the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 are sequentially arranged in the order of the loading inner tube 112, the buffer inner tube 114, the first collection inner tube 116, and the second collection inner tube 118 will be described as an example.

The organic material 150 to be purified may be an organic material used for manufacturing an organic light emitting device. For example, the organic material 150 to be purified may include at least one of an organic material for forming a light emitting layer, an organic material for forming a hole injection layer, an organic material for forming a hole transport layer, an organic material for forming an electron injection layer, and an organic material for forming an electron transport layer.

In addition, the organic material 150 disposed in the loading inner tube 112 may be a solid powder, and may be a mixture of various materials having different sublimation temperatures. The desired material may be a material that is recrystallized in a high temperature region, and the undesired impurities may be recrystallized in a low temperature region.

The inner tubes 112, 114, 116 and 118 of the apparatus 100 (see fig. 1) for manufacturing an organic material may be heated to different temperatures by different heaters 132, 134, 136 and 138 (see fig. 1). Accordingly, when the mixed material of the gas phase passes through the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118, the material having the condensation temperature or the recrystallization temperature corresponding to the temperature of each of the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be extracted in a liquid phase or a solid phase. In this way, specific materials can be separated.

During manufacture, the inner tubes 112, 114, 116 and 118 are evacuated by use of a vacuum pump 140. For example, the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be evacuated to about 200Pa by using the vacuum pump 140.

The surface of the loading inner tube 112 on the vacuum pump 140 side may be open, and the surface of the loading inner tube 112 opposite to the vacuum pump 140 may be closed. Thus, a slight pressure gradient may be formed during the evacuation. For example, a pressure gradient may be created in which the pressure decreases from the loading inner tube 112 toward the collection inner tubes 116 and 118.

The inner tubes 112, 114, 116 and 118 may be heated to different temperatures by operating heaters 132, 134, 136 and 138 (see fig. 1). For example, the temperature may decrease from the loading inner tube 112 toward the second collection inner tube 118. The buffer inner tube 114 may be heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature of the loading inner tube 112 to prevent the temperature of the loading inner tube 112 from being lowered due to a temperature difference between the loading inner tube 112 and the first collection inner tube 116 adjacent to the loading inner tube 112.

In each of the loading inner tube 112, the buffer inner tube 114, the first collection inner tube 116, and the second collection inner tube 118, the temperature may be constant, however, a temperature distribution may be formed over the entirety of the loading inner tube 112, the buffer inner tube 114, the first collection inner tube 116, and the second collection inner tube 118.

The organic material 150 located in the loading inner tube 112 starts to sublimate when heated to a temperature higher than the sublimation point, and the organic material 152 sublimated in the loading inner tube 112 moves from the loading inner tube 112 to the first collection inner tube 116 and the second collection inner tube 118 via the buffer inner tube 114 according to a pressure gradient.

The organic material 152 sublimated in the loading inner tube 112 may move to the first collection inner tube 116 via the buffer inner tube 114, and the material contained in the sublimated organic material 152 may be condensed or recrystallized according to the temperature of the first collection inner tube 116.

Then, the material that is not condensed or recrystallized at the temperature of the first collection inner tube 116 may move to the second collection inner tube 118, and the material contained in the sublimated organic material 152 may be condensed according to the temperature of the second collection inner tube 118. By using this principle, a desired material can be obtained according to the temperature of each of the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118.

In the apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material according to the present exemplary embodiment (see fig. 1), the mesh vessel MB for loading the organic material 150 to be purified into the loading inner pipe 112 may be disposed along the first direction X in which the loading inner pipe 112 extends.

The mesh vessel MB may comprise a first flat portion PF1 and a second flat portion PF2, on which the organic material 150 to be purified may be placed PF1 and a second flat portion PF 2. In other embodiments, the mesh vessel MB may comprise one flat portion or three or more flat portions.

Each of the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 may be shaped like or as a metal mesh comprising a plurality of holes.

The first flat part PF1 and the second flat part PF2 may be made of, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, gold, silver, platinum, nickel, perfluorinated polymers such as teflon, etc.

The pores of the mesh included in each of the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be fine enough to allow a solid powder as the organic material 150 to be purified to be placed on the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF 2. For example, each hole may have a width of 0.001 μm to 0.1 μm, so that a solid powder, which is the organic material 150 to be purified, cannot pass through the hole, while the sublimated organic material 152 may pass through the hole.

The widths of the (meshed) holes included in each of the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be equal to each other, or the widths of the holes included in each of the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be different from each other.

The first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be spaced apart from each other in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. If the distance between the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 is too small, heat transfer and flow of the sublimated organic material 152 may be difficult. If the distance is too large, space utilization of the loading inner tube 112 may be low. In an embodiment, the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 may be arranged to equally load the inner tube 112 in the second direction Y. For example, referring to fig. 2, the distance d1 between the lower surface 112a of the loading inner tube 112 and the first flat portion PF1, the distance d2 between the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2, and the distance d3 between the second flat portion PF2 and the upper surface 112b of the loading inner tube 112 may be equal.

The structure of the mesh vessel MB may allow the sublimated organic material 152 to flow to the area above the first and second flat portions PF1, PF2 while enabling the organic material 150 to be loaded on the lower surface 112a of the loading inner tube 112, which may allow an increase in the amount of organic material 150 loaded and thus may shorten the purification time per unit due to a larger amount of material.

As described above, each of the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be formed as a metal mesh. Therefore, the organic material 150 loaded on each of the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be sublimated to the regions above and below the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF 2. This can shorten the purification time, and can improve the productivity of the manufacturing process.

When the ash 154 is generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150, it may cover the upper portion of the organic material 150 loaded in the inner tube 112, but since the ash 154 generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150 does not block the holes of the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2, the organic material 150 may still be sublimated below the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF 2. Thus, an interruption of the purification process can be avoided.

In the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to the present exemplary embodiment, the mesh filters MF1 and MF2 are disposed in the buffer inner tube 114 along the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X, and the buffer inner tube 114 is disposed between the loading inner tube 112 and the collection inner tubes 116 and 118.

The mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be provided in the buffer inner pipe 114, and may be arranged not to overlap each other in the vertical direction, that is, they may be offset in the horizontal direction. For smooth flow of the sublimated organic material 152, the mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction X.

Each of mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may include a filter portion shaped like or as a metal mesh including a plurality of apertures. The filter portion may be made of, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, gold, silver, platinum, nickel, perfluorinated polymers such as teflon, and the like.

The width of each of the pores included in the filter portion may be, for example, 0.001 μm to 0.1 μm. Accordingly, the holes may pass the sublimated organic material 152 while filtering the ash 154 generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 to be purified, thereby preventing the ash 154 from flowing into the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 and degrading the quality of the collected organic material.

As described above, in the apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material according to the present exemplary embodiment (see fig. 1), the mesh vessel MB is disposed in the loading inner pipe 112, and the organic material 150 to be purified is loaded on the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 of the mesh vessel MB, so that the organic material 150 to be purified can be sublimated above and below the first and second flat portions PF1 and PF 2.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ash 154 generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150 from covering the upper portion of the organic material 150 in the loading inner tube 112 and thus interrupting the manufacturing process, while improving the productivity of the manufacturing process.

Further, the mesh filters MF1 and MF2, which are provided separately from each other in the buffer inner pipe 114, may prevent the ash 154 from flowing into the collection inner pipes 116 and 118. Therefore, the mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may improve the quality of the manufactured organic material.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a loading inner tube 112 of the apparatus for manufacturing organic material 100 according to an example embodiment, and fig. 4 shows an example of a mesh vessel MB of the apparatus for manufacturing organic material 100 according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 3, there are shown a loading inner pipe 112 including an inner receiving space and a mesh vessel MB disposed in the inner receiving space of the loading inner pipe 112.

The inner receiving space included in the loading inner tube 112 may be in the shape of a hollow tube. The loading inner tube 112 may be circular in cross-section, or may have various shapes, such as an elliptical shape and a polygonal shape.

The loading inner tube 112 may be made of a transparent material such as quartz, glass, or borosilicate glass, or may be made of metal or the like.

A mesh vessel MB for loading organic material 150 to be purified (see fig. 2) is disposed in the inner receiving space of the loading inner pipe 112 along the first direction X in which the loading inner pipe 112 extends.

The mesh vessel MB may have a rectangular planar shape having long sides arranged in the first direction X, or the mesh vessel MB may have various planar shapes.

The mesh vessel MB may comprise a first flat portion PF1 and a second flat portion PF2, the organic material 150 to be purified (see fig. 2) may be placed on the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2, or the mesh vessel MB may comprise one flat portion or three or more flat portions.

The first and second flat portions PF1 and PF2 may be spaced apart from each other in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. If the distance between the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 is too small, heat transfer and flow of the sublimated organic material 152 may be difficult. If the distance is too large, space utilization of the loading inner tube 112 may be low. In an embodiment, the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 may be arranged to equally load the inner tube 112 in the second direction Y.

The first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 may completely overlap each other, or the first flat portion PF1 and the second flat portion PF2 may partially overlap each other.

The first flat part PF1 and the second flat part PF2 of the mesh vessel MB may be spaced apart from the loading inner pipe 112 by a certain distance. For example, the upper surface 112b (see fig. 2) of the loading inner tube 112 and the second flat portion PF2 may be spaced apart from each other to improve the flow of the sublimated organic material 152 (see fig. 2) above the second flat portion PF2, and the lower surface 112a (see fig. 2) of the loading inner tube 112 and the first flat portion PF1 may be spaced apart from each other to load the organic material 150 (see fig. 2) to be purified on the lower surface 112a of the loading inner tube 112. Accordingly, the amount of the organic material 150 (see fig. 2) loaded may be increased, which in turn may shorten the purification time.

Referring to fig. 4, the mesh vessel MB may include a first mesh vessel unit (e.g., a first rectangular mesh vessel unit) MBU1 and a second mesh vessel unit (e.g., a second rectangular mesh vessel unit) MBU2 and a connecting member CP connecting the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh vessel unit MBU 2.

Each of the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh vessel unit MBU2 may include a flat portion PF and a side wall SW provided at an end of the flat portion PF.

The flat portion PF may be rectangular or may have various shapes.

The flat portion PF may be shaped like a metal mesh comprising a plurality of holes H.

The flat portion PF may be made of stainless steel, aluminum, gold, silver, platinum, nickel, teflon, or the like.

The holes H included in each flat portion PF may be formed to be fine enough to allow a solid powder as the organic material 150 to be purified (see fig. 2) to be placed on the flat portion PF. For example, each hole H may have a width W of 0.001 μm to 0.1 μm, so that solid powder as the organic material 150 to be purified (see fig. 2) cannot pass through the hole H, while the sublimated organic material 152 may pass through the hole H.

The widths W of the holes H comprised in the flat portion PF of each of the first and second mesh vessel units MBU1, MBU2 may be equal to each other, or the widths W of the holes H comprised in the flat portion PF of each of the first and second mesh vessel units MBU1, MBU2 may be different from each other.

The side wall SW may be disposed at least one end of the flat portion PF. For example, the side wall SW may be provided at each of the four ends of the flat portion PF. In an embodiment, the side walls SW provided at the ends adjacent to the buffer inner tube 114 (see fig. 2) among the four ends may be omitted.

A connecting member CP connecting the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh vessel unit MBU2 in the second direction Y may be disposed between the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh vessel unit MBU 2.

The connection members CP may be bar-shaped and disposed between the first mesh-type vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh-type vessel unit MBU 2. For example, the connecting members CP may connect the corners of the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the corners of the second mesh vessel unit MBU2 to each other.

Fig. 5 to 8 are each a schematic view of an example mesh vessel of an apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 5, the mesh vessel MB of the apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material (see fig. 1) according to an example embodiment may be composed of a single mesh vessel unit MBU. The mesh vessel MB may be composed of a flat portion PF and a side wall SW provided at an end of the flat portion PF. In this case, the connection member CP may be omitted.

Referring to fig. 6, a mesh vessel MB of an apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material (see fig. 1) according to an example embodiment may be composed of three mesh vessel units MBU1, MBU2, and MBU 3. The mesh vessel MB may be composed of a first mesh vessel unit MBU1, a second mesh vessel unit MBU2 and a third mesh vessel unit MBU3, and each of the first mesh vessel unit MBU1, the second mesh vessel unit MBU2 and the third mesh vessel unit MBU3 may be composed of a flat portion PF and a side wall SW provided at an end of the flat portion PF. In this case, the connection members CP may be disposed between the first mesh-type vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh-type vessel unit MBU2 and between the second mesh-type vessel unit MBU2 and the third mesh-type vessel unit MBU 3.

Referring to fig. 7, the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh vessel unit MBU2 may have the same size and may partially overlap each other. Referring to fig. 8, the first mesh vessel unit MBU1 and the second mesh vessel unit MBU2 may have different sizes.

As described above, the mesh vessel MB of the apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material (see fig. 1) according to an example embodiment may be composed of a single mesh vessel unit MBU or a plurality of mesh vessel units MBU according to the size of the loading inner pipe 112 (see fig. 3), the type of organic material 150 (see fig. 2) to be purified, a heating temperature, and the like. The mesh vessel units MBUs may be of the same or different sizes and may be arranged in various forms.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a buffer inner tube 114 of an apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to an example embodiment, and fig. 10 is a schematic view of mesh filters MF1 and MF2 of the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 9, the buffer inner tube 114 may be in the form of a hollow tube including an inner receiving space. The cross-section of the buffer inner tube 114 may be circular, or may have various shapes, such as an elliptical shape and a polygonal shape.

The buffer inner tube 114 may be made of a transparent material such as quartz, glass, or borosilicate glass, or may be made of metal.

The mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be disposed in the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X in which the buffer inner pipe 114 extends, to prevent the ash 154 generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150 to be purified (see fig. 2) from flowing into the collection inner pipes 116 and 118 (see fig. 2).

The mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction X in which the buffer inner pipe 114 extends, and may be arranged not to overlap each other, so as to promote the flow of the sublimated organic material 152 (see fig. 2) while effectively blocking the ash 154 (see fig. 2) generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150.

For example, when the cross section of the buffer inner pipe 114 is a circle, the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 having a semicircular shape may be disposed apart from each other in the first direction X, and may be disposed not to overlap each other. The first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be disposed in different regions of the circular cross-section of the buffer inner tube 114 cut in the second direction Y. In other embodiments, three or more mesh filters MF may be disposed in different regions of the circular cross-section of the buffer inner pipe 114, or a plurality of mesh filters MF may be disposed to overlap each other in a region of the circular cross-section of the buffer inner pipe 114.

Referring to fig. 10, each of the first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may include a filter portion FT and a frame portion FR.

The filter portion FT may be shaped like a metal mesh comprising a plurality of holes H. For example, the filter portion FT may be made of stainless steel, aluminum, gold, silver, platinum, nickel, teflon, or the like.

Each of the pores H included in the filter portion FT may have a width W of 0.001 μm to 0.1 μm. Accordingly, the holes H may pass the sublimated organic material 152 (see fig. 2) therethrough, but filter the ash 154 generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 (see fig. 2) to be purified, thereby preventing the ash 154 (see fig. 2) from flowing into the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 (see fig. 2) and thus degrading the quality of the collected organic material.

The widths W of the pores H included in the filter portion FT of each of the first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be equal to each other, or the widths W of the pores H included in the filter portion FT of each of the first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 may be different from each other within a range of 0.001 μm to 0.1 μm.

When the widths W of the holes H included in the filter portion FT of each of the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 are equal, the holes H may be formed in the same process, which provides process advantages. When the widths W of the holes H included in the filter portion FT of each of the first and second screen filters MF1 and MF2 are different, it is possible to filter ash 154 (see fig. 2) of different sizes, thereby improving the fluidity of the gas.

The frame portion FR may surround the edge of the filter portion FT. The shape of the frame portion FR may vary depending on the shape of the filter portion FT.

The fixing member TP may be provided between the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2, and may connect the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 to fix the arrangement of the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF 2.

The fixing member TP may be bar-shaped and connect the respective frame portions FR of the first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 to each other.

For example, the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2, which are spaced apart from each other and fixed to each other in a non-overlapping manner, may be inserted into the buffer inner tube 114 (see fig. 9), and the buffer inner tube 114 (see fig. 9) may be placed between the loading inner tube 112 (see fig. 2) and the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 (see fig. 2). This may facilitate the flow of the sublimated organic material 152 (see FIG. 2) from the loading inner tube 112 (see FIG. 2) to the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 (see FIG. 2), while preventing the ash 154 (see FIG. 2) generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 from flowing into the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 (see FIG. 2).

Fig. 11 to 15 are each a schematic view of an example screen filter of an apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 11 and 12, the first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 each include a frame portion FR and a filter portion FT, and are separated from each other by a fixing member TP or fixing members TP. The first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 may have different shapes. The first mesh filter MF1 may have an opening area OP, and the second mesh filter MF2 may be disposed to correspond to the opening area OP of the first mesh filter MF 1. Accordingly, the first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 may be respectively disposed in different regions of the circular cross-section of the buffer inner tube 114 (see fig. 9).

Referring to fig. 13, the first, second and third mesh filters MF1, MF2 and MF3 each comprise a frame portion FR and a filter portion FT and may be spaced apart from each other by a first and a second fixing means TP1 and TP 2. The first mesh filter MF1 may have a different shape than the second mesh filter MF2 and the third mesh filter MF 3. In addition, the first mesh filter MF1, the second mesh filter MF2, and the third mesh filter MF3 may be respectively disposed in different regions of the circular cross-section of the buffer inner pipe 114 (see fig. 9).

Referring to fig. 14, the first, second, third and fourth mesh filters MF1, MF2, MF3 and MF4 may each include a frame portion FR and a filter portion FT, and may be spaced apart from each other by first, second and third fixing members TP1, TP2 and TP 3. The first mesh filter MF1, the second mesh filter MF2, the third mesh filter MF3, and the fourth mesh filter MF4 may have the same shape. The first mesh filter MF1, the second mesh filter MF2, the third mesh filter MF3, and the fourth mesh filter MF4 may be disposed in different regions of the circular cross-section of the buffer inner pipe 114 (see fig. 9).

Referring to fig. 15, the first and second mesh filters MF1 and MF2 each include a frame portion FR and a filter portion FT, and are spaced apart from each other by a fixing member TP. The first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 may have different shapes. The first mesh filter MF1 and the second mesh filter MF2 may partially overlap each other.

As described above, in the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an organic material according to an example embodiment (see fig. 1), the number of the mesh filters MF, the shape of the mesh filters MF, the arrangement of the mesh filters MF, and whether the mesh filters MF overlap may vary according to the width W (see fig. 10) of the holes H (see fig. 10) of the mesh filters MF, the type of sublimated organic material 152 (see fig. 2), the amount of ash 154 (see fig. 2) generated during sublimation of the organic material, and the like.

Fig. 16 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method of fabricating an organic material, according to an example embodiment. A method of manufacturing an organic material will be described with additional reference to fig. 1 and 2.

Referring to fig. 16, 1 and 2 together, in the method of manufacturing the purified organic material, the organic material 150 to be purified is loaded on the mesh vessel MB loading the inner pipe 112 (operation S210). For example, the organic material 150 to be purified may be loaded on each of the flat portions PF1 and PF2 of the mesh vessel MB and the lower surface 112a of the loading inner pipe 112.

Next, the insides of the plurality of inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be evacuated by using the vacuum pump 140 (operation S220). For example, the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be evacuated to about 200Pa by using the vacuum pump 140. The surface of the loading inner tube 112 on the vacuum pump 140 side may be open, while the surface of the loading inner tube 112 opposite to the vacuum pump 140 may be closed, and a slight pressure gradient may be formed during the evacuation. Thus, a pressure gradient may be created in which the pressure decreases from the loading inner tube 112 toward the collection inner tubes 116 and 118.

Next, the organic material 150 to be purified may be sublimated above and below the mesh vessel MB by applying heat to the organic material 150 (operation S230).

For example, the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be heated to different temperatures by operating the heaters 132, 134, 136, and 138 to decrease the temperature from the loading inner tube 112 toward the second collection inner tube 118. The buffer inner tube 114 may be heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature of the loading inner tube 112 to prevent the temperature of the loading inner tube 112 from being lowered due to a temperature difference between the loading inner tube 112 and the first collection inner tube 116 adjacent to the loading inner tube 112.

The temperature may be constant in each of the loading inner tube 112, the buffer inner tube 114, the first collection inner tube 116, and the second collection inner tube 118, while a temperature distribution may be formed over the entirety of the loading inner tube 112, the buffer inner tube 114, the first collection inner tube 116, and the second collection inner tube 118.

The organic material 150 located in the loading inner tube 112 begins to sublimate when heated to a temperature above the sublimation point. The organic material 150 loaded on each of the flat portions PF1 and PF2 of the mesh-type vessel MB may be sublimated above and below each of the flat portions PF1 and PF 2.

Next, the ash 154 generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150 is filtered through the plurality of mesh filters MF1 and MF2 disposed in the buffer inner pipe 114 (operation S240). For example, the organic material 152 sublimated in the loading inner tube 112 and the ash 154 generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 move from the loading inner tube 112 to the first and second collection inner tubes 116 and 118 via the buffer inner tube 152 according to a pressure gradient. Therefore, a plurality of mesh filters MF may be placed in the buffer inner pipe 114 to block the ash 154 generated during the sublimation of the organic material 150.

Next, purified organic materials may be obtained from the collection inner tubes 116 and 118 (operation S250).

For example, the organic material 152 sublimated in the loading inner tube 112 may move to the first collection inner tube 116 via the buffer inner tube 114, and the material contained in the sublimated organic material 152 may be condensed or recrystallized according to the temperature of the first collection inner tube 116.

Then, the material that is not condensed or recrystallized at the temperature of the first collection inner tube 116 may move to the second collection inner tube 118, and the material contained in the sublimated organic material 152 may be condensed according to the temperature of the second collection inner tube 118. By using this principle, a desired material can be obtained according to the temperature of each of the inner tubes 112, 114, 116, and 118.

In the apparatus 100 for manufacturing organic material (see fig. 1) according to the present exemplary embodiment, a mesh vessel MB (see fig. 2) is placed to prevent ash 154 (see fig. 2) generated during sublimation of the organic material 150 (see fig. 2) to be purified from covering the organic material 150 in the loading inner pipe 112 (see fig. 2) and thus interrupting the manufacturing process, while improving productivity of the manufacturing process. In addition, a mesh filter MF (see fig. 2) is placed in the buffer inner pipe 114 to effectively prevent the ash 154 (see fig. 2) from flowing into the collection inner pipes 116 and 118, thereby improving the quality of the manufactured organic material.

To summarize and review, a sublimation purification process may be used to purify organic materials for organic light emitting devices. Sublimation refers to a solid-gas transition that occurs at temperatures and pressures below the triple point in the phase diagram. The material evaporated by heating does not decompose at a pressure lower than the triple point even at a relatively high temperature. In a sublimation apparatus capable of controlling a temperature gradient using this characteristic, a material to be purified may be heated to separate a pure material (in an undecomposed state) from impurities having a sublimation point different from that of a desired material. This operation may be referred to as a vacuum sublimation process. The vacuum sublimation method is a pure physical method and is useful for purification of organic materials for organic light-emitting devices because it does not rely on the use of auxiliary reagents or other chemical methods (and thus contamination of samples can be avoided) and can provide a high separation rate.

One method of purifying an organic material for an organic light emitting device is a sequential sublimation method (sublimation method), in which a material to be purified is placed at one end of a long hollow tube, and the inside of the tube is evacuated by using a vacuum pump. In this state, the tube was heated with a heater to form a temperature gradient over the entire tube. Therefore, the desired material can be separated from the impurities using the difference in the recrystallization position due to the difference in the sublimation point between the desired material and the impurities.

During a process of manufacturing an organic material for an organic light emitting device, ash may be generated during sublimation of an organic material to be purified. The ash may reduce the product yield by covering the organic material to be purified in the loading inner tube and may reduce the quality of the collected organic material by flowing into the collection inner tube.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for manufacturing an organic material may be provided, which improves product yield, shortens processing time, and improves purification efficiency and quality.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein and, although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. In some instances, features, characteristics and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in combination with features, characteristics and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments, unless specifically indicated otherwise, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing the present application. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.