Light-emitting diodes with variable colours from polymer blends

• THE range of materials now available for polymer-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is such that electroluminescence can be obtained throughout the visible spectrum(1-12). Here we show that, by blending polymers with different emission and charge-transport characteristics, LEDs can be fabricated in which the emission colour varies as a function of the operating voltage. This phenomenon arises from the self-organizing properties of the blends, in which entropy drives phase separation of the constituent polymers and gives rise to submicrometre-sized domains having a range of compositions and emission characteristics. Emission from domains of different composition is controlled by the ease with which charge is injected, which in turn depends on the applied voltage.

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