Increased photo- and electroluminescence by zone annealing of spin-coated and vacuum-sublimed amorphous films producing crystalline thin films

Spin-coated and vacuum sublimed amorphous thin films $\text{(∼100\hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{nm}$ thick) were converted into single crystalline films with a simple moving-zone-annealing technique, in which a heated metal wire generated a narrow annealed zone in the film as it is moved across the sample. This annealing resulted in both the photoluminescence and electroluminescence to increase dramatically (by 3–4 times), for example with $\mathrm{Ru}(\mathrm{bpy}{)}_3({\mathrm{ClO}}_4{)}_2$ and aluminum 8-hydroxyquinoline, $({\mathrm{Alq}}_3\mathrm{),}$ as light emitting devices. This technique is of interest in improving the behavior of highly luminescent thin film optoelectronic devices.