Potential applications of Ytterbium (Yb) in cathode system for organic optoelectronic/electronic devices were explored in NPB/Alq(3) based bi-layer organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). When a thin (14.5 nm) Yb layer capped with a thicker (200 nm) Ag layer was used as the cathode, the OLEDs show enhanced electron injection over those using the standard Mg:Ag cathode. Performance of the OLEDs with the Yb/Ag cathode is comparable to that using LiF/Al cathode. Interestingly, we also found that Yb can also be used to prepare a highly transparent cathode by coevaporating Yb and Ag to form a Yb:Ag alloy electrode. Surface-emitting (or top emission) and transparent (emission from both surfaces) OLEDs with low turn-on voltage (3.75 V) and high efficiency were prepared with the Yb:Ag electrode. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.