Top emission organic light-emitting devices (TEOLEDs) have generated a considerable interest owing to their use in the development of active matrix displays. Requirements for the next-generation displays, which are high-quality video images, lightweight and thin, and low power consumption can be realized in TEOLEDs. The Ni/4,4-bis[N-(1-naphtyl)-N-phenyl-amino]biphenyl(alpha-NPD)/Alq3/2,9-dim ethyl-4,7 diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP)/Ca/Ag top emitting device has been fabricated. The reflective Ni anode and Ca/Ag semitransparent double layer cathode have been characterized. Suitable explanation is proposed for the high transmittance of Ca/Ag structure. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.