We report a direct observation of Al penetration into an organic film of 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq) in a Alq/Al bilayer, a common interface occurring in many organic light-emitting diode structures. The Al penetration has a strong correlation with Alq photoluminescence quenching. We also demonstrate that the penetration and luminescence quenching can be effectively suppressed by similar to 20 Angstrom of an intervening layer of Al2O3 at the Alq/Al interface. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)02346-8].