Star‐Shaped Trinuclear Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes as Single‐Component Emitters in White‐Emitting PLEDs

Two star‐shaped phosphorescent small molecules, Ph‐3FPt(pic) and 4Ph‐3FPt(pic), are single‐component emitters in polymer white‐light‐emitting diodes (WPLEDs) that are comprised of three blue–light‐emitting phosphorescent chromophores of FPt(pic) and are attached to benzene‐1,3,5‐trioxy‐ and 1,3,5‐tri(4‐oxyphenyl)benzene cores through a hexyloxy chain, respectively. Compared to their corresponding mono‐ or dinuclear platinum complexes, this class of star‐shaped homotrinuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes exhibited controllable excimer emission. Stable white/near‐white emission was obtained in single‐emissive‐layer PLEDs by using the Ph‐3FPt(pic) or 4Ph‐3FPt(pic) as a single dopant and a blend of poly(vinylcarbazole) and 2‐(4‐biphenyl)‐5‐(4‐tert‐butyl‐phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole as a host matrix at dopant concentrations of 1–4 wt. %. Our results provide an efficient way to control excimer formation and to obtain a single‐component emitter for use in WPLEDs.     

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of a novel dinuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complex containing triphenylamine-substituted indolo[3,2-b]carbazole derivative in the single-emissive-layer WPLEDs

A novel bi-picolinic acid derivative of H₂dipic-BTICz containing binary triphenylamine-substituted indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (BTICz) unit and its dinuclear platinum(II) complex of (dfppy)₂Pt₂(dipic-BTICz) were synthesized as a single-component emitter used in the white polymer light-emitting diodes (WPLEDs), where dfppy is 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine and dipic-BTICz is an anion of H₂dipic-BTICz. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of (dfppy)₂Pt₂(dipic-BTICz) were investigated. Compared with the reported mononuclear platinum complex of (dfppy)Pt(pic), (dfppy)₂Pt₂(dipic-BTICz) exhibited a red-shifted photoluminescent peak at 434 nm in dilute dichloromethane (10⁻⁵ M), but a weakened and red-shifted aggregation emission peak at 640 nm besides its intrinsic emission at 445 nm in its neat films. Stable pure white emissions with CIE coordinates of (0.325±0.005, 0.345±0.015) and a maximum brightness of 208 cd/m² were observed in the (dfppy)₂Pt₂(dipic-BTICz)-doped single-emissive-layer (SEL) PLEDs using a blend of poly(vinylcarbazole) and 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole as a host matrix at 1 wt % dopant concentrations under applied voltages from 9 to 14 V. It indicates that the intrinsic and aggregation emissions of this dinuclear platinum complex were effectively tuned by inserting a new BTICz fluorophore in the dual picolinic acid derivative. Therefore, it is a promising single-component emitter to get white emission in SEL PLEDs.     

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of a carbazole-modified platinum(II) complex in polymer light-emitting devices

To improve opto-electronic properties and efficiently suppress excimer emission, a phenylpyridine (ppy)-based platinum(II) complex (C(16)OCz-ppy)Pt(acac) was synthesized and characterized, where C(16)OCz-ppy is a 2-phenylpyridine derivative appending a carbazole moiety and three hexadecyloxy methyl units in the parent phenylpyridine, and acac is acetylacetone. This carbazole-modified platinum(II) complex exhibited good thermal stability and three times higher photoluminescent quantum yield than its parent (2-phenylpyridine-C(2),N)(2,4-pentanedionato-O,O)platinum(II) complex [(ppy)Pt(acac)]. Single-emissive-layer polymer light-emitting devices using (C(16)OC(Z)-ppy)Pt(acac) as dopant and a blend of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) and 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole as host matrix presented a maximum current efficiency of 1.51 cd A(-1), which was 1.5 times higher than that from the (ppy)Pt(acac)-doped device with the same device structure. Little excimer emission and minor aggregation emission were observed in the (C(16)OC(Z)-ppy)Pt(acac)-doped PLEDs at different dopant concentrations and applied voltages. This work indicates that introducing a carbazole and three hexadecyloxy methyl groups into the planar platinum(II) complex can reduce molecular aggregation and excimer emissions, thus resulting in high luminance and stable EL spectra in comparison with the parent (ppy)Pt(acac).     

Acid-induced degradation of phosphorescent dopants for OLEDs and its application to the synthesis of tris-heteroleptic iridium(III) bis-cyclometalated complexes

Investigations of blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on [Ir(2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine)(2)(picolinate)] (FIrPic) have pointed to the cleavage of the picolinate as a possible reason for device instability. We reproduced the loss of picolinate and acetylacetonate ancillary ligands in solution by the addition of Br?nsted or Lewis acids. When hydrochloric acid is added to a solution of a [Ir(C^N)(2)(X^O)] complex (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) or 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (diFppy) and X^O = picolinate (pic) or acetylacetonate (acac)), the cleavage of the ancillary ligand results in the direct formation of the chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimer [{Ir(C^N)(2)(μ-Cl)}(2)]. When triflic acid or boron trifluoride are used, a source of chloride (here tetrabutylammonium chloride) is added to obtain the same chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimer. Then, we advantageously used this degradation reaction for the efficient synthesis of tris-heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes [Ir(C^N(1))(C^N(2))(L)], a family of cyclometalated complexes otherwise challenging to prepare. We used an iridium(I) complex, [{Ir(COD)(μ-Cl)}(2)], and a stoichiometric amount of two different C^N ligands (C^N(1) = ppy; C^N(2) = diFppy) as starting materials for the swift preparation of the chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimers. After reacting the mixture with acetylacetonate and subsequent purification, the tris-heteroleptic complex [Ir(ppy)(diFppy)(acac)] could be isolated with good yield from the crude containing as well the bis-heteroleptic complexes [Ir(ppy)(2)(acac)] and [Ir(diFppy)(2)(acac)]. Reaction of the tris-heteroleptic acac complex with hydrochloric acid gives pure heteroleptic chloro-bridged iridium dimer [{Ir(ppy)(diFppy)(μ-Cl)}(2)], which can be used as starting material for the preparation of a new tris-heteroleptic iridium(III) complex based on these two C^N ligands. Finally, we use DFT/LR-TDDFT to rationalize the impact of the two different C^N ligands on the observed photophysical and electrochemical properties.     

White emission from dinuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complex in single-emitting layer PLEDs

A dinuclear platinum(II) complex of (dfppy)₂Pt₂(dipic) has been prepared, where dfppy is 2,4-difluorophenylpyridine and dipic is a biphenyl-bridged bi-picolinic acid derivative. Its physical and optoelectronic properties, as well as molecular orbitals calculation have been investigated and compared with those of its mono-nuclear (dfppy)Pt(pic) complex. Both platinum(II) complexes exhibited almost identical photoluminescence (PL) spectra with deep blue emission in dilute dichloro-methane (10⁻⁵ M) and different PL spectra with red emission in their neat films. Stable white emissions were obtained in the (dfppy)₂Pt₂(dipic)-doped polymer light-emitting devices using a blend of poly(vinylcarbazole) and 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole as a host matrix at dopant concentrations from 1 wt % to 10 wt %. In contrast, the (dfppy)Pt(pic)-doped devices exhibited orange-red emissions in the same device configuration. It indicates that dinuclear platinum(II) complex with a non-planar structure is an effective way to control formation excimers of platinum(II) complex and get white-emitting PLEDs with single dopant.     

Blue-emitting iridium complexes with substituted 1,2,4-triazole ligands: synthesis, photophysics, and devices

Neutral heteroleptic mononuclear iridium(III) complexes with (2,4-difluoro)phenylpyridine and different pyridine-1,2,4-triazole ligands were synthesized and fully characterized. We investigated the effects of substituents in the 5-position of the triazole ring on the photophysical and electrochemical behavior. Increasing the electron-withdrawing capabilities generally leads to a lowering of the HOMO level with a consequent slight widening of the HOMO-LUMO gap and a blue shift in emission. The complexes reported exhibit high emission quantum yields and long luminescent lifetimes, typical of iridium(III) complexes, and most of them show reversible redox processes in solution. Also, many of the complexes reported here have been obtained as single crystals suitable for X-ray crystallography. Two of the complexes were further tested as phosphorescent dyes in OLED devices and showed high external quantum efficiencies (~7%) and color points better than the "standard" for blue iridium(III) bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C2']picolinate (FIrpic). We also report the full electrochemical investigation of FIrpic in different solvents.     

Synthesis, characterization and photophysics of fluorene-alt-oxadiazole copolymers containing pendent iridium (III) complex moiety

A series of fluorene-alt-oxadiazole copolymers containing a pendent phosphor chromophore of the (piq)₂Ir(pic) complex were synthesized via the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction, where piq is 1-phenylisoquinoline and pic is picolinic acid. These copolymers exhibited a similar absorption spectrum with a peak at about 330 nm and a typical emission peak at 408 nm in CH₂Cl₂ from the fluorene-alt-oxadiazole backbone. However, a significantly red-shifted emission peak at about 625 nm was observed in the neat films of these copolymers, which are attributed to the pendent iridium (III) complex unit. Using these copolymers as single emission layer, the polymer light-emitting devices with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/copolymers/LiF/Al exhibited a saturated red emission with a peak at 632 nm. Significant influence of the attached iridium (III) complex ratio on EL performance was presented. A maximum current efficiency of 1.2 cd/A at 63 mA/cm² and a maximum luminance of 1125 cd/m² at 12 V were achieved from the device with the copolymer containing iridium (III) complex in a 3% molar ratio.     

Highly efficient pure white polymer light-emitting devices based on poly(N-vinylcarbazole) doped with blue and red phosphorescent dyes

Efficient white-polymer-light-emitting devices (WPLEDs) have been fabricated with a single emitting layer containing a hole-transporting host polymer,poly(N-vinylcarbzole),and an electron-transporting auxiliary,1,3-bis[(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl]-phenylene,codoped with two phosphorescent dyes:Iridium(III)bis (2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2') picolinate (FIrpic) and home-made Ir-G2 for blue and red emission,respectively.With the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS 4083(40 nm)/emission layer(80 nm)...     

蓝色磷光材料FIrpic的发光特性

研究了掺杂浓度及热退火对磷光材料双(4,6-二氟苯基吡啶-N,C2?)吡啶甲酰合铱(FIrpic)发光性能的影响.不同掺杂浓度的薄膜及有机电致发光器件(OELDs)的发光颜色都随FIrpic浓度的增大由蓝色逐渐变化到黄绿色.纯FIrpic薄膜的吸收光谱和光致发光(PL)光谱在440-480nm范围内有明显的光谱重叠,476nm处的发光强度随FIrpic掺杂浓度增大而降低主要是由自吸收效应引起的.测量了不同激发密度下的光致发光光谱和不同掺杂浓度下的电致发光(EL)光谱,发现530nm处的发光强度随激发强度或掺杂浓度的增大而增强,证实了530nm处的发光是来源于FIrpic分子间的激基缔合物发光.通过比较热退火前后薄膜微观形貌及电致发光器件光谱的变化,进一步证实了热退火促进FIrpic分子聚集,增强了FIrpic分子间的辐射跃迁发光.通过调控FIrpic掺杂浓度和优化器件结构,并对器件进行热退火处理得到一系列发光颜色从蓝色逐渐变化到黄绿色的有机电致发光器件.     

Nonconjugated dendritic iridium(III) complexes with tunable pyridine-based ligands: synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical, and electroluminescent properties

A simple synthetic route was developed for nonconjugated dendritic iridium(III) complex based on tunable pyridine-based ligands. From an intermediate 2-bromopyridyl-4-methanol, three series of polybenzyloxy dendritic pyridine-based ligands with 2-phenyl, 2-benzothienyl, and 2,4-difluorophenyl subsitituents were easily synthesized via two-step reactions (Suzuki reaction and etherifying reaction). Using these pyridine derivatives as the CwedgeN ligands, these dendritic iridium(III) complexes exhibiting tunable photoluminescence from blue to red were obtained. The photoluminescence quantum yields of these dendritic complexes in neat films increased with the increasing generation number of dendritic CwedgeN ligands. Importantly, these iridium complexes were used as dopants for successfully fabricating polymer-based electrophosphorescent light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) with the highest external quantum efficiency of 12.8%.     

一种环金属铱、铂双核配合物的合成及光电性能

设计合成了一种双核环金属铱,铂配合物二[N,N-2-(2,4-二氟苯基吡啶)C3,N1](吡啶甲酸)合铱(Ⅲ)-C₆-[苯基吡啶-C3,N1](吡啶甲酸)合铂(Ⅱ)(FIrPPyPt)。 通过核磁共振仪、元素分析仪、紫外-可见吸收光谱仪和光致发光光谱仪对其结构和性能进行了表征。 结果表明,配合物FIrPPyPt的紫外-可见吸收位于250~450 nm之间,荧光发射峰位于465和493 nm。 将配合物FIrPPyPt以质量分数1%~8%掺杂到主体材料聚乙烯基咔唑(PVK)+2-(联苯-4-芳基)-5-(4-叔丁基苯)-1,3,4-噁二唑(PBD)(30%)中制作了电致发光器件,在不同电压下电致发光光谱中,显现出铱配合物和铂配合物的特征峰,波峰位于400、500和530 nm蓝绿光区发射区。 该双核配合物用于单掺杂有机白光电致发光器件具有制作简单、色稳定性和重复性好等特点,为单掺杂白光发光器件提供了一种好的思路。     

High-efficiency saturated red emission from binuclear cyclo-metalated platinum complex containing 5-(4-octyloxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol ancillary ligand in PLED

A novel red-emitting binuclear platinum complex (dfppy)2Pt2(C8OXT)2 was synthesized and characterized,in which dfppy represents 2-(4’,6’-difluorophenyl)pyridinato unit and C8OXT is abbreviated for 5-(4-octyloxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol as a bridging ancillary ligand.Its photophysical,electrochemical and electroluminescent characteristics were primarily studied.The made single-emissive-layer (SEL) polymer light-emitting devices using (dfppy)2Pt2(C8OXT)2 as emitter exhibited a saturated red emission peaked at 620nm.The best device performances were obtained in the device at 8wt% dopant concentration,with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 8.4%,a current efficiency of 4.2cd/A and brightness of 3228cd/m2.This work provides an effective approach to obtain high-efficiency red emission through construction of new binuclear platinum complex and its doped SEL devices.     

Sensitised near-infrared emission from lanthanides using a covalently-attached Pt(II) fragment as an antenna group

In a series of heterodinuclear complexes in which a Pt(PPh3)2(catecholate) chromophore is covalently linked to a lanthanide tris(diketonate) unit, sensitised near-IR emission from Yb(III), Nd(III) and Er(III) occurs on excitation of the Pt(II) chromophore at 520 nm.     

Improving the performance of Pt(II) complexes for blue light emission by enhancing the molecular rigidity

This study highlights the potential benefits of using terdentate over bidentate ligands in the construction of organometallic complexes as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) emitters offering better color purity, and explores in detail the molecular origins of the differences between the two. A pair of closely related platinum(II) complexes has been selected, incorporating a bidentate and a terdentate cyclometallating ligand, respectively, namely, Pt(4,6-dFppy)(acac) (1) {4,6-dFppy = 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridine metalated at C(2) of the phenyl ring} and Pt(4,6-dFdpyb)Cl (2) {4,6-dFdpyb = 4,6-difluoro-1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene, metalated at C(2) of the phenyl ring}. The emission properties over the range of temperatures from 1.2 to 300 K have been investigated, including optical high-resolution studies. The results reveal a detailed insight into the electronic and vibronic structures of the two compounds. In particular, the Huang-Rhys parameter S that serves to quantify the degree of molecular distortion in the excited state with respect to the ground state, though small in both cases, is smaller by a factor of 2 for the terdentate than the bidentate complex (S ≈ 0.1 and ≈0.2, respectively). The smaller value for the former reflects the greater degree of rigidity induced by the terdentate ligand, leading to a lesser contribution of intraligand Franck-Condon vibrational modes in the green spectral range of the emission spectra. Consequently, an enhanced color purity with respect to blue light emission results. The high rigidity and the short Pt-C bond in Pt(4,6-dFdpyb)Cl also serve to disfavor nonradiative decay pathways, including those involving higher-lying dd* states. These effects account for the greatly superior luminescence quantum yield of the terdentate complex in fluid solution, amounting to φ(PL) = 80% versus only 2% found for the bidentate complex.     

Simple Conjugated Polymers with On‐Chain Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complexes: Toward Ratiometric Chemodosimeters for Detecting Trace Amounts of Mercury(II)

For the development of excellent optical probes for mercury(II), a series of simple conjugated polymers that contain phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes as receptors for mercury(II) were designed and synthesized. These conjugated polymers showed energy transfer from the polymer host to iridium(III) complex guest in both solution and the solid state. Unexpectedly, they can work as excellent polymer chemodosimeters for mercury(II) by utilizing the mercury(II)‐induced decomposition of iridium(III) complex. They exhibit a pronounced optical signal change with switchable phosphorescence and fluorescence, even when the concentration of a solution of mercury(II) in THF was as low as 0.5 ppb. With the addition of mercury(II), the phosphorescent emission intensity of iridium(III) complexes was quenched completely. As the emission from polymer backbones increased, the emission wavelength was redshifted simultaneously, thereby realizing ratiometric detection. Excellent selectivity toward mercury(II) over other potentially interfering cations was also realized. In addition, an obvious emission color change of polymer solution from red to yellow‐green was observed, thus realizing a “naked‐eye” detection of mercury(II). More importantly, the solid films of these polymer chemodosimeters also exhibited high sensitivity and rapid response to mercury(II), thereby demonstrating the possibility of the fabrication of sensing devices with fast and convenient detection of mercury(II). The sensing mechanism was also investigated in detail. This is the first report on chemodosimeters based on conjugated polymers with phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes.     

High electrochemiluminescence of a new water-soluble iridium(III) complex for determination of antibiotics

A new water-soluble iridium(III) diimine complex with appended sugar was synthesized and characterized. The electrochemiluminescent behavior of the new complex in aqueous buffer was first studied and the ECL signal was found to be much higher than that of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) at a Pt working electrode. Tri-n-propylamine (TPA) and antibiotics were determined by the ECL of the iridium(III) complex in aqueous buffer at the Pt electrode and the method was found to show good sensitivity and reproducibility. The new iridium(III) complex was found to display good solubility in aqueous solution and a strong ECL signal at the Pt electrode, which might open up the possibility of its application in analysis.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Cr(III) complexes with cyclam-type ligands having pendant chromophores, trans-[Cr(L)Cl(2)]Cl

The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of new cyclam-type ligands 5,7-dimethyl-6-R-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (L), where R is a pendant chromophore such as an anthracene derivative, are reported. These ligands were prepared according to a nickel(II) template procedure, and the X-ray crystal structures of several Ni(II) intermediates are described. Reaction of the free base ligands L with CrCl(3)x3THF resulted in facile formation of trans-[Cr(L)Cl(2)]Cl complexes, and the structures and spectroscopic characterizations of these complexes are also described. Examination of the photophysical properties of trans-[Cr(L)Cl(2)]Cl solutions at 77 K demonstrated the emission spectra to be dominated by phosphorescence from the ligand field doublet of the chromium(III) center. This also applies to the Cr(III) complex trans-[Cr(mac)Cl(2)]Cl, where mac is the anthracene derivative 5,7-dimethyl-6-anthracenylcyclam. Excitation into the pi-pi(*) states of the anthracene leads to marked quenching of the fluorescence from this chromophore and sensitized phosphorescence from the metal-centered doublet state.     

High-efficiency blue OLEDs based on dendritic dinuclear iridium (III) complexes grafted with fluorene core and blue fluorescence chromospheres

Two novel dendrimer-like blue-emitting dinuclear cyclometalated iridium (III) complexes, namely (DNaTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂ and (DPyTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂, have been successfully synthesized and characterized. In which FIrpic is an iridium (III) bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C2′]picolate blue-emitting phosphorescent chromophore core, DBF is a 2,7-diphenyl-9H-fluorene bridging core, DNaTPA and DPyTPA are deep blue-emitting fluorescent chromophores composed by rigid high-triplet-energy dendrons of triphenylamine-functionalized naphthalene or pyrene units, and the peripheral dendrons are connected with the ancillary ligand of the emitting core through nonconjugated ether linkage. Their photophysical, thermal, electrochemical, as well as electrophosphorescent properties were primarily studied. Both iridium (III) complexes exhibit high efficient blue emission in solution (38.5% and 19.2%) and a typical FIrpic emission in 1,3-bis(N-carbzolyl)benzene (mCP) matrix (27.0% and 24.1%). Simple bilayer phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/mCP:dopants/TmPyPB/Liq/Al achieved high efficiencies of 12.96 cd/A for current efficiency (CE), 6162 cd/m² for brightness, 6.22% for external quantum efficiency (EQE), and 3.13 lm/W for power efficiency (PE) with Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.19 ± 0.01, 0.35 ± 0.02) at only 2 wt% blend of (DNaTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂. (DPyTPA)₂DBF(FIrpic)₂-doped devices also reach efficiencies of (9.14 cd/A, 7167 cd/m², 4.41%, 2.61 lm/W) at the same doping concentration. The results demonstrate that the introduction of dendritic blue-emitting fluorescent chromophore grafted into the blue phosphorescent chromosphere core through nonconjugated linkage is an efficient way to achieve high-efficiency sky-blue emission.     

Radiation-induced reduction of vanadium(IV) to vanadium(II) in aqueous picolinate-formate solutions

Quantitative reduction of V(IV)(pic) to V(III)(pic)_n and then to V(II)(pic)_n(1 ⩽ n ⩽3) occurs when N₂O-saturated formate solutions (pH 4.2–6.3) containing V(IV) and picolinic acid (2-carboxypyridine) are irradiated. Pulse radiolysis measurements show that CO^-₂ reacts with picolinate only when the N-atom is protonated (k = 2.7 × 10⁸ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1). Reduction of V(IV)(pic) and V(III)(pic)_n is effected by the electron adduct of the protonated picolinate (picH)^. with rate constants at pH 4.2 of (3.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁷ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 for V(IV)(pic) and (6.9 ± 0.4) × 10⁸ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 for V(III)(pic)_n. No reduction of V(II)(pic)_n is observed.     

Theoretical study on the influence of ancillary ligand on the spectroscopic properties and electronic structures of phosphorescent Pt(II) complexes

The geometries, energies, and electronic properties of a series of phosphorescent Pt(II) complexes including FPt, CFPt, COFPt, and NFPt have been characterized within density functional theory DFT calculations which can reproduce and rationalize experimental results. The properties of excited‐states of the Pt(II) complexes were characterized by configuration interaction with singles (CIS) method. The ground‐ and excited‐state geometries were optimized at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ and CIS/LANL2DZ levels, respectively. In addition, we also have performed a triplet UB3LYP optimization for complex FPt and compared it with CIS method in the emission properties. The datum (562.52 nm) of emission wavelength for complex FPt, which were computed based on the triplet UB3LYP optimization excited‐state geometry, is not agreement with the experiment value (500 nm). The absorption and phosphorescence wavelengths were computed based on the optimized ground‐ and excited‐state geometries, respectively, by the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) methods. The results revealed that the nature of the substituent at the phenylpyridine ligand can influence the distributions of HOMO and LUMO and their energies. Moreover, the auxiliary ligand pyridyltetrazole can make the molecular structure present a solid geometry. In addition, the charge transport quality has been estimated approximately by the predicted reorganization energy (λ). Our result also indicates that the substitute groups and different auxiliary ligand not only change the nature of transition but also affect the rate and balance of charge transfer. By summarizing the results, we can conclude that the NFPt is good OLED materials with a solid geometry and a balanced charge transfer rate. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010