Pyridinyl-Carbazole Fragments Containing Host Materials for Efficient Green and Blue Phosphorescent OLEDs

Pyridinyl-carbazole fragments containing low molar mass compounds as host derivatives H1 and H2 were synthesized, investigated, and used for the preparation of electro-phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices (PhOLEDs). The materials demonstrated high stability against thermal decomposition with the decomposition temperatures of 361–386 °C and were suitable for the preparation of thin amorphous and homogeneous layers with very high values of glass transition temperatures of 127–139 °C. It was determined that triplet energy values of the derivatives are, correspondingly, 2.82 eV for the derivative H1 and 2.81 eV for the host H2. The new derivatives were tested as hosts of emitting layers in blue, as well as in green phosphorescent OLEDs. The blue device with 15 wt.% of the iridium(III)[bis(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2′]picolinate (FIrpic) emitter doping ratio in host material H2 exhibited the best overall characteristics with a power efficiency of 24.9 lm/W, a current efficiency of 23.9 cd/A, and high value of 10.3% of external quantum efficiency at 100 cd/m². The most efficient green PhOLED with 10 wt% of Ir(ppy)₃ {tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium(III)} in the H2 host showed a power efficiency of 34.1 lm/W, current efficiency of 33.9 cd/A, and a high value of 9.4% for external quantum efficiency at a high brightness of 1000 cd/m², which is required for lighting applications. These characteristics were obtained in non-optimized PhOLEDs under an ordinary laboratory atmosphere and could be improved in the optimization process. The results demonstrate that some of the new host materials are very promising components for the development of efficient phosphorescent devices.     

Application of heteroleptic iridium complexes with fluorenyl-modified 1-phenylisoquinoline ligand for high-efficiency red polymer light-emitting devices

A series of new heteroleptic iridium complexes bearing fluorenyl-modified 1-phenylisoquinoline as the first ligand and different ancillary ligands has been prepared and characterized. These complexes bis(1-(3-(9,9-dimethyl-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)isoquinoline-C2,N′)iridium(III)acetylacetonate(Ir(DMFPQ)₂acac)), bis(1-(3-(9,9-dimethyl-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)isoquinoline-C2,N′)iridium(III)(3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolate)(Ir(DMFPQ)₂pt) and bis(1-(3-(9,9-dimethyl-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)isoquinoline-C2,N′)iridium(III)(2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazolate)(Ir(DMFPQ)₂pbi) showed red phosphorescent emissions of 615-630 nm in dichloromethane solution. The device fabricated with these complexes doped into a host polyfluorene (PFO) blend with 30% of an electron transport material 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) showed high device efficiencies. Ir(DMFPQ)₂acac exhibited red emission with an external quantum efficiency(η_ext) of 14.3% and luminous efficiency(η_c) of 7.8 cd/A at 1.2 mA/cm² and the maximum brightness reached 10 006 cd/m² (Commission Internationale de I’Eclairage(CIE) chromaticity coordinates: (0.67, 0.32)) at 412 mA/cm². Ir(DMFPQ)₂pt showed a η_ext of 13.0% and η_c of 9.2 cd/A at 17 mA/cm², 1532 cd/m², and the maximum brightness reached 15085 cd/m² (CIE: 0.64, 0.34) at 360 mA/cm².     

高效溶液法小分子磷光电致发光器件研究

以小分子化合物CDBP[4,4′-bis(carbazol-9-yl)-9,9-dimethyl-fluorene]为主体材料,Ir(pppy)3[tris(5-phenyl-10,10-dimethyl-4-aza-tricycloundeca-2,4,6-triene)Iridium(III)]为磷光客体材料,采用溶液法和真空蒸镀法相结合的制备工艺,制作了小分子磷光电致发光器件.研究表明,通过器件结构的优化,Ir(pppy)3(重量百分比为2)掺杂的多层绿光电致发光器件效率达22.0 cd/A,最大亮度达到26600 cd/m²,这一结果可与当今基于真空蒸镀的小分子或基于溶液法的高分子磷光电致发光器件性能相媲美.本工作为降低有机电致发光器件的成本,扩展溶液法有机电致发光器件制备工艺中材料的选择范围提供了实验依据.     

High-efficiency solution processable electrophosphorescent iridium complexes bearing polyphenylphenyl dendron ligands

We report the synthesis and electrophosphorescent behavior of a series of novel iridium complex materials (Complexes A–F), which are composed of ligands bearing polyphenylphenyl dendron groups and acetylacetonate. Yellow to saturated red organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on these newly developed Ir complexes were fabricated through solution process by doping the complex materials into polyvinyl carbazole (PVK)/2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) matrices. The emission wavelengths of the materials could be effectively tuned from 549 nm to 640 nm by changing the conjugation of the ligands either through incorporating additional aromatic segment (e.g. phenyl or fluorenyl group) onto the basic dendron ligand or fusing two of the phenyl rings on the polyphenylphenyl dendron group. High performance devices with the configuration of ITO/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) (50 nm)/PVK:PBD (40%):Ir complex (6%) (70 nm)/2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP) (12 nm)/Alq₃ (20 nm)/Mg:Ag (150 nm) have been demonstrated. For example, when Complex B was used as the emissive layer, maximum current efficiency of 34.0 cd/A and external quantum efficiency of 10.3% have been achieved. When 1,3,5-tris(N-phenylbenzimidazol-2-yl) benzene (TPBI) was used as the block layer, the efficiencies can be further improved to 46.3 cd/A and 13.9%, respectively. These solution processed OLED devices demonstrated quite stable EL efficiencies over a large range of current density, which indicated that triplet–triplet annihilation in electrophosphorescence could be effectively suppressed by incorporation of the polyphenylphenyl dendron structure into iridium complexes.     

Long-lived room-temperature deep-red-emissive intraligand triplet excited state of naphthalimide in cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes and its application in triplet-triplet annihilation-based upconversion

Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes with acetylide ppy and bpy ligands were prepared (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) in which naphthal (Ir-2) and naphthalimide (NI) were attached onto the ppy (Ir-3) and bpy ligands (Ir-4) through acetylide bonds. [Ir(ppy)(3)] (Ir-1) was also prepared as a model complex. Room-temperature phosphorescence was observed for the complexes; both neutral and cationic complexes Ir-3 and Ir-4 showed strong absorption in the visible range (ε=39,600 M(-1) cm(-1) at 402?nm and ε=25,100 M(-1) cm(-1) at 404?nm, respectively), long-lived triplet excited states (τ(T)=9.30?μs and 16.45?μs) and room-temperature red emission (λ(em)=640?nm, Φ(p)=1.4?% and λ(em)=627?nm, Φ(p)=0.3?%; cf. Ir-1: ε=16,600 M(-1) cm(-1) at 382?nm, τ(em)=1.16 μs, Φ(p)=72.6?%). Ir-3 was strongly phosphorescent in non-polar solvent (i.e., toluene), but the emission was completely quenched in polar solvents (MeCN). Ir-4 gave an opposite response to the solvent polarity, that is, stronger phosphorescence in polar solvents than in non-polar solvents. Emission of Ir-1 and Ir-2 was not solvent-polarity-dependent. The T(1) excited states of Ir-2, Ir-3, and Ir-4 were identified as mainly intraligand triplet excited states ((3)IL) by their small thermally induced Stokes shifts (ΔE(s)), nanosecond time-resolved transient difference absorption spectroscopy, and spin-density analysis. The complexes were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion and quantum yields of 7.1?% and 14.4?% were observed for Ir-2 and Ir-3, respectively, whereas the upconversion was negligible for Ir-1 and Ir-4. These results will be useful for designing visible-light-harvesting transition-metal complexes and for their applications as triplet photosensitizers for photocatalysis, photovoltaics, TTA upconversion, etc.     

Phosphorescent [3 + 2 + 1] coordinated Ir(iii) cyano complexes for achieving efficient phosphors and their application in OLED devices

A series of neutral [3 + 2 + 1] coordinated iridium complexes bearing tridentate bis-NHC carbene chelates (2,6-bisimidazolylidene benzene), bidentate chelates (C^N ligands, e.g. derivatives of 2-phenylpridine), and monodentate ions (halides and pseudo-halides, such as Br, I, OCN and CN ions) have been systematically designed and synthesized. X-ray single crystal structure characterization revealed that the nitrogen atom in C^N ligands is located trans to the carbon atom in the benzene ring in tridentate chelates, while the coordinating carbon atom in C^N ligands is located trans to the monodentate ligands. Photophysical studies reveal that the C^N ligands play a vital role in tuning the UV absorption and emission properties, while the tridentate bis-NHC carbene chelates influence the lowest absorption band and emission energy when compared to heteroleptic Ir(ppy)2(acac) [i.e. molar absorptivities at ∼450 nm for ppy-OCN and Ir(ppy)2(acac) are 350 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 1520 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and emission maximum peaks are at 465 nm and 515 nm respectively]. Among monodentate ligands that the complexes bear, the group containing the cyanide ligand displays higher emission energy, higher photophysical quantum yields, longer triplet lifetimes and better electrochemical and thermal stabilities than those of cyanate and bromide. Particularly, a blue organic light-emitting diode (OLED) based on dfppy-CN exhibited a maximum external quantum efficiency of 22.94% with CIE coordinates of (0.14, 0.24). Furthermore, a small efficiency roll-off of 5.7% was observed for this device at 1000 cd m⁻².

Construction of [3 + 2 + 1] coordinated iridium(iii) cyano complexes for achieving high-efficiency phosphors and their application in blue OLEDs with low efficiency roll-off.     

Iridium(I) pyridyl azolate complexes with saturated red metal-to-ligand charge transfer phosphorescence; fundamental and potential applications in organic light-emitting diodes

Preparation of a new series of neutral metal complexes [(cod)Ir(fppz)] (1), [(cod)Ir(bppz)] (2), [(cod)Ir(fptz)] (3) and [(cod)Ir(bptz)] (4), bearing one cod ligand and a pyridyl azolate chelate are reported. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of 3 reveals the expected distorted square-planar geometry. The lowest absorption band consists of IrI atom increased triplet dpi-->pi* transitions (3MLCT), the assignment of which is firmly supported by the theoretical approaches. Complexes 1-4 exhibit weak phosphorescence in degassed solution at room temperature, whereas much more intense, solid-state phosphorescence appears in the range 622-649 nm. The pure MLCT emission was used as a prototypical model to address its remarkable spectral differences from the IrIII isoquinoline pyrrolide complex (5), which has mainly 3pipi phosphorescence. Complex 3 was used as a dopant to fabricate red-emitting phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). For the 7 % doped device, a maximum brightness of 3010 cd m-2 was achieved at an applied voltage of 15 V and with CIE coordinates of (0.56, 0.33), demonstrating for the first time the potential of neutral IrI complexes in OLED applications.     

Synthesis, characterization, photophysical and electrochemical properties of new phosphorescent dopants for OLEDs

New heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes of 2-(p-substituted-phenyl)-pyridine were synthesized and characterized. These complexes have two cyclometalated ligands (C^∧N) and a bidentate ancillary ligand (LX), that is, (C^∧N)₂Ir(LX). LX was either acetylacetonate or 5-nitro-8-hydroxy quinolate. Substitution on the p-phenyl of C^∧N ligands was used to alter the electronic properties of these complexes. The (C^∧N)₂Ir(acac) complexes show phosphorescence with good quantum yields and microsecond lifetimes and also show photoluminescence over a wide visible range (λ_max = 503-620 nm). The HOMO level and triplet energy level of these complexes were also determined. These data indicate their potential use as emitting materials for organic light emitting diodes, OLEDs.     

一种吡嗪铱(Ⅲ)配合物的晶体结构及光物理性质

合成了一种铱配合物二(4,4'-二氟-5-甲基-2,3-二苯基吡嗪) (乙酰丙酮)合铱[(MDPPF)₂Ir(acac)]的有机电致发光器件(OLED),利用X射线单晶衍射仪测定了该化合物的晶体结构. 利用紫外-可见吸收光谱、发射光谱对其光物理性质进行研究. 结果表明: (MDPPF)₂Ir(acac)的单晶结构属于三斜晶系, P1空间群,晶胞参数a=1.13984(3) nm, b=1.26718(3) nm, c=1.29541(3) nm, α=93.7181(19)°, β=101.638(2)°, γ=110.853(3)°, V=1.69336(7) nm³; (MDPPF)₂Ir(acac)在二氯甲烷溶液中的发射峰为555 nm. 以(MDPPF)₂Ir(acac)为客体材料,制备了结构为ITO/NPB(40 nm)/CBP: (MDPPF)₂Ir(acac)(20 nm)/TPBi(10 nm)/Alq₃ (30 nm)/LiF(1 nm)/Al(100 nm)的一系列不同掺杂浓度器件, 器件的发射峰位于558 nm, 最大亮度达到32700 cd·m^-2,最大电流效率44.3 cd·A^-1, 最大功率效率20.7 lm·W^-1.     

两种基于氮杂环结构铱(Ⅲ)配合物的合成及有机电致发光性能

以苯基嘧啶/吡啶基嘧啶为母核, 同时引入2个三氟甲基(CF₃)合成了2-[3,5-二（三氟甲基）苯基]-5-氟基嘧啶(tfmphfppm)和2-[2,6-二（三氟甲基）-4-吡啶基]-5-氟基嘧啶(tfmpyfppm)主配体, 并以2-(5-苯基-1,3,4-噁二唑-2-)苯酚(pop)为辅助配体合成了2种铱(III)配合物Ir(tfmphfppm)₂(pop)和Ir(tfmpyfppm)₂(pop), 其发射光谱峰分别位于484和504 nm, 分别属于蓝绿光和绿光发射, 发光量子效率分别达到76%和89%. 由于氮杂环和2,5-二苯基-1,3,4-噁二唑基团的存在, 配合物具有较低的最低未占据分子轨道(LUMO)能级和较高的电子迁移率. 以2种 铱(III)配合物为发光中心制备的有机电致发光器件(OLED)显示了较好的器件性能, 其最大亮度(L_max)、 最大电流效率(η_{c, max})、 最大功率效率(η_{p, max})和最大外量子效率(EQE_max)分别为33379 cd/m², 76.55 cd/A, 31.59 lm/W和26.7%; 并且该器件显示了比较小的效率滚降, 在亮度为1000 cd/m²时, 器件的η_c仍然可以达到72.71 cd/A. 本文结果表明, 氮杂环、 2,5-二苯基-1,3,4-噁二唑和三氟甲基基团可以有效提高铱(Ⅲ)配合物的发光性能和电子迁移率, 从而提高器件的性能.     

Electroluminescent properties of three ternary europium complexes with different phenanthroline derivatives

In the past decade a number of lanthanide com-plexes have been designed and synthesized for organic electroluminescent (EL) devices owing to their ex-tremely sharp emission bands and potentially high internal quantum efficiency[113]. This characteristic made the lanthanide complexes one kind of promising candidates for full color flat-panel displays which re-quire pure red, green and blue emissions. So far, how-ever, the devices based on lanthanide complexes as emitters have not demonstrated v…     

Fluorine cleavage of the light blue heteroleptic triplet emitter FIrpic

The lifetime stability of devices containing FIrpic as emitter has been a major concern for organic blue light emitting devices (OLEDs). To gain a deeper knowledge about the purity of FIrpic (bis[2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridyl-N,C2′]iridium (III)) emitters and how the purity is influenced by sublimation steps, non-sublimated and sublimated FIrpic material was analyzed via liquid chromatography coupled with electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS). Cleavage of an electron-withdrawing group from one of the ligands of the heteroleptic phosphorescent emitter could be identified in sublimated FIrpic material via LC/ESI/MS. A detailed chemical analysis using LC/ESI/MS was carried out for complete blue emitting devices of the following structure: indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/50 nm (α-4,4′-bis[(1-naphthyl)phenylamino]-1,1′-biphenyl) (α-NPD)/10 nm 4,4′,4″-tris(carbazol-9-yl)triphenylamine (TCTA)/100 nm TCTA:8% FIrpic/50 nm 1,1′-biphenyl-4′-oxy)-bis(8-hydroxy-2-methylquinolinato)-aluminum (BAlq)/1 nm LiF/100 nm Al. Two isomers of (FIrpic-1F) could be detected in an aged OLED. Changes in the ligand systems of FIrpic, especially the loss of fluorine during the deposition process can alter the emissive properties of the blue phosphorescent emitter. Beside isomer formation and chemical degradation of FIrpic, substantial degradation was observed for the hole transport material α-NPD in driven OLEDs.     

Bright White Organic Light-Emitting Diode Mixed Blue and Green Emission

Double-layer and triple-layer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated using a novel star-shaped hexafluorenylbenzene organic material, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(9,9-diethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)benzene (HKEthFLYPh) as an energy transfer layer, N, N′-bis-(1-naphthyl)-N, N′-diphenyl-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (NPB) as a hole-transport layer (HTL) and blue emissive layer (EML), and tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq₃) as an electron-transport layer (ETL) and green light-emitting layer. Bright white light was obtained with a triple-layer device structure of indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/NPB (40 nm)/HKEthFLYPh (10 nm)/Alq₃ (50 nm)/Mg:Ag (200 nm). A maximum luminance of 8523 cd·m⁻² at 15 V and a power efficiency of 1.0 lm·W⁻¹ at 5.5 V were achieved. The Commissions Internationale de L′Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of the device were (0.29, 0.34) at 9 V, which located in white light region. With increasing film thickness of HKEthFLYPh, light emission intensity from NPB increased compared to that of Alq₃.     

Neutral copper(I) phosphorescent complexes from their ionic counterparts with 2-(2'-quinolyl)benzimidazole and phosphine mixed ligands

Neutral mononuclear Cu(I) complexes and their counterparts with counterion, i.e. Cu(qbm)(PPh(3))(2), Cu(qbm)(DPEphos), [Cu(Hqbm)(PPh(3))(2)](BF(4)) and [Cu(Hqbm)(DPEphos)](BF(4)), where Hqbm = 2-(2'-quinolyl)benzimidazole, DPEphos = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether, have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray structure analyses. All of the four complexes in solid state exhibit a strong phosphorescence band in the orange spectral region at room temperature. The photophysical properties of these complexes in both methylene chloride solution and poly(methyl methacrylate) film have been studied. Compared to the related cationic complexes, the neutral ones show blue-shifted emissions and longer lifetimes that can be attributed to the additional ligand-centered π-π* transition beside traditional metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT). By doping these complexes in N-(4-(carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-3,6-bis(carbazol-9-yl) carbazole (TCCz), multilayer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated with the device structure of ITO/PEDOT/TCCz: Cu(I) (10 wt%)/BCP/Alq(3)/LiF/Al. The neutral complex Cu(qbm)(DPEphos) exhibits a higher current efficiency, up to 8.87 cd A(-1), than that (5.58 cd A(-1)) of its counterpart [Cu(Hqbm)(DPEphos)](BF(4)).     

Neutral and cationic cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes of anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione-derived ligands: Syntheses, structures and spectroscopic characterisation

The syntheses of two new ligands and five new heteroleptic cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes are reported. The ligands are based upon a functionalised anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione core giving LH¹⁻³ incorporating a pendant pyridine, quinoline or thiophene unit respectively. Neutrally charged, octahedral complexes [Ir(ppy)₂(L¹⁻³)] are chelated by two cyclometallated phenylpyridine (ppy) ligands and a third, ancillary deprotonated ligand L¹⁻³, whilst cationic analogues could only be isolated for [Ir(ppy)₂(LH¹⁻²)][PF₆]. X-ray crystal structures for [Ir(ppy)₂(L¹)], [Ir(ppy)₂(LH¹)][PF₆] and [Ir(ppy)₂(L²)] showed the complexes adopt a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, with the anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione ligands coordinating in a bidentate fashion. Preliminary DFT calculations revealed that for the complexes of LH¹ and LH² the LUMO is exclusively localized on the ancillary ligand, whereas the nature of the HOMO depends on the protonation state of the ancillary ligand, often being composed of both Ir(III) and phenylpyridine character. UV-vis. and luminescence data showed that the ligands absorb into the visible region ca. 400 nm and emit ca. 560 nm, both of which are attributed to an intra-ligand CT transition within the anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione core. The complexes display absorption bands attributed to overlapping ligand-centred and ¹MLCT-type electronic transitions, whilst only [Ir(ppy)₂(L²)] appeared to possess typical ³MLCT behaviour (λ_em = 616 nm; τ = 96 ns in aerated MeCN). The remaining complexes were generally visibly emissive (λ_em ≈ 560-570 nm; τ < 10 ns in aerated MeCN) with very oxygen-sensitive lifetimes more indicative of ligand-centred processes.     

New Bifunctional Bis(azairidacycle) with Axial Chirality via Double Cyclometalation of 2,2′-Bis(aminomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl

As a candidate for bifunctional asymmetric catalysts containing a half-sandwich C–N chelating Ir(III) framework (azairidacycle), a dinuclear Ir complex with an axially chiral linkage is newly designed. An expedient synthesis of chiral 2,2′-bis(aminomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl (1) from 1,1-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) was accomplished by a three-step process involving nickel-catalyzed cyanation and subsequent reduction with Raney-Ni and KBH₄. The reaction of (S)-1 with an equimolar amount of [IrCl₂Cp*]₂ (Cp* = η⁵–C₅(CH₃)₅) in the presence of sodium acetate in acetonitrile at 80 °C gave a diastereomeric mixture of new dinuclear dichloridodiiridium complexes (5) through the double C–H bond cleavage, as confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. A loss of the central chirality on the Ir centers of 5 was demonstrated by treatment with KOC(CH₃)₃ to generate the corresponding 16e amidoiridium complex 6. The following hydrogen transfer from 2-propanol to 6 provided diastereomers of hydrido(amine)iridium retaining the bis(azairidacycle) architecture. The dinuclear chlorido(amine)iridium 5 can serve as a catalyst precursor for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone with a substrate to a catalyst ratio of 200 in the presence of KOC(CH₃)₃ in 2-propanol, leading to (S)-1-phenylethanol with up to an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 67%.     

高效磷光铱配合物的合成及电致发光性能研究

合成了一种含苯并噻唑结构配体的环金属化铱配合物(ffbi)₂Ir(acac)，(其中ffbi为1-(4-氟苄基)-2-(4-氟苯基)苯并咪唑，acac为乙酰丙酮)，并以其作为发光体, 制备了有机电致发光器件。结果表明该配合物具有强磷光发光特性，器件发绿色光。其中结构为TCTA(40 nm)/CBP∶Ir(6.3%，30 nm)/BCP(10 nm)/Alq(40 nm)的电致发光器件在12 V电压下最大发光亮度达41 499 cd·m^-2，在8 V电压下，最大外量子效率达5.7%。     

Novel iridium complexes as high-efficiency yellow and red phosphorescent light emitters for organic light-emitting diodes

A series of novel biscyclometallated iridium complexes based on spirobifluorene ligands and acetyl acetonate (acac) ancillary ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). HOMO, LUMO, and energy band gaps of all the complexes were calculated by the combination of UV-vis absorption spectra and CV results. TGA and DSC results indicated their excellent thermal stability and amorphous structure. All the iridium complexes were fabricated into organic light-emitting devices with the device configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS (50 nm)/PVK (50 wt %):PBD (40 wt %):Ir complex (10 wt %) (45 nm)/TPBI (40 nm)/LiF (0.5 nm)/Ca (20 nm)/Ag (150 nm). Yellow to red light emission has been achieved from the iridium complexes guest materials. Complex C1 (yellow light emission) achieved an efficiency of 36.4 cd/A (10.1%) at 198 cd/m² and complex C4 (red light emission) reached external quantum efficiency of 4.6%. The slight decrease of external quantum efficiency at high current density revealed that the triplet-triplet (T₁-T₁) annihilation was effectively suppressed by the new developed complexes.     

Judicious Choice of N-Heterocycles for the Realization of Sky-Blue- to Green-Emitting Carbazolylgold(III) C^C^N Complexes and Their Applications for Organic Light-Emitting Devices

A new class of sky-blue- to green-emitting carbazolylgold(III) C^C^N complexes containing pyrazole or benzimidazole moieties has been successfully designed and synthesized. Through the judicious choice of the N-heterocycles in the cyclometalating ligand and the tailor-made carbazole moieties, maximum photoluminescence quantum yields of 0.52 and 0.39 have been realized in the green- and sky-blue-emitting complexes, respectively. Solution-processed and vacuum-deposited organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) based on the benzimidazole-containing complexes have been prepared. The sky-blue-emitting device shows an emission peaking at 484 nm with a narrow full-width at half-maximum of 57 nm (2244 cm⁻¹), demonstrating the potential of this class of complexes in the application of OLEDs with high color purity. In addition, high maximum external quantum efficiencies of 12.3 % and a long operational half-lifetime of over 5300 h at 100 cd m⁻² have been achieved in the vacuum-deposited green-emitting devices.     

Phosphorescent Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes That Contain Substituted 2‐Acetylbenzo[b]thiophen‐3‐olate Ligand for Red Organic Light‐Emitting Devices

We report the synthesis of a new class of thermally stable and strongly luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes 1 – 6 , which contain the 2‐acetylbenzo[b]thiophene‐3‐olate (bt) ligand, and their application in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). These heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes with bt as the ancillary ligand have a decomposition temperature that is 10–20 % higher and lower emission self‐quenching constants than those of their corresponding complexes with acetylacetonate (acac). The luminescent color of these iridium(III) complexes could be fine‐tuned from orange (e.g., 2‐phenyl‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)benzo[d]thiazole (cf₃bta) for 4 ) to pure red (e.g., lpt (Hlpt=4‐methyl‐2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)quinolone) for 6 ) by varying the cyclometalating ligands (C‐deprotonated C^N). In particular, highly efficient OLEDs based on 6 as dopant (emitter) and 1,3‐bis(carbazol‐9‐yl)benzene (mCP) as host that exhibit stable red emission over a wide range of brightness with CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.67, 0.33) well matched to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard have been fabricated along with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) and current efficiency of 9 % and 10 cd A^?1, respectively. A further 50 % increase in EQE (>13 %) by replacing mCP with bis[4‐(6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalin‐6‐yl)phenyl]diphenylsilane (BIQS) as host for 6 in the red OLED is demonstrated. The performance of OLEDs fabricated with 6 (i.e., [(lpt)₂Ir(bt)]) was comparable to that of the analogous iridium(III) complex that bore acac (i.e., [(lpt)₂Ir(acac)]; 6 a in this work) [Adv. Mater.­ 2011 , 23, 2981] fabricated under similar conditions. By using ntt (Hnnt=3‐hydroxynaphtho[2,3‐b]thiophen‐2‐yl)(thiophen‐2‐yl)methanone) ligand, a substituted derivative of bt, the [(cf₃bta)₂Ir(ntt)] was prepared and found to display deep red emission at around 700 nm with a quantum yield of 12 % in mCP thin film.