Enhanced Operational Durability of Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence-Based Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with a Triazine Electron Transporter

In organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on materials that show thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), the internal quantum efficiency of 100 % can be obtained without using phosphorescence-based organometallics that contain rare metals. Therefore, with TADF-based emitters, it is possible to fabricate high-performing OLEDs at a lower cost. However, compared with fluorescence- and phosphorescence-based OLEDs, an understanding of degradation mechanisms in TADF-based OLEDs is still insufficient for future commercialization. In particular, it is widely recognized that the development of electron transport materials is crucial for improving OLED characteristics, especially driving voltages and operational durability. In this study, it was demonstrated that the operational durability of TADF-based OLEDs was greatly improved by introducing a triazine-based material of 2,4,6-tris(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-[1,3,5]triazine (pT2T) as a hole-blocking layer (HBL) compared with a conventional HBL material of 2,4,6-tris(biphenyl-3-yl)-[1,3,5]triazine (T2T). Several experiments were carried out to make the reasons of the improved durability clearer, and attributed the improved durability to the shift of a carrier recombination zone from the emitting layer/HBL interface and the suppressed formation of excited-state quenchers in the pT2T HBL, because of the higher electron mobility of pT2T and the better stability of its radical anion state.     

Solution-Processed Yellow Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Two New Ionic Ir (III) Complexes

Two new and efficient cationic yellow-emissive Ir (III) complexes (Ir1 and Ir2) are rationally designed by using 2-(4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-methylquinoline as the main ligand, and, respectively, 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl and 4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bipyridyl as the ancillary ligands. Both complexes show enhanced phosphorescence (546 nm with 572 nm as shoulder and high phosphorescent quantum efficiency in solution, which is in favor of efficient solution-processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes. Compared with Ir2, the Ir1-based device displays excellent device performance, with maximum external quantum efficiency, current efficiency, and power efficiency of up to 7.92%, 26.32 cd/A and 15.31 lm/W, respectively, thus proving that the two new ionic Ir (III) complexes exhibit great potential for future solution-processed electroluminescence.     

Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine as an Electron Acceptor to Construct High-Performance Deep-Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Negligible Efficiency Roll-Off

Two novel bipolar deep-blue fluorescent emitters, IP-PPI and IP-DPPI, featuring different lengths of the phenyl bridge, were designed and synthesized, in which imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (IP) and phenanthroimidazole (PI) were proposed as an electron acceptor and an electron donor, respectively. Both of them exhibit outstanding thermal stability and high emission quantum yields. All the devices based on these two materials showed negligible efficiency roll-off with increasing current density. Impressively, non-doped organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on IP-PPI and IP-DPPI exhibited external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 4.85 % and 4.74 % with CIE coordinates of (0.153, 0.097) and (0.154, 0.114) at 10000 cd m⁻², respectively. In addition, the 40 wt % IP-PPI doped device maintained a high EQE of 5.23 % with CIE coordinates of (0.154, 0.077) at 10000 cd m⁻². The doped device based on 20 wt % IP-DPPI exhibited a higher deep-blue electroluminescence (EL) performance with a maximum EQE of up to 6.13 % at CIE of (0.153, 0.078) and maintained an EQE of 5.07 % at 10000 cd m⁻². To the best of our knowledge, these performances are among the state-of-the art devices with CIE_y≤0.08 at a high brightness of 10000 cd m⁻². Furthermore, by doping a red phosphorescent dye Ir(MDQ)₂ (MDQ=2-methyldibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline) into the IP-PPI and IP-DPPI hosts, high-performance red phosphorescent OLEDs with EQEs of 20.8 % and 19.1 % were achieved, respectively. This work may provide a new approach for designing highly efficient deep-blue emitters with negligible roll-off for OLED applications.     

基于面式-三(2-(4-三氟甲基苯基)吡啶)合铱配合物为发光中心的高效绿光有机电致发光器件

用经典的方法合成了面式-三(2-(4-三氟甲基苯基)吡啶)合铱配合物(fac-Ir(tfmppy)₃), 并得到了其晶体结构。在CH₂Cl₂溶液中Ir(tfmppy)₃的发射光谱显示出了峰值位于525 nm的π→π^*跃迁吸收以及金属到配体电荷转移(MLCT)吸收, 色坐标(CIE)为(0.31, 0.62), 量子效率计算为4.59%(以Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂为参照)。以Ir(tfmppy)₃为发光中心, 制备并研究了有机电致发光器件:ITO/TAPC (60 nm)/Ir(tfmppy)₃ (x%):mCP (30 nm)/TPBi (60 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm)。4%掺杂浓度的器件在4 197 cd·m^-2的亮度下显示的最大电流效率为33.95 cd·A^-1, 在12.7 V时的最大亮度为43 612 cd·m^-2, 色坐标(CIE)为(0.31, 0.61)。利用瞬态电致发光法(transient electroluminescence (EL))、在1 300 (V·cm^-1)^1/2的电场强度下Ir(tfmppy)₃配合物的电子迁移率测定为4.24×10^-6 cm²·(V·s)^-1。非常接近于常用的电子传输材料八羟基喹啉铝(Alq₃)的电子迁移率。     

基于面式-三(2-(4-三氟甲基苯基)吡啶)合铱配合物为发光中心的高效绿光有机电致发光器件

用经典的方法合成了面式-三(2-(4-三氟甲基苯基)吡啶)合铱配合物(fac-Ir(tfmppy)3),并得到了其晶体结构。在CH2Cl2溶液中Ir(tfmppy)3的发射光谱显示出了峰值位于525 nm的π→π*跃迁吸收以及金属到配体电荷转移(MLCT)吸收,色坐标(CIE)为(0.31,0.62),量子效率计算为4.59%(以Ru(bpy)3]Cl2为参照)。以Ir(tfmppy)3为发光中心,制备并研究了有机电致发光器件:ITO/TAPC(60 nm)/Ir(tfmppy)3(x%)∶mCP(30 nm)/TPBi(60 nm)/LiF(1 nm)/Al(100 nm)。4%掺杂浓度的器件在4 197 cd·m-2的亮度下显示的最大电流效率为33.95 cd·A-1,在12.7 V时的最大亮度为43 612 cd·m-2,色坐标(CIE)为(0.31,0.61)。利用瞬态电致发光法(transient electroluminescence(TEL))、在1 300(V·cm-1)1/2的电场强度下Ir(tfmppy)3配合物的电子迁移率测定为4.24×10-6cm2·(V·s)-1。非常接近于常用的电子传输材料八羟基喹啉铝(Alq3)的电子迁移率。     

Robust Laminated Anode with an Ultrathin Titanium Nitride Layer for High-Efficiency Top-Emitting Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

The effective reflective anode remains a highly desirable component for the fabrication of reliable top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TE-OLEDs) which have the potential to be integrated with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits for microdisplays. This work demonstrates a novel laminated anode consisting of a Cr/Al/Cr multilayer stack. Furthermore, we implement an ultra-thin titanium nitride (TiN) layer as a protective layer on the top of the Cr/Al/Cr composite anode, which creates a considerably reflective surface in the visible range, and meanwhile improves the chemical stability of the electrode against the atmosphere or alkali environment. Based on [2-(2-pyridinyl-N)phenyl-C](acetylacetonate)iridium(III) as green emitter and Mg/Ag as transparent cathode, our TE-OLED using the TiN-coated anode achieves the maximum current efficiency of 71.2 cd/A and the maximum power efficiency of 66.7 lm/W, which are 81% and 90% higher than those of the reference device without TiN, respectively. The good device performance shows that the Cr/Al/Cr/TiN could function as a promising reflective anode for the high-resolution microdisplays on CMOS circuits.     

Deep-Red and Near-Infrared Iridium Complexes with Fine-Tuned Emission Colors by Adjusting Trifluoromethyl Substitution on Cyclometalated Ligands Combined with Matched Ancillary Ligands for Highly Efficient Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Six novel Ir(C^N)₂(L^X)-type heteroleptic iridium complexes with deep-red and near-infrared region (NIR)-emitting coverage were constructed through the cross matching of various cyclometalating (C^N) and ancillary (LX) ligands. Here, three novel C^N ligands were designed by introducing the electron-withdrawing group CF₃ on the ortho (o-), meta (m-), and para (p-) positions of the phenyl ring in the 1-phenylisoquinoline (piq) group, which were combined with two electron-rich LX ligands (dipba and dipg), respectively, leading to subsequent iridium complexes with gradually changing emission colors from deep red (≈660 nm) to NIR (≈700 nm). Moreover, a series of phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs) were fabricated by employing these phosphors as dopant emitters with two doping concentrations, 5% and 10%, respectively. They exhibited efficient electroluminescence (EL) with significantly high EQE values: >15.0% for deep red light0 (λ_max = 664 nm) and >4.0% for NIR cases (λ_max = 704 nm) at a high luminance level of 100 cd m⁻². This work not only provides a promising approach for finely tuning the emission color of red phosphors via the easily accessible molecular design strategy, but also enables the establishment of an effective method for enriching phosphorescent-emitting molecules for practical applications, especially in the deep-red and near-infrared region (NIR).     

Simply Structured Near-Infrared Emitters with a Multicyano Linear Acceptor for Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Near-infrared (NIR) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) show great potential in a variety of applications including sensors, night vision, and information security. Despite the superiority of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) in 100 % exciton harvesting, the development of NIR TADF OLEDs is still a great challenge, especially in terms of solution-processing technology. In this work, a multicyano acceptor of 2-dicyanomethylene-3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethyl-2,5-dihydrofurance (TCF) with strong electron-withdrawing ability was employed to construct solution-processible NIR emitters, CzTCF and tBCzTCF, with the feature of donor–π–acceptor (D –π–A) structure. The significantly enhanced intermolecular charge transfer effects not only render the deep-red and NIR emissions of CzTCF and tBCzTCF films, respectively, but also lead to their typical TADF characteristics. Consequently, the nondoped solution-processed NIR OLED based on tBCzTCF was successfully demonstrated with the peak wavelength of 715 nm, which paves the way for developing NIR emitters without polycyclic aromatic cores and heavy-metal ions.     

氧化铟锡(ITO)自组装修饰及其对有机电致发光器件性能的影响

设计合成了一种新型的有机硅氧烷Cz-Si,并将其用于ITO自组装修饰。制备的Cz-Si具有较好的稳定性,可以在空气中对ITO进行自组装修饰,实验操作简单。为考察ITO自组装修饰对有机电致发光器件性能的影响,分别以修饰后的ITO(ITO/SAM)及不修饰的ITO(unmodified)作阳极,制备了一系列有机电致发光器件ITO/SAM(orunmodified)/NPB(40~50nm)/Alq₃(60nm)/LiF(1.0nm)/Al。实验结果表明,ITO自组装修饰后器件性能可以得到显著提升,研究认为这与其调控ITO/有机层界面的电子能级、粗糙度以及界面一致性有关。     

氧化铟锡(ITO)自组装修饰及其对有机电致发光器件性能的影响

设计合成了一种新型的有机硅氧烷Cz-Si,并将其用于ITO自组装修饰。制备的Cz-Si具有较好的稳定性,可以在空气中对ITO进行自组装修饰,实验操作简单。为考察ITO自组装修饰对有机电致发光器件性能的影响,分别以修饰后的ITO(ITO/SAM)及不修饰的ITO(unmodified)作阳极,制备了一系列有机电致发光器件ITO/SAM(or unmodified)/NPB(40~50 nm)/Alq₃(60 nm)/LiF(1.0 nm)/Al。实验结果表明,ITO自组装修饰后器件性能可以得到显著提升,研究认为这与其调控ITO/有机层界面的电子能级、粗糙度以及界面一致性有关。     

Novel Emission Color‐Tuning Strategies in Heteroleptic Phosphorescent Ir(III) and Pt(II) Complexes

Color‐tuning for phosphorescent emitters in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) across the entire visible spectrum is prerequisite to fulfil flexible full‐color displays and white solid‐state lighting. Heteroleptic 2‐phenylpyridine‐type (ppy‐type) Ir(III) and Pt(II) complexes as phosphorescent emitters have been well exploited in the electroluminescence (EL) field due to their outstanding EL performance. Furthermore, the photophysical characters of these heteroleptic Ir(III) and Pt(II) complexes are generally dominated by the nature of cyclometalating ppy‐type ligands. Accordingly, either sophisticated modification or judicious combination of different cyclometalating ppy‐type ligands will provide a wonderful platform to tune their emission color. In this personal account, we put a special emphasis on our contributions to the novel color‐tuning strategies in these heteroleptic ppy‐type Ir(III) and Pt(II) complexes. In addition, afforded by our novel color‐tuning strategies, ambipolar character or enhanced electron injection/transport (EI/ET) features can be furnished to bring high EL performances.     

Sulfur-Bonded Coordination Compounds of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) and Their Antimicrobial Activity

The synthetic, spectroscopic, and biological studies of some new palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes derived from biologically active sulfur donor ligands 1H-indol-2,3-dione benzothiazoline (Bzt ₁ H) and 5-nitro-1H-indol-2,3-dione benzothiazoline (Bzt ₂ H) have been described. The reactions were carried out in 1:2 molar ratios. The authenticity of the benzothiazolines and their complexes has been established on the basis of elemental analyses; molecular weight determinations; and IR, ¹ H NMR, ¹³ C NMR, and UV spectral studies. Based on IR and ¹ H NMR spectral studies, a square-planar structure has been assigned to these complexes. Studies were conducted to assess the comparative growth inhibiting potential of the synthesized complexes against the benzothiazolines for a variety of fungal and bacterial strains. The studies demonstrate that the ligands and complexes possess antimicrobial properties. Further, it was noted that the growth-inhibiting potential of the complexes is greater than the parent benzothiazolines.     

Recent Progress in Sublimable Cationic Iridium(III) Complexes for Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

Sublimable cationic iridium(III) complexes consisting of light‐emitting coordinated iridium(III) cations and nonluminous negative counter‐ions, show excellent photophysical properties, superior electrochemical behaviors and high thermal stabilities, therefore have emerged as a new library of phosphorescent materials for various organic optoelectronic devices. Here we summarize and highlight the recent progress in sublimable cationic iridium(III) complexes, regarding the material design strategies, synthetic routes, photoluminescent characteristics in both solutions and neat films, together with the current utilization in organic light‐emitting diodes based on the emissive material layers fabricated by vacuum evaporation deposition. Finally, we present a brief outlook thereon, indicating the great promise and brilliant application prospect of sublimable cationic iridium(III) complexes in future flat‐panel display and solid‐state lighting technology.     

Effects of MEH-PPV Molecular Ordering in the Emitting Layer on the Luminescence Efficiency of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

We investigated the effects of molecular ordering on the electro-optical characteristics of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with an emission layer (EML) of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV). The EML was fabricated by a solution process which can make molecules ordered. The performance of the OLED devices with the molecular ordering method was compared to that obtained through fabrication by a conventional spin coating method. The turn-on voltage and the luminance of the conventional OLEDs were 5 V and 34.75 cd/m², whereas those of the proposed OLEDs were 4.5 V and 120.3 cd/m², respectively. The underlying mechanism of the higher efficiency with ordered molecules was observed by analyzing the properties of the EML layer using AFM, SE, XRD, and an LCR meter. We confirmed that the electrical properties of the organic thin film can be improved by controlling the molecular ordering of the EML, which plays an important role in the electrical characteristics of the OLED.     

Complexes of substituted dipyridylpyridazines with palladium(II) and platinum(II)

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2′-pyridyl)pyridazine derivatives (n-dppn)¶ ¶For the n-dppn ligands, n stands for the size of the cyclic aliphatic ring on positions 4 and 5 of the pyridazine ring, n?=?5, 6, 8, and 12. with MX₂(PhCN)₂ (M?=?Pd, Pt; X?=?Cl,?Br) have been investigated. The new complexes cis-[PdCl₂(n-dppn)] (n?=?5,?6,?8,?12), cis-[PtCl₂(n-dppn)]?·?H₂O (n?=?5,?6), cis-[PtCl₂(8-dppn)] and cis-[PtBr₂(5-dppn)] have been characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, infrared, electronic and ¹H-NMR spectra.     

Synthesis of Anthracene Derivatives with Azaacene-Containing Iptycene Wings and the Utilization as a Dopant for Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Substituted acene derivatives are regarded as promising materials for organic electronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In particular, anthracene derivatives are known to exhibit good fluorescence property, with the air stability and solubility in common organic solvents expected to give advantages for solution-processed device fabrication. In this study, a series of bistriisopropylsilyl(TIPS)ethynyl anthracene derivatives with azaacene-containing iptycene wings have been synthesized by using condensation reactions. Effects of size of azaacenes on optical properties and packing structures were investigated. UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra indicate that the π-elongation of iptycene units has small effects on the overall π-system, which is also supported by electrochemical measurements. Secondly, single-crystal X-ray analysis implies that the molecules likely have interactions with the iptycene units of adjacent molecules, while the iptycene wings and TIPSethynyl groups can prevent the central anthracene unit from undesirable non-radiative energy loss. Finally, the most emissive derivative was used as a dopant for solution-processed OLEDs, showing obvious electroluminescence with a luminance of over 920 cd m⁻².     

Preparation of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Phosphine Complexes Promoted by Phase-Transfer Catalysts

The synthesis of M(PR₃)₂Cl₂ (M = Pd and Pt, R = alkyl or aryl) front K₂MCl₄ (in H₂O) and PR₃ (in CH₂Cl₂) was promoted by the addition of phase-transfer catalysts (PTC). The greater the amount of PTC used, the more quickly the reaction completed. ³¹P NMR spectra of some M(PR₃)₂Cl₂ in the presence of free PR₃ were measured; these NMR resulls were used to explain problems encountered during the preparations.     

Tetradentate asymmetric Schiff bases and their Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes

Three asymmetric Schiff-base tetradentate diimines H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ [(2-OH)C₆H₄N=CHC₆H₄2-N=CHC₆H₃(2-OH)(5-X), X?=?H, CH₃, Cl respectively] have been synthesized by a two step process. The reaction of 2-hydroxy aniline with 2-nitro-benzaldehyde in EtOH gave the starting Schiff base, 2-hydroxy-N-(2-nitrobenzylidene)aniline (SB-NO₂), which was reduced into the amino derivative (SB-NH₂) in solution. Reacting SB-NH₂ with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzaldehyde gave the three new ligands H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ respectively. Their dimeric, binuclear metal complexes with Ni(II) and Fe(III) have also been synthesized. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, LC–MS, IR, electronic, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectra, TGA, conductivity and magnetic measurements. All of the spectroscopic, analytical and other data indicate octahedral geometry M₂L₂(H₂O)X₂ (M: Ni,Co;X: Cl or H₂O), except for NiL² which is monomeric. Antimicrobial activities of the ligands and the complexes were evaluated against five bacteria. While the ligands and the Ni complexes are inactive towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, Fe complexes are active; only Fe complexes are inactive against Escherichia coli. All of the compounds have antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, and Yersinia enterecolitica.     

Comparative study on the photophysical properties between carbene-based Fe (II) and Ru (II) complexes

The comparative study on the photophysical properties between cheap metal Fe (II) complexes and noble metal Ru (II) complexes with identical ligand coordination is performed by the combination of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to evaluate the potential alternative applications of Fe (II) complexes. RuBIP (BIP = 2,6-bis (imidazol-2- ylidene)pyridine) is theoretically established that the radiative lifetime of the second lowest triplet state is more consistence with experimental value. However, FeBIP retains nonluminous because of low-lying ³MC originated from weak d orbital splitting. FeBIPC (FeBIP with carboxylic acid groups) has twice longer lifetime than its parent complex FeBIP due to the great decrease of the energy gap between ³MLCT and ³MC. What's more, the lifetimes of Fe (II) complexes detected in the experiments are more accessible to nonradiative decay lifetimes of ³MC. The carboxylic acid groups are beneficial for the improvement of luminescent possibility and controllability of Fe (II) complexes, while there is still a huge challenge for effective material replacement comparing with Ru (II) complexes.