High-efficiency red-light emission from polyfluorenes grafted with cyclometalated iridium complexes and charge transport moiety

We report a new route for the design of electroluminescent polymers by grafting high-efficiency phosphorescent organometallic complexes as dopants and charge transport moieties onto alky side chains of fully conjugated polymers for polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) with single layer/single polymers. The polymer system studied involves polyfluorene (PF) as the base conjugated polymer, carbazole (Cz) as the charge transport moiety and a source for green emission by forming an electroplex with the PF main chain, and cyclometalated iridium (Ir) complexes as the phosphorescent dopant. Energy transfer from the green Ir complex or an electroplex formed between the fluorene main chain and side-chain carbazole moieties, in addition to that from the PF main chain, to the red Ir complex can significantly enhance the device performance, and a red light-emitting device with the high efficiency 2.8 cd/A at 7 V and 65 cd/m2, comparable to that of the same Ir complex-based OLED, and a broad-band light-emitting device containing blue, green, and red peaks (2.16 cd/A at 9 V) are obtained.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with the mixed ligands 2,2'-bipyridine and 4,4'-dialkyl ester-2,2'-bipyridine as pure red dopants for a single-layer electrophosphorescent device

The mixed-ligand polypyridine ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)(2)(dmeb)](2+)(PF(6)(-))(2) (Ru(dmeb)(2+)) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(dbeb)](2+)(PF(6)(-))(2) (Ru(dbeb)(2+)), where bpy is bipyridine, dmeb is 4,4'-dimethyl ester-2,2'-bipyridine, and dbeb is 4,4'-dibutyl ester-2,2'-bipyridine, are synthesized and characterized, and their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and electroluminescent properties are reported. Both Ru(II) complexes showed strong emission from the triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state, red-shifted emission spectra (lambda(max) = 642 nm), and good solubility in organic solvents compared to the frequently used tris(bipyridine) Ru(II) complexes. The electrochemical measurements for these Ru complexes showed reversible and quasi-reversible redox processes, implying a potential improvement in the stability of the electroluminescent device. The electrophosphorescent devices were fabricated by doping them in a polymer host using a simple solution spin-coating technique. For a single-layer device with the 1.0 wt % Ru(dbeb)(2+)-doped polymer blends of poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and 2-tert-butylphenyl-5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol (PBD) as the emitting layer and with the metal Ba as the cathode, an external quantum efficiency of 3.0%, a luminous efficiency of 2.4 cd/A, and a maximum brightness of 935 cd/m(2) are reached with an electroluminescence (EL) spectral peak at 640 nm and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of x = 0.64 and y = 0.33, which were comparable with standard red color.     

Solid-state electroluminescent devices based on transition metal complexes

Transition metal complexes have emerged as promising candidates for applications in solid-state electroluminescent devices. These materials serve as multifunctional chromophores, into which electrons and holes can be injected, migrate and recombine to produce light emission. Their device characteristics are dominated by the presence of mobile ions that redistribute under an applied field and assist charge injection. As a result, an efficiency of 10 lm/W--among the highest efficiencies reported in a single layer electroluminescent device--was recently demonstrated. In this article we review the history of electroluminescence in transition metal complexes and discuss the issues that need to be addressed for these materials to succeed in display and lighting applications.     

氨基酸侧链与氧化鸟嘌呤碱基对体系的氢键作用

应用量子化学方法,分别在气相和水溶液中对氨基酸侧链与氧化鸟嘌呤碱基对(8-oxo-G∶C)形成的三体复合物的氢键键能、几何结构、电荷分布及二阶稳定化能进行了研究.结果表明,水溶液的存在削弱了复合物中的氢键强度,电荷分布变化明显,水溶液中形成氢键位点的电荷变化量约为气相中的10倍,而几何结构变化不明显、对于酶与DNA之间的相互作用的研究需在水溶液中进行.水溶液对带电三体复合物中8-oxo-G∶C与氨基酸侧链间的氢键有较大影响,键能平均减小了69.23 k J/mol,不带电复合物仅减小了3.60k J/mol.水溶液中三体复合物中8-oxo-G∶C间的氢键受侧链的影响不大,且与侧链带电与否无关,带电复合物和不带电复合物的氢键强度分别减小了24.57和30.05 k J/mol,且二阶稳定化能越大,其对应的氢键键长越短.     

High electrical conductivity for the partially oxidised d8 Ru–Ru bonded chain [Ru(bpy)(CO)2]n (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and its wide range redox control

High, electrochemically controlled electrical conductivity (0.2–0.3 S cm^?1) was measured for the first time for the metal–metal bonded polymeric compound [Ru(bpy)(CO)₂]_n (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). The conductivity depended on the degree of partial oxidation of the initially zero-valent Ru to Ru^I in the chains and was found to increase by four orders of magnitude after 5% oxidative doping. Linear conductance vs. doping level dependence was found for low levels and the conductivity of films could repeatedly be switched on and off. The conduction process is ascribed to charge delocalisation on the Ru chains in analogy to that of other similar chains formed by stacking of planar transition metal d⁸ complexes.     

Synthesis of Chiral beta 3-aminoxy peptides

A series of chiral beta(3)-aminoxy acids or amides with various side chains have been synthesized via two different approaches. One is the Arndt-Eistert homologation approach, using chiral alpha-aminoxy acids as starting materials. The other approach, utilizing the enantioselective reduction of beta-keto esters catalyzed by baker's yeast or chiral Ru(II) complexes, produces chiral beta(3)-aminoxy acids with nonproteinaceous side chains. The oligomers of beta(3)-aminoxy acids can be readily prepared using EDCI/HOAt as the coupling reagent.     

Photoinduced energy transfer and charge transfer on squarylium cyanine dyes

A series of squarylium cyanine dyes (Sqs) were synthesized to explore their applications in functional devices.Preliminary investigation on the mechanism involved in these devices was carried out.Spectroscopic behavior of Sqs with porphyrin (P),8-hydroxyquinolium aluminum (Alq) and ruthenium bipyridyl complex (Ru(bipy)) in solution,in film and on nanocrystalline TiO2 was investigated,respectively.A mechanism including photoinduced energy transfer and charge transfer processes was suggested in the corresponding practical devices.By means of doping,a red organic electroluminescent device (ELD) using Sq-doped Alq as the emission layer (EML) has been developed,and the total light to electricity efficiency of nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode based on using Sq-doped Ru(bipy) as photosensitizer has been improved greatly in the whole visible region,particularly in the red area above 600 nm.     

基于聚芳醚的双色白光聚合物的合成与光物理及电致发光性能

采用缩聚反应,通过将深蓝光荧光团(五联芴)和橙光荧光团(4-芴基-7-(4-二苯胺基-苯基)-2,1,3-苯并噻二唑)分别链接在聚芳醚的侧链上,合成了一种双色白光电致发光聚芳醚P1,接着将一种高效浅蓝光荧光团(2,7-二(9-乙基-咔唑乙烯基)芴)引入到了P1的侧链上,得到了聚芳醚P2和P3.系统研究了这些聚芳醚材料的溶解性、热稳定性、电化学性能、光物理性能和电致发光性能等.结果表明,所有聚芳醚都具有良好的溶解性与热稳定性;薄膜态时存在明显的由深蓝光荧光团到浅蓝光荧光团及橙光荧光团的能量转移;退火前后的薄膜光致发光光谱基本一致,表明具有优秀的光谱稳定性.基于这些聚芳醚的单层电致发光器件(ITO/PEDOT:PSS/高分子/Ca/Al),利用部分能量转移和电荷俘获作用,可以实现近白光发射.器件的最大电流效率可以达到7.96 cd/A,最大亮度为9950 cd/m2,色坐标为(0.33,0.44).     

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles-assisted ruthenium(Ⅱ) complexes for live cell staining

Ruthenium complexes which can bind to DNA via electrostatic and intercalation interactions producing strong luminescence have become ideal candidates for DNA staining. However, some of them such as Ru(phen)_3Cl_2 and Ru(phen)_2(dppz)Cl_2 could hardly cross the cellular membrane of live cells which limited their further interaction with DNA in live cells. To solve this problem, a potential approach is to find a proper vehicle for loading and delivery of these ruthenium complexes into live cells.Mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSNs) with non-toxicity and good biocompatibility can be good candidates. More importantly,ruthenium complexes with positively charge could be loaded on negatively charged MSNs via electrostatic attractions to form MSNs-Ru hybrid. In vitro test demonstrated that MSNs had no side effects on the interactions between Ru complexes and DNA.Furthermore, it is found that the MSNs-Ru hybrid can enter into living human cervical cancer cells HeLa and stain the DNA while the corresponding ruthenium complexes alone could hardly cross the cellular membrane in the control experiment, demonstrating MSNs can be employed to be an efficient ruthenium complexes delivery nanomaterial for live cell staining.     

A biomimetic approach to artificial photosynthesis: Ru(II)-polypyridine photo-sensitisers linked to tyrosine and manganese electron donors

The paper describes recent advances towards the construction of functional mimics of the oxygen evolving complex in photosystem II (PSII) that are coupled to photoinduced charge separation. Some key principles of PSII and artificial systems for light-induced charge accumulation are discussed. Systems are described where biomimetic electron donors--manganese complexes and tyrosine--have been linked to a Ru(II)-polypyridine photosensitiser. Oxidation of the donors by intramolecular electron transfer from the photo-oxidised Ru(III) complex has been studied using optical flash photolysis and EPR experiments. A step-wise electron transfer Mn(III,III)-->tyrosine Ru(III) has been demonstrated, in analogy to the reaction on the donor side of PSII. Electron transfer from the tyrosine to Ru(III) was coupled to tyrosine deprotonation. This resulted in a large reorganisation energy and thus a slow reaction rate, unless the tyrosine was hydrogen bonded or already deprotonated. A comparison with analogous reactions in PSII is made. Finally, light-induced oxidation of a manganese dimer linked to a Ru(II)-photosensitiser has been observed. Preliminary results suggest the possibility of photo-oxidising manganese dimers in several steps, which is an important advancement towards water oxidation.     

A new class of electroluminescent metal complexes based on quinoline ligands containing the sulfanylamino group

The synthesis and properties of a new class of electroluminescent metal complexes based on quinoline ligands containing the sulfanylamino group in position 8 are described. These complexes contain C-N-M-N chains in the chelate cycles instead of the traditionally used C-O-M-N chains.     

Probing the stability and structure of metalloporphyrin complexes with basic peptides by mass spectrometry

The stability and structure of non-covalent complexes of various peptides contatining basic amino acid residues (Arg, Lys) with metalloporphyrins were studied in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The complexes of heme and three other metalloporphyrins with a variety of basic peptides and model systems were formed via electrospray ionization (ESI) and their stability was probed by energy-variable collision-induced dissociation (CID). A linear dependence for basic peptides and model compounds/metalloporphyrin complexes was observed in the plots of stability versus degrees of freedom and was used to evaluate relative bond strength. These results were then compared with previous data obtained for complexes of metalloporphyrins with His-containing peptides and peptides containing no basic amino acids. The binding strengths of Lys-containing peptide complexes in the gas phase was found to be almost as strong as that of Arg-containing complexes. Both systems showed stronger binding than His- containing peptides studied previously. To probe the structure of Arg and Lys non-covalent complexes (charge solvation versus salt bridges), two techniques, CID and ionmolecule reactions, were used. CID experiments indicate that the gas-phase complexes are most likely formed by charge solvation of the central metal ion in the metalloporphyrin by basic side chains of Arg or Lys. Results from the ionmolecule reaction studies are consistent with the charge solvation structure as well.     

Structure Elucidation of Helical Aromatic Foldamer–Protein Complexes with Large Contact Surface Areas

The development of large synthetic ligands could be useful to target the sizeable surface areas involved in protein–protein interactions. Herein, we present long helical aromatic oligoamide foldamers bearing proteinogenic side chains that cover up to 450 Ų of the human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA) surface. The foldamers are composed of aminoquinolinecarboxylic acids bearing proteinogenic side chains and of more flexible aminomethyl-pyridinecarboxylic acids that enhance helix handedness dynamics. Crystal structures of HCA-foldamer complexes were obtained with a 9- and a 14-mer both showing extensive protein–foldamer hydrophobic contacts. In addition, foldamer–foldamer interactions seem to be prevalent in the crystal packing, leading to the peculiar formation of an HCA superhelix wound around a rod of stacked foldamers. Solution studies confirm the positioning of the foldamer at the protein surface as well as a dimerization of the complexes.     

Combination of Cobalt and Iron Polypyridine Complexes for Improving the Charge Separation and Collection in Ru(terpyridine)2‐Sensitised Solar Cells

Mixtures of polypyridine Fe^II and Co^II complexes are used as electron mediators in Ru–thienyltpy‐sensitised solar cells (tpy=terpyridine). The use of the metalorganic redox couples allows for improved charge‐collection efficiency with respect to the classical iodide/iodine couple which, when associated to Ru–tpy₂ dyes, usually produces poor performance. The improved charge collection is explained by a combination of effective dye regeneration and decreased recombination with the oxidised electrolyte on the basis of data obtained by transient spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements. The efficiency of the regeneration cascade is also critically dependent upon the ability of the Co^II complex to intercept Fe^III centres, as clearly indicated by chronocoulometry experiments.     

Synthesis of terpyridine ligands and their complexation with Zn2+ and Ru2+ for optoelectronic applications

A series of soluble conjugated ligands TT , FT , PT , and NT that contained terpyridyl terminal units were synthesized by Heck coupling. These ligands absorbed at 341–434 nm and emitted blue–green light, with maximum at 440–522 nm and photoluminescence quantum yields of 0.15–0.71 in solution. The double‐layer electroluminescent devices with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT/ligand FT , PT , or NT /Ca/Al exhibited a brightness of 43–63 cd/m². These ligands were further reacted with zinc(II) and ruthenium(II) ions and subsequent anion exchange to afford linear and supramolecular complexes. The photophysics of these complexes were investigated. A significant redshift of the emission maximum of the Zn complexes relative to the corresponding ligands was observed. The Ru complexes were used to fabricate photovoltaic devices with the structure ITO/PEDOT/Ru complex/P3HT:PCBM (1:1 wt/wt)/Ca/Al. The power conversion efficiency of these polymer–fullerene bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices was up to 0.71%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7702–7712, 2008     

Electroreduction of Ru(III) Oxalate Complexes on DME at Variable Supporting-Electrolyte Concentration

The recharging of Ru(III) oxalate complexes is studied on DME in mixed sulfate–oxalate electrolytes of variable concentration. The discovered deceleration of the process with decreasing supporting-electrolyte concentration qualitatively agrees with the expected effect of the EDL structure on the recharging kinetics, but the obtained quantitative data are at severe variance with theory. At low supporting-electrolyte concentrations the process rate in freshly-prepared solutions depends on the concentration of oxalate ions. The dependence has nothing to do with trioxalate complexes of Ru(III) coexisting in the bulk solution with Ru(III) complexes, which have a reduced number of coordinated ligands, as such complexes emerge only after 2–3 days of storing the solutions. The most probable factor responsible for such a dependence seems to be a volume reaction of charge transfer from the formed Ru(II) complexes onto trioxalate complexes of Ru(III). The reaction has a catalytic effect on the hydration of the latter and seems to be responsible for the discrepancy between experiment and theory.     

Soluble electroluminescent poly(phenylene vinylene)s with balanced electron- and hole injections.

We report a new route for the design of efficient soluble electroluminescent PPV-based copolymers bearing electron-deficient oxadiazole (OXD) moieties on side chains. The introduction of OXD through a long alkylene spacer with PPV backbone provides a molecular dispersion of OXD in the film; both the side chain OXD and the main chain PPV do retain their own electron-transport and emissive properties, respectively. The use of phenylene vinylene derivatives with asymmetric and branched substituents and a long spacer provides solubility for ease of device fabrication as well as amorphous structure to allow a well-mixing of OXD groups with the main chains. By properly adjusting the OXD content through copolymerization, we can tailor the chemical structure of electroluminescent material to give a balance of hole- and electron injections for various metal cathodes, such that the quantum efficiency is significantly improved and the turn-on voltage is reduced for the devices with aluminum and calcium. For the device with calcium fabricated in open air, a maximum brightness of 15000 cd/m(2) at 15 V/100 nm and a maximum luminance efficiency of 2.27 cd/A can be obtained, respectively, about 30 times brighter and 9.4 times more efficient than those with the corresponding homopolymer, poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV). The use of physical blends to simulate the copolymers provides no significant improvement, since phase-separation structures appear, causing an inefficient utilization of OXD and sometimes voltage-dependent emission spectra. The present route permits a fabrication of single layer PLED with high brightness, high efficiency, and low turn-on voltage.     

Effective shielding of triplet energy transfer to conjugated polymer by its dense side chains from phosphor dopant for highly efficient electrophosphorescence

To examine the quenching of a triplet exciton by low triplet energy (E(T)) polymer hosts with different chain configurations for high E(T) phosphor guests, the quenching rate constant measurements were carried out and analyzed by the standard Stern-Volmer equation. We found that an effective shielding of triplet energy transfer from a high E(T) phosphor guest to a low E(T) polymer host is possible upon introducing dense side chains to the polymer to block direct contact from the guest such that the possibility of Dexter energy transfer between them is reduced to a minimum. Together with energy level matching to allow charge trapping on the guest, high device efficiency can be achieved. The extent of shielding for the systems of phenylene-based conjugated structures from iridium complexes follows the sequence di-substituted (octoxyl chain) in the para position (dC8OPPP) is greater than monosubstituted (mC8OPPP) and the PPPs with longer side chains are much higher than a phenylene tetramer (P4) with two short methyl groups. Further, capping the dialkoxyl-susbstituents with a carbazole (Cz) moiety (CzPPP) provides enhanced extent of shielding. Excellent device efficiency of 30 cd/A (8.25%) for a green electrophosphorescent device can be achieved with CzPPP as a host, which is higher than that of dC8OPPP as host (15 cd/A). The efficiency is higher than those of high E(T) conjugated polymers, poly(3,6-carbazole) derivatives, as hosts (23 cd/A). This observation suggests a new route for molecular design of electroluminescent polymers as a host for a phosphorescent dopant.     

Tuning and switching MLCT phosphorescence of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complexes with triarylboranes and anions

Four new Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)(2)(4,4'-BP2bpy)][PF(6)](2) (1), [Ru(t-Bu-bpy)(2)(4,4'-BP2bpy)][PF(6)](2) (2), [Ru(bpy)(2)(5,5'-BP2bpy)][PF(6)](2) (3), and [Ru(t-Bu-bpy)(2)(5,5'-BP2bpy)][PF(6)](2) (4) have been synthesized (where 4,4'-BP2bpy = 4,4'-bis(BMes(2)phenyl)-2,2'-bpy; 5,5'-BP2bpy = 5,5'-bis(BMes(2)phenyl)-2,2'-bpy (4,4'-BP2bpy); and t-Bu-bpy = 4,4'-bis(t-butyl)-2,2'-bipyridine). These new complexes have been fully characterized. The crystal structures of 3 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. All four complexes display distinct metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) phosphorescence that has a similar quantum efficiency as that of [Ru(bpy)(3)][PF(6)](2) under air, but is at a much lower energy. The MLCT phosphorescence of these complexes has been found to be highly sensitive toward anions such as fluoride and cyanide, which switch the MLCT band to higher energy when added. The triarylboron groups in these compounds not only introduce this color switching mechanism, but also play a key role in the phosphorescence color of the complexes.     

Simultaneous directed assembly of three distinct heterodimeric coiled coils

We describe simultaneous formation of three distinct heterodimeric coiled coils from a mixture of six different peptides. The choice among electrostatically viable complexes is governed by alignment of buried core residues, including a fundamentally new interaction that exploits urea-terminated side chains. Buried urea/urea contacts lead to extremely stable dimeric coiled coils, with T(m) values between 63 and 79 degrees C. Core ureas can also form stable complexes with a variety of other polar groups, including guanidines, acids, and amides.