Deuteration of molecules for neutron reflectometry on organic light-emitting diode thin films

Deuterated forms of aromatic charge transporting heterocycles 2 and 3 used in organic light-emitting diodes have been produced by hydrothermal reactions, catalyzed by Pt/C or Pd/C. Comprehensive analysis by mass spectroscopy, ¹H, ²H and ¹³C NMR enables determination of the overall quantity of D atoms present, as well as the level of deuteration at each molecular site. The roles of solubility and steric availability in deuteration are discussed in the light of these results. Neutron reflectometry indicates excellent scattering contrast between protonated and deuterated forms of these molecules, with nanoscale thin films showing the same density as in their bulk molecular forms. Although used for morphological studies of thin films typically used in OLEDs, the synthetic and analysis methods described here are generic and suitable for deuteration of other conjugated aromatic heterocycles and other optoelectronic devices.