Recombination radiation from organic solids

The recombination radiation from organic solids, defined as the light emission following the fusion of oppositely charged carriers into an electrically neutral state, is discussed as a phenomenon underlying the function of organic light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Its intensity and spectral range depend on the population and nature of the emissive states, which differ, in general, from those created using light. These differences are pointed out and shown to be a result of the reverse pathways of the mutual transformation of localized molecular excitons and coulombically-correlated charge-pair excited states formed either by photoexcitation or electron-hole recombination. Spectral features of the radiation produced by the recombination of statistically independent charge carriers are discussed in terms of two molecules-based excited states like excimers or electromers in single-component materials and exciplexes or electroplexes in multicomponent materials. Consequences for optical and electrical characteristics of organic LEDs are discussed and illustrated by examples. Progress in the fundamental and applied research may be expected based on properties of recombination-produced electronic excited states.