Multifunctional zig-zag-shaped D-π-A-π-D emitters with high conjugation extent for blue FOLEDs and host for PHOLEDs

Abstract

We have synthesized zig-zag shaped, meta- and para-linked D-π-A-π-D blue emitters, m-BTPAPy and p-BTPAPy based on a non-symmetrical connection strategy of two identical π-conjugated groups. The phenanthrimidazole moiety coupled to pyridine via naphthyl spacer by para- and meta-linking modes. Both m-BTPAPy (Td/Tg, °C: 564/281) and p-BTPAPy (Td/Tg, °C: 502/246) exhibit excellent thermal stability and can form a stable amorphous film. Changing the connection strategy from para to meta mode, m-BTPAPy shows deep blue emission with CIE (0.15, 0.07). The highly twisted m-BTPAPy exhibit higher Photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY)s/f of 0.98/0.85 than p-BTPAPy (0.95/0.80) owing to the suppression of intermolecular stacking. The non-doped blue device (BOLEDs) with multifunctional m-BTPAPy/p-BTPAPy show external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 7.12/5.12% with small roll-off efficiency of 1.68/2.14%, power efficiency (PE) of 5.92/5.42 lm/W, the luminance of 58675/76234 cd/m2, and current efficiency (CE) of 6.12/5.86 cd/A. The non-doped device using m-BTPAPy/p-BTPAPy as both emitting and electron-transporting material exhibit luminance of 40671/49539 cd/m2, CE of 5.01/5.08 cd/A, PE of 4.68/4.76 lm/W, EQE of 6.12/4.81%, roll-off efficiency of 1.63/1.87%, and CIE (0.15, 0.10)/(0.15, 0.11). These bipolar materials with high triplet energy were employed as hosts in green and red PhOLEDs. The green (m-BTPAPy: Ir(ppy)3)/red device (m-BTPAPy: Ir(MDQ)2(acac)) exhibit maximum EQE of 29.85/20.09%, luminance of 79523/42412 cd/m2, CE of 78.62/27.56 cd/A, and PE of 72.36/23.86 lm/W, and CIE (0.33, 0.60)/(0.65,0.33).