The effect of substituted moiety on the optoelectronic and photophysical properties of tris (phenylbenzimidazolinato) Ir (III) carbene complexes and the OLED performance: a theoretical study

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) are used to analyse theoretically the optoelectronic, photophysical properties and organic light-emitting diode performance of a series of fac–mer blue-emitting Iridium (III) carbene complexes. Swain–Lupton constant is used to discuss the substituents effect. 5d-orbital splitting and d–d* transitions are calculated to assess the efficiency of the studied complexes. The reorganisation energies (λ), transfer integrals, mobilities, radiative decay rate (kr), and triplet exciton generation fraction (χT) are also calculated. Due to the higher χT of these complexes, the formation of triplet exciton will be more and it will cause a faster intersystem crossing. Two host materials are proposed and host–guest match (Dexter–Förster energy) is also discussed. We hope that this unified work will surely help to design new blue-emitting phosphorescent materials in future.