Yellow–Orange Electroluminescence of Novel Tin Complexes

Abstract

Novel tin complexes were synthesized for use as fluorescent materials in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The structures of these complexes were characterized by ultraviolet–visible, Fourier-transform infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods and elemental analyses. The energy levels of the tin complexes were determined using cyclic voltammetry measurements. Devices were fabricated with an indium tin oxide (ITO)/PEDOT:PSS (90 nm)/PVK:PBD:tin complexes (75 nm)/Al (180 nm) structure; the resultant devices had peak emissions ranging from 537 nm to 580 nm. The tin complexes accounted for 8 wt.% of the blend in the PVK:PBD (100:40), which was used as a host. The electroluminescent spectra of the tin complexes were red-shifted as compared with the PVK:PBD blend. We believe that the electroluminescence performance of OLED devices based on tin complexes relies on overlaps between the absorption of the tin compounds and the emission of PVK:PBD.