Blue Electroluminescence Research Articles

Effect of Substituents with the Different Electron-Donating Abilities on Optoelectronic Properties of Bipolar Thioxanthone Derivatives.

The synthesis and optoelectronic properties of four simple-structure thioxanthone derivatives employing thioxanthone as an acceptor unit, coupled with moieties having very different electron-donating abilities such as phenoxazine, 3,6-di-tert-butylcarbazole, 3,7-di-tert-butylphenothiazine, or 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylacridane, are reported. The compounds form molecular glasses with glass transition temperatures reaching 116 °C. Ionization potentials of the compounds estimated by photoelectron emission method range from 5.42 to 5.74 eV. Thioxanthone derivatives containing 3,6-tert-butylcarbazole or 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylacridane moieties with weak electron-donating strengths were characterized by bipolar charge transport with relatively close hole and electron mobility values of 6.8 × 10-5/2.4 × 10-5 and 3.1 × 10-5/4.6 × 10-6 cm2/(V s) recorded at 3.6 × 105 V/cm. The other compounds demonstrated hole-transporting properties. The films of thioxanthones containing phenoxazine or 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylacridane moieties showed efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 50% due to the solid-state luminescence enhancement. Organic-light-emitting diodes containing the synthesized compounds as emitters showed very different external quantum efficiencies (0.9-10.3%) and blue, sky blue, green, or yellow electroluminescence colors, thus reflecting the effects of donor substituents.

Rational control of π-conjugation and CT component in hybridized local and charge transfer molecules for high performance deep blue emitters

The ratio of locally excited (LE) and charge transfer (CT) components plays a key role in harvesting the “hot” triplet excitons through high-lying reverse intersystem crossing (hRISC) in organic light-emitting materials. Herein, two blue carbazole derivative isomers 2,7-Cz(DOFCP)2 and 3,6-Cz(DOFCP)2 were designed with A-π-D-π-A structures. The localized π-conjugation and intramolecular charge transfer components ratio was rationally varied by the substitute position of 9,9-dioctylfluorenyl (DOF) π-bridge on the carbazolyl donor unit. Both of the emitters exhibited hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) characteristics, and 2,7-Cz(DOFCP)2 with prolonged localized π-conjugation nature realized a smaller energy splitting (ΔES2-T3) and higher fluorescence quantum yield. The OLEDs based on the emitters achieved deep blue and nearly standard blue electroluminescence with the CIE coordinates of (0.153, 0.063) and (0.153, 0.091), and maximum EQEs of 5.57% and 7.37% that was beyond the conventional fluorescence devices, respectively. This work would provide insights for promoting the luminescence performance of the HLCT molecules by adjusting the LE/CT proportion in the excited states.

Recent Advances in Triplet–Triplet Annihilation-Based Materials and Their Applications in Electroluminescence

Efficient and stable blue organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) represent one of the most important components in future solid-state lighting and full color displays. Although red and green OLEDs have been successfully commercialized, it remains challenging to realize blue OLEDs showing high efficiency and high stability simultaneously, restricting their commercialization. Triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA)-based materials have been emerging as a new category of electroluminescent or host materials with promising potential for highly efficient and stable blue devices due to their appealing photophysical properties (e.g., ability to generate emissive singlet excited states through TTA process, high photoluminescence quantum yield, ease of molecular design, etc.). Recently, research on TTA-based materials toward high-performance blue OLEDs has received an increasing attention. In this review, recent research advances on the molecular design strategies, photophysical properties of TTA-based materials (both blue emitters and host materials), mechanism of TTA-based electroluminescence, as well as their OLED applications are presented comprehensively. Moreover, potential perspectives with future research opportunities in this field are also described. We believe that the emerging TTA-based materials will bring more opportunities for developing a large family of novel photofunctional materials showing appealing and tunable photophysical properties, thus providing new opportunities for high-efficiency and stable blue electroluminescence in the future.

Rational Molecular Design Strategy for High-Efficiency Ultrapure Blue TADF Emitters: Symmetrical and Rigid Sulfur-Bridged Boron-Based Acceptors.

Developing highly efficient blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with a narrowband emission is still a challenge. Here, novel ultrapure blue TADF emitters of TSBA-Cz and TSBA-PhCz were designed and synthesized for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Photophysical and time-dependent density functional theory calculation results simultaneously show the similar intramolecular charge-transfer character of MR-type TADF emitters. Benefiting from the symmetrical and rigid molecular configuration, compounds TSBA-Cz and TSBA-PhCz emit a pure blue emission peak at 463 and 470 nm, a narrow full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 30 and 36 nm, and a small singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST) of 0.21 and 0.18 eV, respectively, facilitating their excellent TADF behavior in doped films. Furthermore, highly efficient TADF-OLED devices using the TSBA-Cz and TSBA-PhCz with external quantum efficiencies of 23.4 and 21.3% emit ultrapure blue electroluminescence (EL) at 464 and 472 nm with a narrow FWHM of about 35 nm and CIE color coordinates of (0.14, 0.11) and (0.12, 0.18). This work provides novel TADF emitters for blue OLEDs with narrowband EL.

Blue light-emitting diodes based on colloidal quantum dots with reduced surface-bulk coupling

To industrialize printed full-color displays based on quantum-dot light-emitting diodes, one must explore the degradation mechanism and improve the operational stability of blue electroluminescence. Here, we report that although state-of-the-art blue quantum dots, with monotonically-graded core/shell/shell structures, feature near-unity photoluminescence quantum efficiency and efficient charge injection, the significant surface-bulk coupling at the quantum-dot level, revealed by the abnormal dipolar excited state, magnifies the impact of surface localized charges and limits operational lifetimes. Inspired by this, we propose blue quantum dots with a large core and an intermediate shell featuring nonmonotonically-graded energy levels. This strategy significantly reduces surface-bulk coupling and tunes emission wavelength without compromising charge injection. Using these quantum dots, we fabricate bottom-emitting devices with emission colors varying from near-Rec.2020-standard blue to sky blue. At an initial luminance of 1000 cd m−2, these devices exhibit T95 operational lifetimes ranging from 75 to 227 h, significantly surpassing the existing records.

A Configurationally Confined Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Two‐Coordinate CuI Complex for Efficient Blue Electroluminescence

AbstractThermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) from linear two‐coordinate coinage metal complexes is sensitive to the geometric arrangement of the ligands. Herein we realize the tuning of configuration from coplanar to orthogonal gradually by variation of substituents. In a complex with confined twist configuration, its blue emission peaking at 458 nm presents a high ΦPL of 0.74 and a short τTADF of 1.9 μs, which indicates a fast enough kr,TADF of 3.9×105 s−1 and a depressed knr of 1.4×105 s−1. Such outstanding luminescent properties are attributed to the proper overlap of HOMO and LUMO on CuI d orbitals that guarantees not only small ΔEST but also sufficient transition oscillator strength for fast . Vacuum‐deposited blue OLEDs with either doped or host‐free emissive layer present external quantum efficiencies over 20 % and 10 %, respectively, demonstrating the practicality of the configurationally confined strategy for efficient linear CuI TADF emitters.

A Configurationally Confined Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Two-Coordinate CuI Complex for Efficient Blue Electroluminescence.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) from linear two-coordinate coinage metal complexes is sensitive to the geometric arrangement of the ligands. Herein we realize the tuning of configuration from coplanar to orthogonal gradually by variation of substituents. In a complex with confined twist configuration, its blue emission peaking at 458 nm presents a high ΦPL of 0.74 and a short τTADF of 1.9 μs, which indicates a fast enough kr,TADF of 3.9×105 s-1 and a depressed knr of 1.4×105 s-1 . Such outstanding luminescent properties are attributed to the proper overlap of HOMO and LUMO on CuI d orbitals that guarantees not only small ΔEST but also sufficient transition oscillator strength for fast . Vacuum-deposited blue OLEDs with either doped or host-free emissive layer present external quantum efficiencies over 20 % and 10 %, respectively, demonstrating the practicality of the configurationally confined strategy for efficient linear CuI TADF emitters.

Triazine and Thiophene-Containing Conjugated Polymer Network Emitter-Based Solution-Processable Stable Blue Organic LEDs

The development of solution-processable fluorescent materials with blue electroluminescence has recently attracted considerable research interest for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) applications. Whereas, conjugated polymer frameworks (CPFs) or networks (CPNs) have attained tremendous research interest due to their vast potential in a variety of cutting-edge applications including photocatalysis, sensing, gas storage, energy storage, and so on. These framework/network materials without side chains or functional groups on their backbone are generally insoluble in common organic solvents and less solution-processable for electronic device applications. Herein, we have reported two triazine-based highly fluorescent and wide-band gap donor–acceptor conjugated polymer networks (CPNs) by coupling a 3-substituted thiophene (donor) unit with a triazine ring (acceptor) through a phenyl ring spacer. Two different side chains, alkyl and oligoethylene glycol, are rationally introduced into the 3-position of thiophene in the polymer network to make them solution-processable. Further physicochemical and optoelectronic characterizations of these emitters are performed in detail, and the effects of the side chain functionality and polarity on the above-mentioned properties are also thoroughly investigated. OLEDs based on these CPNs as emitters show a maximum external quantum efficiency of 2.3% with a maximum brightness of 2541 cd/m2 and a maximum current efficiency of 2.8 cd/A with blue emission [Commission Internationale de l’éclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.17, 0.19)]. To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first example of conjugated polymer network material emitters being successfully designed, fabricated, and tested for solution-processable blue OLEDs. These results also demonstrate the high potential of the conjugated polymer network emitters for future blue or other color OLED applications.

Multifaceted Sulfone-Carbazole-Based D-A-D Materials: A Blue Fluorescent Emitter as a Host for Phosphorescent OLEDs and Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Up-Conversion Electroluminescence.

Electroluminescence (EL) from the singlet-excited (S1) state is the ideal choice for stable, high-performing deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) owing to the advantages of an adequately short radiative lifetime, improved device durability, and low cost, which are the most important criteria for their commercialization. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of three donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D)-configured deep-blue fluorescent materials (denoted as TC-1, TC-2, and TC-3) composed of a thioxanthone or diphenyl sulfonyl acceptor and phenyl carbazolyl donor. These systems exhibit strong deep-blue photoluminescence (422-432 nm) in solutions and redshifted emission (472-486 nm) in thin films. The solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) was estimated to be 78 and 94% for TC-2 and TC-3, respectively. TC-2 and TC-3 possess good molecular packing and large molecular cross-sectional areas, which not only improves the PLQY but enhances the triplet-triplet annihilation up-conversion (TTAUC) efficiency of fluorescent emitters. Furthermore, both compounds were applied as an acceptor for confirming their TTAUC property using bis(2-methyldibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline)(acetylacetonate)iridium(III) (Ir(MDQ)2acac) as the sensitizer. Non-doped OLEDs based on TC-2 and TC-3 exhibit blue EL in the 461-476 nm range. In particular, TC-3 exhibits a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 5.1%, and its EL maximum is 476 nm. In addition, the three emitters were employed as hosts in red OLEDs using bis(1-phenylisoquinoline)(acetylacetonate)iridium(III) (Ir(piq)2acac) as the phosphorescent dopant. The red phosphorescent OLEDs based on TC-1, TC-2, and TC-3 achieve excellent EQEmax values of 21.6, 22.9, and 21.9%, respectively, and peak luminance efficiencies of 12.0, 14.0, and 12.3 cd A-1. These results highlight these fluorophores' versatility and promising prospects in practical OLED applications.

Tuning hybridized local and charge transfer emission in pyrene derivatives by incorporating phenanthroimidazole to realize high exciton harvest in blue organic light-emitting diodes

Pyrene derivatives capable of harvesting triplet excitons and displaying blue electroluminescence are limited. A new series of pyrene-based blue-emitting hybridized local and charge transfer materials is designed by asymmetrically substituting at the 1,3-positions of pyrene with phenanthroimidazole and N-phenylcarbazole. Electronic excitations due to pyrene localized and the charge transfer from phenanthroimidazole to pyrene segments dominate the absorption of the dyes. Incorporation of carbazole enhanced the charge transfer characteristics in the compounds and lead to the hybridization of local and charge transfer states. Theoretical studies revealed the possibility of exciton harvesting via the high lying triplet states, which have matching energy with the first excited singlet state. Lippert-Mataga plots for the solvatochromic data of the dyes exhibited bilinear relationship attributable to the formation of local state in the non-polar solvents and charge transfer state in the polar solvents. All the derivatives served as emitting layers in doped as well as non-doped multilayered organic light-emitting devices and exhibited deep-blue electroluminescence. The doped devices displayed much higher EL performance on comparing with that of the non-doped devices due to the proper alignment of energy levels leading to efficient exciton harvesting. The device containing carbazole derivative as dopant with tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine host displayed the highest external quantum efficiency of 8.4% with 50% exciton harvest.

Excited-State Modification of Phenylimidazole-Based Cyclometalated Ir(III) Complexes through Secondary Bulky Aryl Substitution and Inductive Modification Enhances the Blue Emission Efficiency in Phosphorescent OLEDs

To elucidate the key parameters governing the emission properties of phenylimidazole (pim)-based Ir(III) emitters, including their electronic structure and the bulky aryl substitution effect, a series of pim-based iridium(III) complexes (Ir(Rpim-X)3, Rpim-X = 1-R-2-(X-phenyl)-1H-imidazole) bearing secondary pendants of increasing bulkiness [R = methyl (Me), phenyl (Ph), terphenyl (TPh), or 4-isopropyl terphenyl (ITPh)] and three different primary pim ligands (X = F, F2, and CN) were designed and synthesized. Based on photophysical and electrochemical analyses, it was found that the excited state properties are highly dependent on the bulkiness of the secondary substituent and the inductive nature of the primary pim ligand. The incorporation of bulky TPh/ITPh substituents in the second coordination sphere significantly enhanced the emission efficiencies in the solid state (ΦPL = 72.1-84.9%) compared to those of the methyl- or phenyl-substituted Ir(III) complexes (ΦPL = 30.4% for Ir(Mepim)3 and 63.7% for Ir(Phpim)3). Further modification of the secondary aryl substituent (Ir(TPhpim)3 → Ir(ITPhpim)3) through the incorporation of an isopropyl group and F substitution on the primary pim ligand (Ir(TPh/ITPhpim)3 → Ir(TPh/ITPhpim-F/F2)3) resulted in a slight decrease in the LUMO and a significant decrease in the HOMO energy levels, respectively; these energy level adjustments consequently amplified emission blue shifts, thereby enabling efficient blue electroluminescence in phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes. Theoretical calculations revealed that the excited-state properties of pim-based Ir(III) complexes can be modulated by the nature of the peripheral substituent and the presence of an EWG substituent. Among the fabricated blue-emitting TPh/ITPh-substituted Ir(III) complexes, Ir(ITPhpim-F)3, Ir(TPhpim-F2)3, and Ir(ITPhpim-F2)3 were tested as blue-emitting dopants for blue phosphorescent OLEDs owing to their high solid radiative quantum yields (ΦPL = 75.9-84.9%). The Ir(ITPhpim-F)3-doped multilayer device displayed the best performance with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 21.0%, a maximum current efficiency of 43.6 cd/A, and CIE coordinates of 0.18 and 0.31.

Donor-σ-acceptor molecules with alkyl σ-linkers of different lengths: Exploration on the exciplex emission and their use for efficient organic light-emitting diodes

Donor-σ-acceptor molecules featuring exciplex emission have been extensively researched for developing thermally-activated delayed fluorescence; however, varying the length of alkyl σ-linker to explore the exciplex emission and to develop efficient exciplex emitters has not been fully conducted. Herein, we report donor-σ-acceptor exciplex emitters (1–3) developed with 9,9-dimethyl-10-phenyl-9,10-dihydroacridine donor, 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine acceptor, and alkyl σ-linkers of different lengths (−CH2− for 1, –CH2CH2− for 2, and –CH2CH2CH2− for 3). The chemical structures of 1–3 have been verified by X-ray crystallography. Theoretical calculations reveal that intramolecular through-space charge transfer is the dominant charge-transfer mechanism within the molecules. In dilute solution and the films with low concentration of the dopant, intramolecular exciplexes are formed, whereas in the films with high concentration of the dopant, both intra- and inter-molecular exciplexes are formed. 1–3 all show aggregation-induced emission properties. In heavily doped or neat films, 1–3 show sky-blue emission with photoluminescent efficiency of up to 0.70 and high reverse intersystem crossing rates of up to 5.1 × 106 s−1. It is shown that varying the length of alkyl σ-linker regulates the thermally-activated delayed fluorescence of the exciplex formed in neat film. Vacuum-evaporated and solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes using 1–3 as the emitters show sky-blue and blue electroluminescence with peak external quantum efficiencies of up to 14.5% and 13.0%, respectively. The efficiency is among the highest for solution-processed blue organic light-emitting diodes based on small-molecule exciplex emitters reported so far.

Novel Tetradentate Platinum(II) Complexes and Their Use in Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

AbstractAlthough the remarkable growth of the organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) industry has occurred via continuous, extensive efforts toward the utilization of various organometallic luminophores as phosphorescent emitters, the development of blue phosphorescent emitters with improved efficiencies and high electrochemical stabilities is essential. To this end, herein the preparation of two novel tetradentate Pt(II) complexes, Pt1 and Pt2, and their application as blue phosphorescent emitters in OLED devices is described. Both complexes exhibit intense bluish emission in the solution and solid states. In addition, these complexes display very high phosphorescent quantum efficiencies (>89%) with host materials and thermal stabilities (>390 °C). Multilayer phosphorescent OLEDs containing Pt1 or Pt2 as emitters with mCBP/CNmCBP‐CN mixed‐host systems are fabricated. The devices exhibit outstanding performances, including high current, power, external efficiencies, and potential device lifetime in addition to sky‐blue (Pt1) or blue (Pt2) electroluminescence. These results clearly suggest that these tetradentate Pt(II) dopants are promising candidates as highly efficient, stable blue phosphorescent emitters in OLEDs.

High‐Performance Blue Electroluminescence Devices Based on Linear Gold(I) Complexes as Ultrafast Triplet Exciton Harvesters

AbstractAchieving large external quantum efficiencies, narrow bandwidths, and a long operational lifetime at high brightness remains the largest hurdle to developing organic blue‐emitting devices. Here, a material strategy is demonstrated that can meet these conditions. The strategy is based on linear heteroleptic Au(I) complex exciton harvesters and multiresonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) emitters. The organic electroluminescence devices produce blue emission with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of (0.108, 0.160), a narrow full‐width at half‐maximum value of 20 nm, and a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) as high as 30.2%. Notably, the EQE value remains 22.2% at 2000 cd m−2, whereas conventional control devices with an organic exciton harvester suffer from huge roll‐offs in quantum efficiency. An additional benefit of the device is a one‐order‐of‐magnitude improvement in its operational lifetime compared with that of the control device. Finally, the investigations reveal that the improvements are attributable to the unique ability of the Au(I) complexes for ultrafast triplet exciton harvest. In addition, the Au(I) complexes can facilitate Förster energy transfer to the MR‐TADF emitter, with effective suppression of hazardous triplet–triplet Dexter energy transfer. It is believed that the research is helpful in commercializing high‐efficiency and stable blue electroluminescence devices.

Ultrapure Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Emitters Based on Rigid Sulfur/Oxygen-Bridged Triarylboron Acceptor: MR TADF and D-A TADF.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) still face a significant challenge in finding blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters that can achieve narrowband emission and high efficiency. In this work, we successfully design and synthesize a novel kind of TADF emitters based on rigid sulfur/oxygen-bridged triarylboron acceptor for ultrapure blue with narrowband electroluminescence. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations and photophysical results indicate the different intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) character of two emitters. Benefiting from the rigid aromatic framework, both emitters exhibited deep-blue emission at 444 and 447 nm with a small full-width at half-maximum (fwhm) of about 33 nm, and a small singlet (S1)-triplet (T1) energy gap (ΔEST) of 0.23 and 0.36 eV. Consequently, OLEDs based on PhCz-TOSBA and TPA-TOSBA exhibit deep blue electroluminescence at 456 nm with fwhm of about 55 nm, affording high external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 16.69% with CIE coordinates of (0.14, 0.15) and 16.65% with CIE coordinates of (0.14, 0.12), respectively. These findings show that PhCz-TOSBA and TPA-TOSBA are superior emitters in ultrapure blue TADF devices.

Facile access to high-performance reverse intersystem crossing OLED materials through an unsymmetrical D-A-D’ molecular scaffold

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials based on a reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) triplet harvesting mechanism have attracted tremendous attention. Currently, many research efforts have been devoted to the construction of D-A or D-A-D RISC-OLED materials whose charge-transfer-featured singlet excited states (1CTD-A) are very close to the local triplet excited states of their D or/and A moieties (3LED or/and 3LEA), so that a small singlet–triplet energy splitting and a large spin–orbit coupling matrix element can be acquired concurrently. However, the chief technical difficulty lies in the accurate prediction and delicate tuning of the 1CTD–A energy levels of these compounds. Herein, by using PCz-TXO2 as an example, we demonstrated that high-performance RISC-OLED materials can be readily achieved by integrating an appropriate D’ subunit into a traditional D-A fluorophore that lacks RISC property, i.e., constructing a D–A–D’ triad whose 1CTD-A is close to its 3LED’. In comparison with its D-A or D-A-D counterpart of P-TXO2 or DP-TXO2 showing satisfactory photoluminescence efficiency, pure blue gamut but poor RISC, the presence of a carbazole-based D’ subunit has negligible influence on the transition feature of its lowest singlet excited state (S1), but triggers significantly enhanced RISC property. Consequently, PCz-TXO2 shows pure blue electroluminescence (EL) inherited from DP-TXO2 [CIE1931: (0.160, 0.089) vs. (0.154, 0.102)], but significantly enhanced external quantum efficiency (EQEmax: 9.5% vs. 6.1%) and exciton utilization efficiency (EUEmax: 93% vs. 42%). Our results present a new method to facilely access RISC materials and can greatly extend the design rationales for high-performance OLED materials.

Dimensionality Controls Anion Intermixing in Electroluminescent Perovskite Heterojunctions.

Metal halide perovskites have emerged as a promising group of materials for optoelectronic applications such as photovoltaics, light emission, and photodetectors. So-far, in particular, the stability of light-emitting devices is limited, which is in part attributed to the intrinsic ionic conductivity of these materials. High-performance devices inevitably contain heterojunctions similar to other optoelectronic devices based on oxide perovskites, II–VI, or III–V group semiconductors. To enable efficient heterojunctions, ion exchange at the interface between different layers should be controlled. Herein, we report a method that enables to control and monitor the extent of anion intermixing between solution-processed lead bromide and vacuum-deposited lead chloride perovskite films. Taking advantage of the ability to fine tune the layer thicknesses of the vacuum-deposited films, we systematically study the effect of film thickness on anionic intermixing. Using these multiple layers, we prepare proof of principle light-emitting devices exhibiting green and blue electroluminescence.

Comparative study on photo and electroluminescence properties of Cu-doped ZnS

Distinct differences observed in the alternating current powder electroluminescence (ACPEL) and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of lab-made ZnS:Cu(1%) phosphor have been explained based on variation in donor and acceptor traps (levels) assisted electron-hole recombination upon optical and electrical excitations. The results were also compared with that of commercially available ZnS based phosphor. The fabricated display panel using lab-made ZnS:Cu(1%) sample exhibit bright blue colour electroluminescence. On the other hand, device fabricated using commercially available phosphor display bright cyan colour emission under similar biasing conditions. It is confirmed that the commercially available phosphor is composed of both cubic and hexagonal phases of ZnS whereas the lab-made sample is single phase cubic ZnS. The observed variation in spectral profile for commercial sample with increase in frequency of applied AC signal has been explained based on coexistence of hexagonal and cubic phases of ZnS in the sample.

New deep blue fluorophores based on benzo[d]thiazole group as acceptor core: Theoretical, synthesis, photophysical and electroluminescent investigation

Deep-blue organic emitters have attracted considerable attention from both industrial as well as academic research in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this context, three novel deep blue fluorophores based on benzothiazole 2-(4'-(1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)benzo [d]thiazole (PHBISN), 2-(4'-(1-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)benzo [d]thiazole (PTBISN) and 2-(4'-(4,5-diphenyl-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-imidazole-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)benzo [d]thiazole (m-CFBISN) were designed and synthesized. The fluorophores were structurally characterized and a detailed computational study reveals the compounds with wide energy gap (>3eV). The thermal properties, photophysical and electronic properties were systematically investigated. Photoluminescence and electroluminescence study shows fluorophores with deep blue emission. Novel synthesized fluorophores exhibit good performance for deep-blue solution-processed OLEDs. The doped device based on PTBISN shows the highest performance with deep blue electroluminescent and maximum EQE 1.5% with CIE color coordinates of (0.15, 0.08), which is near to the blue standard (0.14, 0.08) of the National Television System Committee (NTSC).

Chrysene and triphenylene based-fluorophores as non-doped deep blue emitters for triplet-triplet annihilation organic light-emitting diodes

Herein, two new triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) molecules, namely CCsCN and CTpCN, based on chrysene and triphenylene polyaromatic rings to develop deep-blue emissive materials for efficient non-doped TTA-OLEDs are designed, and synthesized. The polyaromatic rings are directly functionalized with benzonitrile and electron-donating 9-(m-tolyl)carbazole moieties. Their structural, physical, and photophysical properties are experimentally and theoretically studied. Both molecules display deep blue color emissions in solution and neat films with decent hole mobility and high thermal and electrochemical stabilities. They are effectively fabricated as non-doped emitters in the OLEDs, and all devices exhibit deep blue electroluminescence (EL) spectra (CIEy = 0.08) with narrow full width at half maximum of 74 nm, low turn-on voltages of 3.0 V and TTA characteristics. In particular, the CCsCN-based device achieves the best EL performance with a maximum luminance (Lmax) of 6338 cd m−2, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 3.33%, and a maximum current efficiency (CEmax) of 2.64 cd A−1.