The homoleptic Ir(III) complex, fac- tris{2-(3′-trimethylsilylphenyl)-5-trimethylsilylpyridinato}iridium, has been synthesized and characterized to investigate the effect of the substitution of bulky silyl groups on the photophysical properties and electroluminescence (EL) characteristics of Ir(ppy) 3 (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine). The absorption, emission, cyclic voltammetry and electroluminescent performance of the complex have also been evaluated. A power efficiency of 17.3 lm/W at 10 mA/cm 2 compared to 11.7 lm/W for Ir(ppy) 3 is achieved with the new complex as a dopant in phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In addition, the complex shows a narrow emission band of a small full width at half-maximum (fwhm, ca. 50 nm) value.