Degradation mechanism of small molecule-based organic light-emitting devices

NiO as an inorganic hole-transporting layer in quantum-dot light-emitting devices

We demonstrate a hybrid inorganic/organic light-emitting device composed of a CdSe/ZnS core/shell semiconductor quantum-dot emissive layer sandwiched between p-type NiO and tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3), as hole and electron transporting layers, respectively. A maximum external electroluminescence quantum efficiency of 0.18% is achieved by tuning the resistivity of the NiO layer to balance the electron and hole densities at quantum-dot sites.

Investigation of a binuclear gallium complex with bipolar charge transporting capability for organic light-emitting diodes

Detailed theoretical and experimental investigations have been presented on a novel binuclear gallium complex Ga2(saph)2q2, a potentially active and novel material for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The density-functional theory has been employed to shed light on the reason why this complex exhibits bipolar character. Theoretical results, such as ionization potential and electron affinity, and optimized geometries are in good agreement with what we have obtained experimentally. Our theoretical analysis provides new insight into the origin of bipolar features. Such character enables the gallium complex to become a prosperous hole and electron transporter used to fabricate single-layer OLEDs, which exhibit better electroluminescence compared with those originated from the previously well-adopted tri(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3). An OLED device of single Ga2(saph)2q2 layer exhibiting desirable performances has been fabricated, which is in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.

Chemical failure modes of AlQ3-based OLEDs: AlQ3 hydrolysis

Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum(III), AlQ3, is used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) as an electron-transport material and emitting layer. The reaction of AlQ3 with trace H2O has been implicated as a major failure pathway for AlQ3-based OLEDs. Hybrid density functional calculations have been carried out to characterize the hydrolysis of AlQ3. The thermochemical and atomistic details for this important reaction are reported for both the neutral and oxidized AlQ3/AlQ3+ systems. In support of experimental conclusions, the neutral hydrolysis reaction pathway is found to be a thermally activated process, having a classical barrier height of 24.2 kcal mol(-1). First-principles infrared and electronic absorption spectra are compared to further characterize AlQ3 and the hydrolysis pathway product, AlQ2OH. The activation energy for the cationic AlQ3 hydrolysis pathway is found to be 8.5 kcal mol(-1) lower than for the neutral reaction, which is significant since it suggests a role for charge imbalance in promoting chemical failure modes in OLED devices.

Toward the ideal organic light-emitting diode. The versatility and utility of interfacial tailoring by cross-linked siloxane interlayers

Small molecule and polymer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) show promise of revolutionizing display technologies. Hence, these devices and the materials that render them functional are the focus of intense scientific and technological interest. The archetypical multilayer OLED heterostructure introduces numerous chemical and physical challenges to the development of efficient and robust devices. It is demonstrated here that robust, pinhole-free, conformal, adherent films with covalently interlinked structures are readily formed via self-assembling or spin-coating organosilane-functionalized molecular precursors at the anode-hole transport layer interface. In this manner, molecularly "engineered" hole transport and hydrocarbon anode functionalization layers can be introduced with thicknesses tunable from the angstrom to nanometer scale. These investigations unequivocally show that charge injection and continuity at the anode-hole transport layer interface, hence OLED durability and efficiency, can be substantially enhanced by these tailored layers.

Charge transport properties of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III): why it is an electron transporter

The charge transport properties of mer-tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III) (mer-Alq), which is the most widely used electron transport material in OLED, were investigated by quantum chemistry calculations within the framework of the charge hopping model and Marcus electron transfer theory. Internal reorganization energies of 0.276 and 0.242 eV were calculated by the DFT-B3LYP method employing a 6-31 G* basis set for the electrons lambdai(e) and holes lambdai(h), respectively. The relative distances and orientations of Alq molecules in amorphous film were simulated by those in the beta-phase. The intermolecular charge-transfer integrals, Hda(h) and Hda(e), along all 14 hopping pathways were then calculated by the Koopmans Theorem in conjunction with the Hartree-Fock method employing a 6-31 G* basis set as well as by the direct coupling method. The results showed that there were some Hda(e) that were 1 order of magnitude larger than any Hda(h), because hopping pathways with effective overlaps of LUMOs can occur and, thus, large Hda(e). On the other hand, effective overlap of HOMO was absent in all pathways, resulting in a relatively small Hda(h). This difference in the magnitudes of Hda(e) and Hda(h) would predict a 2 orders of magnitude difference in the electron-transfer rate constants and account for the observed 2 orders of magnitude difference in the mobilities of electrons and holes.

Blue Luminescent 2-(2‘-Pyridyl)benzimidazole Derivative Ligands and Their Orange Luminescent Mononuclear and Polynuclear Organoplatinum(II) Complexes

Five new 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole derivative ligands, 1,4-bis[2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl]benzene (1,4-bmb), 4,4'-bis[2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl]biphenyl (bmbp), 1-bromo-4-[2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl]benzene (Brmb), 1,3-bis[2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl]benzene (1,3-bmb), and 1,3,5-tris[2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazolyl]benzene (tmb), have been synthesized by Ullmann condensation methods. The corresponding mononuclear and polynuclear PtII complexes, Pt2(1,4-bmb)Ph4 (1), Pt2(bmbp)Ph4 (2), Pt(Brmb)Ph2 (3), Pt2(1,3-bmb)Ph4 (4), and Pt3(tmb)Ph6 (5), have been obtained by the reaction of the appropriate ligand with [PtPh2(SMe2)]n. The structures of the free ligands 1,4-bmb, bmbp, and tmb, as well as the complexes 1-3, were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All ligands display fluorescent emissions in the purple/blue region of the spectrum at ambient temperature and phosphorescent emissions in the blue/green region at 77 K, which are attributable to ligand-centered pi --> pi* transition. No ligand-based emission was observed for the PtII complexes 1-5. All PtII complexes display orange/red emissions at 77 K in a frozen solution or in the solid state, attributable to metal-to-ligand charge transfers (MLCT). Variable-temperature 1H NMR experiments establish that complexes 1, 4, and 5 exist in isomeric forms in solution at ambient temperature due to the hindered rotation of the square PtC2N2 planes in the complexes.

Coexistence of two different anion states in polyacene nanocluster anions

Two types of anion states are shown to coexist in nanometer-scale polyacene cluster anions. Naphthalene and anthracene nanoclusters having a single excess electron were produced in the gas-phase. Photoelectron spectra of size-selected cluster anions containing 2 to 100 molecules revealed that rigid "crystal-like" cluster anions emerge, greater than approximately 2 nanometers in size, and coexist with the "disordered" cluster anion in which the surrounding neutral molecules are reorganizing around the charge core. These two anion states appear to be correlated to negative polaronic states formed in the corresponding crystals.

Stability of thin-film solid-state electroluminescent devices based on tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes

The factors affecting the operating life of the light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) based on films of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) both in sandwich (using an ITO anode and a Ga:Sn cathode) and planar (using interdigitated electrode arrays (IDAs)) configurations were investigated. Stability of these devices is greatly improved when they are produced and operated under drybox conditions. The proposed mechanism of the LEC degradation involves formation of a quencher in a small fraction of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) film adjacent to the cathode, where light generation occurs, as follows from the observed electroluminescence profile in the LECs constructed on IDAs, showing that the charge injection in such devices is highly asymmetric, favoring hole injection. Bis(2,2'-bipyridine)diaquoruthenium(II) is presumed to be the quencher responsible for the device degradation. A microscopic study of photo- and electroluminescence profiles of planar light-emitting electrochemical cells was shown as a useful approach for studies of charge carrier injection into organic films.

Light-emitting electrochemical processes

Electrochemical processes leading to light emission are reviewed, with emphasis on aspects of this subject relevant to the understanding and optimization of electrogenerated luminescence (EL) in organic thin-film materials. The basic energetic requirements of light emission from electrochemically initiated solution redox reactions [electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL)] are reviewed first. This review is followed by a discussion of light-emitting electrochemical processes that have been observed in hybrids of ionically conducting polymers and electronically conducting polymers. Finally, the features of EL in insulating polymers and molecular thin films are reviewed, along with recent electrochemical and ECL studies of the small-molecule components of certain organic light-emitting diodes. These studies provide a conceptual framework for understanding and optimizing these materials and the EL process.

Blue-luminescent/electroluminescent Zn(II) compounds of 7-azaindole and N-(2-pyridyl)-7-azaindole: Zn(7-azaindole)2(CH3COO)2, Zn(NPA)(CH3COO)2, and Zn(NPA)((S)-(+)-CH3CH2CH(CH3)COO)2 (NPA = N-(2-pyridyl)-7-azaindole)

A new 7-azaindole zinc(II) compound, Zn(7-azaindole)2(CH3COO)2 (1), a new ligand N-(2-pyridyl)-7-azaindole (NPA), and two NPA zinc(II) complexes, Zn(NPA)(CH3COO)2 (2) and Zn(NPA)((S)-(+)-CH3CH2CH(CH3)COO)2 (3), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 has a tetrahedral geometry, whereas compounds 2 and 3 have irregular six-coordinate geometry. The NPA ligand in compounds 2 and 3 functions as a bidentate chelate to the zinc center. Compound 1 has a blue luminescence in the solution and the solid state. Compounds 2 and 3 emit a blue color in the solid state. In solution, compounds 2 and 3 are fluxional, as established by 1H NMR experiments. Compound 1 is thermally stable, whereas compounds 2 and 3 undergo decomposition when heated in the solid state. A blue electroluminescent device using compound 1 as the emitting layer has been fabricated. Crystal data: NPA, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 13.993(5) A, b = 8.456(3) A, c = 16.886(5) A, beta = 104.666(12) degrees, V = 1932.9(11) A3; 1, triclinic, P1, a = 9.5114(18) A, b = 10.460(7) A, c = 11.002(3) A, alpha = 117.18(3) degrees, beta = 103.287(18) degrees, gamma = 90.94(2) degrees, V = 938.3(7) A3; 2, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 13.234(6) A, b = 9.373(3) A, c = 13.956(7) A, beta = 113.24(3) degrees, V = 1590.7(12) A3; 3, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 11.047(7) A, b = 15.343(9) A, c = 13.785(8) A, beta = 100.123(9) degrees, V = 2300(2) A3.

Syntheses, structures, and fluxionality of blue luminescent zinc(II) complexes: Zn(2,2',2"-tpa)Cl2, Zn(2,2',2"-tpa)2(O2CCF3)2, and Zn(2,2',3"-tpa)4(O2CCF3)2 (tpa = tripyridylamine)

Three novel Zn(II) complexes containing either 2,2',2"-tripyridylamine (2,2',2"-tpa) or 2,2',3"-tripyridylamine (2,2',3"-tpa) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1, Zn(2,2',2"-tpa)Cl2, has a tetrahedral geometry while compounds 2, Zn(2,2',2"-tpa)2(O2CCF3)2, and 3, Zn(2,2',3"-tpa)4(O2CCF3)2, have an octahedral geometry. The 2,2',2"-tpa ligand in 1 and 2 functions as a bidentate ligand, chelating to the zinc center, while the 2,2",3"-tpa ligand in 3 functions as a terminal ligand, binding to the zinc center through the 3-pyridyl nitrogen atom. All three compounds emit a blue color in solution and in the solid state. The emission maxima for the three compounds in solution are at lambda = 422, 426, and 432 nm, respectively. The blue luminescence of the complexes is due to a pi *-->pi transition of the tpa ligand as established by an ab initio calculation on the free ligand 2,2',2"-tpa and complex 1. Compounds 1 and 2 are fluxional in solution owing to an exchange process between the coordinate and noncoordinate 2-pyridyl rings of the 2,2',2"-tpa ligand. Compound 2 is also fluxional owing to a cis-trans isomerization process, as determined by variable-temperature 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis.