Strategies to design bipolar small molecules for OLEDs: donor-acceptor structure and non-donor-acceptor structure

Polymorphic mechanoresponsive luminescent material based on a fluorene–phenanthroimidazole hybrid by modulation of intramolecular conformation and intermolecular interaction

This study examined the multiple energetic pathways in solid-state photophysics, which are of increasing importance in solid-state lighting applications.

Diversified AIE and mechanochromic luminescence based on carbazole derivative decorated dicyanovinyl groups: effects of substitution sites and molecular packing

Two positional isomers exhibited noticeable different luminescence properties, which were mainly attributed to their different molecular packing modes.

Synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of donor–acceptor type hydrazinyl thiazolyl coumarins

A practical green MCR strategy has been developed for the synthesis of D–A type hydrazinyl thiazolyl coumarins catalyzed by an environmentally compatible MMT K10 clay in water at RT.

Rongalite as a sulfone source: a novel copper-catalyzed sulfur dioxide anion incorporation process

A novel copper-catalyzed sulfur dioxide anion incorporation cascade for the synthesis of 1-thiaflavanone sulfones has been disclosed using rongalite as an economic and safe sulfone source.

Efficient Deep-Blue Fluorescent OLEDs with a High Exciton Utilization Efficiency from a Fully Twisted Phenanthroimidazole-Anthracene Emitter

A novel, efficient, deep-blue fluorescent emitter mPAC, with a meta-connected donor-acceptor structure containing phenanthroimidazole (PPI) as the donor and phenylcarbazole-substituted anthracene (An-CzP) as the acceptor, was designed and synthesized. The meta-linkage provided a highly twisted molecular conformation, which efficiently interrupts the intramolecular π-conjugation, resulting in a deep-blue emission. The optimized nondoped device based on mPAC displayed a deep-blue emission with a narrow full width at half-maximum of 56 nm and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage coordinates of (0.16, 0.09). The maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE_max) is 6.76%, corresponding to a high exciton utilization efficiency (EUE) of 59.3-88.9%. Experimental results and theoretical analysis indicated that the high EUE is mainly ascribed to the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) from T₂ to S₁, a "hot exciton" path in which the large T₂-T₁ energy gap (1.45 eV) and small T₂-S₁ energy difference (0.18 eV, T₂ > S₁) hamper the internal crossing from T₂ to T₁ and facilitate the RISC process. For the hot exciton path, the T₂ state can be feasibly arranged to a high energy level, forming a thermal equilibrium with S₁, even slightly higher than the deep-blue S₁ to realize an exergonic RISC process, which is usually difficult for the thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters.

New cyanopyridone-based unsymmetrical dyads: the effect of donor strength on their optoelectronic properties

Herein, we describe the design, synthesis and optoelectronic characterization of a new series of highly fluorescent dyes configured with a D-A-D' architecture, viz. CP1 to CP7. In the new molecular design, various electron-donating scaffolds were integrated with an efficient electron-accepting trialkoxyphenyl-substituted cyanopyridone moiety to study the effect of donor strength on their thermal and opto-physical properties. A detailed investigation of their thermal properties reveals that they are thermally robust with high melting and decomposition temperatures. Furthermore, in-depth photophysical studies expose their remarkable fluorescence ability in both solution and aggregated state within a wide spectral range from blue to orange. Evidently, among all the fluorophores, dyads bearing amino donors were found to be highly intense emitters due to their superior donating strength. Furthermore, solvatochromic studies showcase their ICT-dominated optoelectronic properties and it was confirmed by different correlation studies. Finally, the experimental results were correlated with their quantum chemical simulation data.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Derivatives toward Ideal Electron-Transporting Materials for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

One seemingly fundamental issue for electron-transporting materials (ETMs) in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is the mutual exclusion of a high electron-transporting mobility ( μ_e) and a large molecular triplet energy for good exciton confinement. Very recently, a trade-off was realized by adopting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives as bipolar ETMs. Though the intrinsic low triplet energy of PAH moieties, good exciton confinement abilities are realized by manipulating the peripheral groups, integrating large μ_e values and long-term stabilities simultaneously. The resulting state-of-the-art OLED performances manifest the bright future of such ETMs. This Perspective summarizes the theoretical and experimental work relating to the relationship between the molecular structure of PAH-type ETMs and their electronic properties, focusing on charge transfer and exciton confinement abilities; the Perspective concludes by providing a vision of future developments in this field.

Derivatives of Cyanonaphthyl-Substituted Phenanthroimidazole as Blue Emitters for Nondoped Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

New multifunctional blue-emissive materials with superior thermal properties, viz., 4,4'-bis(1-(4-naphthyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)binaphthyl (NPIBN), 4,4'-bis(1-(4-cyanonaphthyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)biphenyl (CNPIBP), and 4,4'-bis(1-(4-cyanonaphthyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)binaphthyl (CNPIBN) have been synthesized. The said molecules show high photoluminescence quantum yield (Φs/f: NPIBN-0.75/0.68, CNPIBP-0.85/0.76, and CNPIBN-0.90/0.88). The fabricated nondoped/doped device with CNPIBN/4,4'-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl: CNPIBN display maximum efficiencies (ηex 4.96/5.4%; ηc 7.46/7.56 cd A-1; ηp 6.85/6.91 lm W-1) at low turn-on voltage (3.5/3.8 V). Nondoped devices based on D-π-A architecture, 4-(2-(5-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-1-yl)naphthalene-1-carbonitrile exhibit maximum efficiencies (ηex 2.32%; ηc 4.00 cd A-1; ηp 3.42 lm W-1) compared to 4-(2-(5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-1-yl)naphthalene-1-carbonitrile (ηex 2.01%; ηc 3.89 cd A-1; ηp 3.15 lm W-1).

Nonsymmetrical Connection of Two Identical Building Blocks: Constructing Donor-Acceptor Molecules as Deep Blue Emitting Materials for Efficient Organic Emitting Diodes

We propose a strategy to construct deep blue emission molecules based on the concept of nonsymmetrical connection of two identical π-conjugated groups. It was demonstrated that the nonsymmetrical connection strategy indeed resulted in the separation of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the formation of a donor-acceptor (D-A) structure. For D-A molecules constructed by two identical groups, the degree of charge transfer is weaker and deep blue emission is easily achieved. Two D-A molecules (PIpPI and PImPI) were synthesized by employing diphenyl-phenanthroimidazole (PI) as a building block. The nonsymmetric connection of PI groups endows these molecules with a D-A feature that can result in a bipolar transport property. The nondoped organic light-emitting diodes with PIpPI and PImPI as emitter exhibit deep-blue emission and maximum external quantum efficiencies of 8.84% and 6.83%, respectively.

5,10-Dihydrobenzo[ a]indolo[2,3- c]carbazoles as Novel OLED Emitters

The excited-state dynamics of four 5,10-dihydrobenzo[ a]indolo[2,3- c]carbazoles in solution and in films were studied with stationary and time-resolved spectroscopies. The solvent dependency of the photophysics reveals no appreciable dipole moment in the ground state. In the excited state, electron-withdrawing substituents contribute to an outspoken charge-transfer character. In films, although the molecules are mostly present as monomers, the excited-state dynamics are characterized by a cascade of energy-transfer processes to excited dimers and aggregates which dominate the photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The properties of the aggregates depend on the used substituents. The electroluminescence spectra obtained from single-layer and multilayer devices mostly resemble the PL spectra, but show contributions from other species such as electromers or electroplexes. It is inferred that the different substituents lead to a different packing of the carbazole moieties, each of which has different mobilities and recombination probabilities.

Discrete Dimers of Redox-Active and Fluorescent Perylene Diimide-Based Rigid Isosceles Triangles in the Solid State

The development of rigid covalent chiroptical organic materials, with multiple, readily available redox states, which exhibit high photoluminescence, is of particular importance in relation to both organic electronics and photonics. The chemically stable, thermally robust, and redox-active perylene diimide (PDI) fluorophores have received ever-increasing attention owing to their excellent fluorescence quantum yields in solution. Planar PDI derivatives, however, generally suffer from aggregation-caused emission quenching in the solid state. Herein, we report on the design and synthesis of two chiral isosceles triangles, wherein one PDI fluorophore and two pyromellitic diimide (PMDI) or naphthalene diimide (NDI) units are arranged in a rigid cyclic triangular geometry. The optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of the rigid isosceles triangles are fully characterized by a combination of optical spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry, and computational modeling techniques. Single-crystal XRD analysis shows that both isosceles triangles form discrete, nearly cofacial PDI-PDI π-dimers in the solid state. While the triangles exhibit fluorescence quantum yields of almost unity in solution, the dimers in the solid state exhibit very weak-yet at least an order of magnitude higher-excimer fluorescence yield in comparison with the almost completely quenched fluorescence of a reference PDI. The triangle containing both NDI and PDI subunits shows superior intramolecular energy transfer from the lowest excited singlet state of the NDI to that of the PDI subunit. Cyclic voltammetry suggests that both isosceles triangles exhibit multiple, easily accessible, and reversible redox states. Applications beckon in arenas related to molecular optoelectronic devices.

Sulphur-containing nonaromatic polymers: clustering-triggered emission and luminescence regulation by oxidation

Sulphur-containing nonconventional luminophores with clustering-triggered emission characteristics are developed, whose emission is readily modulated through oxidation.

Efficient electroluminescent hybridized local and charge-transfer host materials with small singlet–triplet splitting to enhance exciton utilization efficiency: excited state transition configuration

A series of efficient electroluminescent materials with dual carrier transport properties shows enhanced singlet exciton utilization (η_s) due to small singlet–triplet splitting (ΔE_ST). The strong orbital-coupling transitions of N-(4-(1-(1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)naphthalen-4-yl)phenyl)-N-phenyl benzenamine (DDPB) exhibit deep blue emission at 435 nm (CIEy, 0.07) with an external quantum efficiency of 2.01%. The electroluminescent efficiencies of 2-(1-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)naphthalen-4-yl)-1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole (CDDPI) (L – 3992 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 3.01%; η_c – 2.56 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 2.12 lm W⁻¹) are higher than those of the N-(4-(1-(1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole-2-yl)naphthalen-4-yl)phenyl)-N-phenylbenzenamine (DBDPA) based device (L – 3015 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 2.85%; η_c – 2.01 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 1.92 lm W⁻¹). The blue emissive materials CDDPI and DBDPA are used as a host to construct green and red phosphorescent OLEDs: the green device based on CDDPI:Ir(ppy)₃ exhibits higher efficiencies (L – 8812 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 19.0%; η_c – 27.5 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 33.0 lm W⁻¹) at 2.7 V and the red device based on CDDPI:Ir(MQ)₂(acac) exhibits a maximum luminance of 39 661 cd m⁻² with excellent EL efficiencies [η_ex – 19.2%; η_c – 27.9 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 29.2 lm W⁻¹; CIE (0.64, 0.34)] compared with those of the DBDPA:Ir(MQ)₂(acac) based device [L – 37 621 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 18.5%; η_c – 25.2 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 25.8 lm W⁻¹; CIE (0.64, 0.34)].

CDDPI:Ir(ppy)₃ exhibits higher efficiencies: L = 8812 cd m⁻²; η_ex = 19.0%; η_c = 27.5 cd A⁻¹; η_p = 33.0 lm W⁻¹ at 2.7 V.

Heterocyclic iodoniums as versatile synthons to approach diversified polycyclic heteroarenes

Polycyclic heteroarenes are important scaffolds in the construction of pharmaceuticals. We have previously developed a series of novel heterocyclic iodoniums. In our current work, these unique iodoniums were employed to construct various complex polycyclic heteroarenes with structural diversity via tandem dual arylations. As a result, indole, thiophene and triphenylene motifs were fused into these heterocycles with high molecular quality, which might provide promising fragments in drug discovery. Moreover, these heterocycles could be diversified at a late stage.

The transformation of heterocyclic iodoniums led to the construction of heterocycles with a high structural diversity.

Regioselective synthesis of polycyclic sulfones via radical-induced three-component bicyclization cascades

New radical-triggered three-component bicyclization cascades of 2-alkynylaryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates with a sulfur dioxide surrogate DABCO·(SO₂)₂ and internal alkynes have been reported for the first time, leading to 49 examples of polycyclic sulfones with moderate to good yields.

Strategic tuning of excited-state properties of electroluminescent materials with enhanced hot exciton mixing

Deep blue emitters with excellent stability, high quantum yield and multifunctionality are the major issues for full-color displays. In line with this, new multifunctional, thermally stable blue emitters viz., N-(4-(10-(1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)anthracen-9-yl)phenyl)-N-phenylbenzenamine (DPIAPPB) and 2-(10-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)anthracen-9-yl)-1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole (CADPPI) with hybridized local charge transfer state (HLCT) and hot exciton properties have been synthesized. These molecules show high photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ_s/f): (DPIAPPB – 0.82/0.70 and CADPPI – 0.91/0.83). The CADPPI based device (EL – 467 nm) shows high efficiencies [η_c – 9.85 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 10.84 lm W⁻¹; η_ex – 4.78% at 2.8 V; CIE (0.15, 0.10)] compared to the DPIAPPB device (EL − 472 nm) [η_c – 6.56 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 6.16 lm W⁻¹; η_ex – 4.15% at 2.8 V with CIE (0.15, 0.12)]. The green device with CADPPI:Ir(ppy)₃ exhibits a maximum L – 59 012 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 16.8%; η_c – 37.3 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 39.8 lm W⁻¹ with CIE (0.30, 0.60) and the red device with CADPPI:Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) shows a maximum L – 43 456 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 21.9%; η_c – 36.0 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 39.6 lm W⁻¹ with CIE (0.64, 0.35).

The CADPPI:Ir(ppy)₃ device exhibits L – 90 12 cd m⁻²; η_ex – 18.8%; η_c − 27.3 cd A⁻¹; η_p – 29.8 lm W⁻¹; CIE (0.30, 0.60).

A bipolar triphenylamine-dibenzothiophene S,S-dioxide hybrid compound for solution-processable single-layer green OLEDs and as a host for red emitters

A bipolar triphenylamine-dibenzothiophene S,S-dioxide hybrid compound for solution-processable single-layer green OLEDs and as a host for red emitters.

Efficient full-colour organic light-emitting diodes based on donor–acceptor electroluminescent materials with a reduced singlet–triplet splitting energy gap

A series of efficient blue-emitting materials, namely, Cz-DPVI, Cz-DMPVI, Cz-DEPVI and TPA-DEPVI, possessing a donor–acceptor architecture with dual carrier transport properties and small singlet–triplet splitting is reported. These compounds exhibit excellent thermal properties with a very high glass-transition temperature (T_g), and thus, a stable uniform thin film was formed during device fabrication. Among the weak donor compounds, specifically, Cz-DPVI, Cz-DMPVI and Cz-DEPVI, the Cz-DEPVI-based device showed the maximum efficiencies (L: 13 955 cd m⁻², η_ex: 4.90%, η_c: 6.0 cd A⁻¹, and η_p: 5.4 lm W⁻¹) with CIE coordinates of (0.15, 0.06) at 2.8 V. The electroluminescent efficiencies of Cz-DEPVI were higher than that of the strong donor TPA-DEPVI-based device (L: 13 856 cd m⁻², η_ex: 4.70%, η_c: 5.7 cd A⁻¹, and η_p: 5.2 lm W⁻¹). Furthermore, these blue emissive materials were used as hosts to construct efficient green and red phosphorescent OLEDs. The green device based on Cz-DEPVI:Ir(ppy)₃ exhibited the maximum L of 8891 cd m⁻², η_ex of 19.3%, η_c of 27.9 cd A⁻¹ and η_p of 33.4 lm W⁻¹ with CIE coordinates of (0.31, 0.60) and the red device based on Cz-DEPVI:Ir(MQ)₂(acac) exhibited the maximum L of 40 565 cd m⁻², η_ex of 19.9%, η_c of 26.0 cd A⁻¹ and η_p of 27.0 lm W⁻¹ with CIE coordinates of (0.64, 0.37).

The Cz-DEPVI device showed high efficiencies of L: 13955 cd m⁻², η_ex: 4.90%, η_c: 6.0 cd A⁻¹, η_p: 5.4 lm W⁻¹ and CIE coordinates of (0.15, 0.06) at 2.8 V.

Binaphthanol-based organic fluorophores with color tunability and their optical properties

Dimethylamine substituted binaphthanol-type fluorophores show broad color tunable emissions with solvatochromic, AIE and acidochromic properties.

A thermally activated delayed fluorescence exciplex to achieve highly efficient and stable blue and green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes

The development of a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) exciplex with high energy is of great significance in achieving highly efficient blue, green, and red organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for use in full-color displays and white lighting. Highly efficient and stable blue and green phosphorescent OLEDs were demonstrated by employing a TADF exciplex (energy: 2.9 eV) based on 4-substituted aza-9,9′-spirobifluorenes (aza-SBFs). Blue PhOLEDs demonstrated a maximum current efficiency (CE) of 47.9 cd A⁻¹ and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 22.5% at 1300 cd m⁻² (2.5 times the values of aza-SBF-based systems), with the best blue PhOLED demonstrating a CE, power efficiency (PE) and EQE of 60.3 cd A⁻¹, 52.7 lm W⁻¹, and 26.2%, respectively. Green PhOLEDs exhibited a CE of 78.1 cd A⁻¹ and EQE of 22.5% at 9360 cd m⁻², with the best green PhOLED exhibiting a maximum CE, PE, and EQE of 87.4 cd A⁻¹, 101.6 lm W⁻¹, and 24.5%, respectively. The device operational lifetime was improved over 17-fold compared to reference devices because of the high thermal stability of the materials and full utilization of the TADF exciplex energy, indicating their potential for application in commercial OLEDs.

A high energy TADF exciplex (415 nm) based on aza-spirobifluorene derivatives was demonstrated to achieve efficient and stable PhOLEDs.

Enhancing the Kinetic Stability and Lifetime of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes based on Bipolar Hosts by using Spiroconjugation

We examined how to enhance the lifetime of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on bipolar host molecules ET-HT, where ET and HT refer to electron- and hole-transporting units, respectively, by analyzing their thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities. Our DFT calculations reveal that the thermodynamic stability of ET-HT is determined by that of its anion, which is difficult to improve by chemical modifications of ET and HT. The kinetic stability of ET-HT can be enhanced by the spiroconjugation between ET and HT, which occurs when their π-frameworks are extended and have an orthogonal arrangement. Green OLED devices were fabricated by using ET-HTs with and without spiroconjugation, to find that the device with spiroconjugation has a lifetime that is approximately 6 times longer than the one without spiroconjugation.

Weak interactions but potent effect: tunable mechanoluminescence by adjusting intermolecular C-H···π interactions

A new mechanoluminescent material (4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)(4-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)methanone (CDpP), which displays tunable mechanoluminescent emission colors, has been designed and successfully synthesized. CDpP shows two distinct mechanoluminescent colors (blue and green) in different crystalline states. Single-crystal analyses and femtosecond transient emission studies reveal that the striking tunable mechanoluminescence properties of CDpP mainly originate from the different C-H···π interactions in the crystal structures. CDpP crystals with more C-H···π interactions show blue mechanoluminescence (ML), and the emission is attributed to the locally excited (LE)-state because the twisting process for the excited state is restricted by C-H···π interactions. Conversely, CDpP crystals with fewer C-H···π interactions display green ML, in which the red-shifted emission band originates from the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) excited state because the diphenylamine moiety is relatively free to rotate. The manipulation of weak intermolecular interactions in the crystalline state is a useful and reliable strategy for the tuning of the ML emission wavelengths.

High-Performance Fluorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Utilizing an Asymmetric Anthracene Derivative as an Electron-Transporting Material

Fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes with thermally activated delayed fluorescent sensitizers (TSF-OLEDs) have aroused wide attention, the power efficiencies of which, however, are limited by the mutual exclusion of high electron-transport mobility and large triplet energy of electron-transporting materials (ETMs). Here, an asymmetric anthracene derivative with electronic properties manipulated by different side groups is developed as an ETM to promote TSF-OLED performances. Multiple intermolecular interactions are observed, leading to a kind of "cable-like packing" in the crystal and favoring the simultaneous realization of high electron-transporting mobility and good exciton-confinement ability, albeit the low triplet energy of the ETM. The optimized TSF-OLEDs exhibit a record-high maximum external quantum efficiency/power efficiency of 24.6%/76.0 lm W^-1 , which remain 23.8%/69.0 lm W^-1 at a high luminance of even 5000 cd m^-2 with an extremely low operation voltage of 3.14 V. This work opens a new paradigm for designing ETMs and also paves the way toward practical application of TSF-OLEDs.

Synthesis and Optical Properties of Donor-Acceptor-Type 1,3,5,9-Tetraarylpyrenes: Controlling Intramolecular Charge-Transfer Pathways by the Change of π-Conjugation Directions for Emission Color Modulations

In dipolar organic π-conjugated molecules, variable photophysical properties can be realized through efficient excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which essentially depends on the π-conjugation patterns. Herein, we report a controllable regioselective strategy for synthesis and optical properties of two donor-acceptor (DA)-type 1,3,5,9-tetraarylpyrenes (i.e., 1,3-A/5,9-D (4b) and 1,3-D/5,9-A (4c)) by covalently integrating two phenyl rings and two p-OMe/CHO-substituted phenyl units into the 2-tert-butylpyrene building block, in which the two phenyl rings substituted at the 1,3-positions act as acceptors for 4b or as donors for 4c and the two p-OMe or p-CHO-substituted phenyl moieties substituted at the K-region of 5,9-positions act as donors for 4b or as acceptors for 4c, respectively. Density functional theory calculations on their frontier molecular orbitals and UV-vis absorption of S₀ → S₁ transition theoretically predicted that the change of π-conjugation directions in the two DA pyrenes could be realized through a variety of substitution patterns, implying that the dissimilar ground-state and excited-state electronic structures exist in each molecule. Their single-crystal X-ray analysis reveal their highly twisted conformations that are beneficial for inhibiting the π-aggregations, which are strikingly different from the normal 1,3,5,9-tetraphenylpyrenes (4a) and related 1,3,6,8-tetraarylpyrenes. Indeed, experimental investigations on their optical properties demonstrated that the excited-state ICT pathways can be successfully controlled by the change of π-conjugation directions through the variety of substitution positions, resulting in the modulations of emission color from deep-blue to green in solution. Moreover, for the present DA pyrenes, highly fluorescent emissions with moderate-to-high quantum yields both in the thin film and in the doped poly(methyl methacrylate) film were obtained, suggesting them as promising emitting materials for the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes.

Efficient donor-acceptor host materials for green organic light-emitting devices: non-doped blue-emissive materials with dual charge transport properties

Comparative optical, electroluminescence and theoretical studies were performed for (E)-4'-(1-(4-(2-(1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)vinyl)phenyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)-N,N-diphenyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-amine (SMPI-TPA) and (E)-4-(4-(2-(4-(2-(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-1-yl)styryl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)morpholine (SMPI-Cz). These compounds show excellent thermal properties, dual charge transport properties and form thin films under thermal evaporation. Blue OLEDs (CIE: 0.16, 0.08) based on SMPI-TPA show efficient device performance (η ex 6.1%; η c 5.3 cd A-1; η p 5.2 lm W-1) at low turn-on voltages. Both SMPI-TPA and SMPI-Cz were utilised as hosts for green OLEDs. The devices with SMPI-Cz (30 nm):5 wt% Ir(ppy)3 exhibit maximum luminance of 20 725 cd m-2, and η c and η p values of 61.4 cd A-1 and 63.8 lm W-1, respectively. In comparison, devices with SMPI-TPA (30 nm):5 wt% Ir(ppy)3 exhibit high η c and η p values of 65.2 cd A-1 and 67.1 lm W-1, respectively. Maximum η ex values of 19.6% and 23.4% were obtained from SMPI-TPA:Ir(ppy)3 and SMPI-Cz:Ir(ppy)3, respectively. These device performances indicate that the phenanthroimidazole unit is a tunable building unit for efficient carrier injection and it may also be employed as a host for green OLEDs.

Oxadiazole-Based Highly Efficient Bipolar Fluorescent Emitters for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

In this study, a series of bipolar fluorescence emitters named 2DPAc-OXD, DPAc-OXD, 2PTZ-OXD and PTZ-OXD were designed and synthesized with excellent yields. The characterization of materials was investigated by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (¹H, 13C), mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). To investigate device efficiencies, two different OLED devices (Device 1, Device 2) were fabricated with two different host materials (Bepp₂, DPEPO). The Device 2 with 2PTZ-OXD as fluorescent emitter exhibited excellent power and current efficiencies of 6.88 Lm/W and 10.10 cd/A, respectively. The external quantum efficiency of 2PTZ-OXD was around 3.99% for Device 2. The overall device properties of phenothiazine donor were better than acridine derivatives.

Dispiro and Propellane: Novel Molecular Platforms for Highly Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

The incorporation of spatially oriented aromatic motifs in rigid molecular platforms is of great interest for the design of organic electronic materials. These structures can create unusual packing patterns and charge transport properties in the solid state which are not possible for simple planar structures. Herein, we showed that the novel dispiro and propellane motifs were successfully used as robust molecular platforms for the construction of host materials (TPA, Cz, SF, and SO). The propellane derivative with three functional groups arranged in the staggered conformation was studied for the first time as the host for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The green and red phosphorescent OLEDs hosted by these dispiro and propellane derivatives exhibited excellent electroluminescence performance. Particularly, the red OLED hosted by the propellane-type SF achieved maximum efficiencies of 47.3 cd A^-1, 40.2 lm W^-1, and 26.6% and 97.6 cd A^-1, 77.8 lm W^-1, and 27.0% for the green OLED without any light out-coupling enhancement. These results suggest that the dispiro and propellane molecular platforms have great potential in the construction of OLED materials.

Synthesis and properties of five ring fused aromatic compounds based on S,S-dioxide benzothiophene

Asymmetrical five ring fused compounds based on S,S-dioxide benzothiophene, BTOF and BTOCz, have wide bandgaps and deep HOMO and LUMO levels.