Sustainable metal complexes for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)

Revealing the initial steps in homogeneous photocatalysis by time-resolved spectroscopy

Photocatalysis attracts currently intense research since it can provide efficient routes for generating solar fuels and allows to apply sunlight for an environmentally friendly synthesis of valuable chemical compounds. Accordingly, in future photocatalysis may contribute significantly to a sustainable economy. However, up to now photocatalysis has made it only into some niche applications. The reasons are manifold including too low yields, insufficient stability, and scarce availability of the precious metals and rare earths used in most cases. The design of better systems is the goal of many research activities. They call for a detailed knowledge of the individual steps and the microscopic mechanisms. Time-resolved spectroscopy is a powerful tool to improve our understanding of the individual steps of a photocatalytic process and of the efficiencies and losses associated with them. This allows to address specific weaknesses of the components of a photocatalytic system and to pursue a rational design of the corresponding compounds. In this review an overview is given about what insights can be gained by time-resolved spectroscopy referring mostly to our own results while it has to be stressed that many other groups are also highly successfully working in this area. We restrict ourselves to homogeneous systems which are often easier to analyze and focus on the primary steps occurring after optical excitation. This includes intramolecular relaxation and intersystem crossing in the photosensitizer as well as the first electron transfer step resulting from the interaction of the sensitizer with other components of the system. Ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy turns out to be particularly helpful in analyzing new photosensitizers based on abundant metals, i.e. copper and iron. These sensitizers can suffer from short lifetimes of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer states which are typically involved in the intermolecular charge transfer processes. The latter are investigated on the pico- to microsecond timescale by quenching experiments making use of a streak camera and by pump-probe spectroscopy applying a YAG-laser system for excitation. The experiments with the streak camera allow to discriminate between oxidative and reductive pathways and to determine the corresponding bimolecular quenching rates which are compared to their diffusion limit to obtain a measure for the quenching efficiency. By applying transient absorption spectroscopy, it is furthermore possible to observe appearing charge transfer products and to determine their concentrations. In this way the efficiency of the electron transfer itself can be deduced and the relevance of lossy quenching events can be estimated.

Highly efficient blue organic light-emitting diodes based on carbene-metal-amides

Carbene-metal-amides are soluble and thermally stable materials which have recently emerged as emitters in high-performance organic light-emitting diodes. Here we synthesise carbene-metal-amide photoemitters with CF₃-substituted ligands to show sky-blue to deep-blue photoluminescence from charge-transfer excited states. We demonstrate that the emission colour can be adjusted from blue to yellow and observe that the relative energies of charge transfer and locally excited triplet states influence the performance of the deep-blue emission. High thermal stability and insensitivity to aggregation-induced luminescence quenching allow us to fabricate organic light-emitting diodes in both host-free and host-guest architectures. We report blue devices with a peak external quantum efficiency of 17.3% in a host-free emitting layer and 20.9% in a polar host. Our findings inform the molecular design of the next generation of stable blue carbene-metal-amide emitters.

Realizing efficient blue-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with long operational lifetime is key to the development of future display technologies. Here, the authors report efficient host-guest and host-free OLEDs featuring designed carbene-metal-amide-type deep-blue photoemitters.

Synthesis of Metal–Curcumin Complex Compounds (M = Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺)

Curcumin complex compound, MLn (L = curcumin; M = Na+, Mg2+, Cu2+) has been synthesized from the reaction between curcumin and metal precursors (NaCl, MgSO4.7H2O, CuCl2.2H2O) in ethanol under reflux conditions. Synthesis takes place through the reaction between the metal ions Na+, Mg2+, or Cu2+ as the central atom and curcumin as the ligand. Curcumin has been consumed after the reaction lasts for four hours, shown by thin-layer chromatography in which a new spot appears at higher Rf as the spot of curcumin disappears in the reaction mixture. Compared with the spectrum of  curcumin, the FTIR spectra of the complexes  show changes in the absorption bands and shifts of wave numbers particularly in absorption bands of phenolic –OH and C=O enol groups which strongly indicates the coordination of metal ions with the curcumin ligand which is proposed to be in β–1,3 diketone system. Also, the FTIR spectra of the reaction product showed typical absorption bands for the metal-oxygen group, M–O, at 524 cm–1, 670 cm–1 and 470 cm–1 in Na+–curcumin, Mg2+–curcumin and Cu2+–curcumin, respectively.

Electrochromic behaviour of Ir(iii) bis-cyclometalated 1,2-dioxolene tetra-halo complexes: fully reversible catecholate/semiquinone redox switches

Neutral cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes of general formula [Ir(ppy)2(O^O)squi], where ppy = 2-phenylpyridine and (O^O)squi = TBC (tetrabromocatechol) or TCC (tetrachlorocatechol) in their semiquinone (squi) monoanionic redox state, were synthesized by chemically oxidizing the anionic parent complexes NBu4[Ir(ppy)2(O^O)cat], in which (O^O)cat represents the corresponding ancillary dioxolene ligand in its dianionic catecholate (cat) redox state. This chemical oxidation leads to the modification of both the photophysical and the magnetic properties of the complexes. While the NBu4[Ir(ppy)2(O^O)cat] complexes are diamagnetic (D) and yellow-orange solids, the corresponding oxidized complexes [Ir(ppy)2(O^O)squi] display paramagnetic (P) properties and are characterized by a dark-green color. The conversion between the two forms (squi vs. cat) is electrochemically and chemically fully reversible. Indeed, the anionic NBu4[Ir(ppy)2(O^O)cat] complexes are quantitatively restored by chemical reduction of the neutral [Ir(ppy)2(O^O)squi] parents. These complexes therefore represent interesting redox based switches between multi-parameter states since they allow switching from a neutral paramagnetic to an anionic diamagnetic form together with a significant change in chromicity. Taking advantage of the significant color difference between the oxidized and the reduced form, an electrochromic cell was prepared with [Ir(ppy)2(TBC)squi] and its spectroelectrochemical properties are reported.

Copper(I) Phosphinooxazoline Complexes: Impact of the Ligand Substitution and Steric Demand on the Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties

A series of seven homoleptic Cu^I complexes based on hetero-bidentate P^N ligands was synthesized and comprehensively characterized. In order to study structure-property relationships, the type, size, number and configuration of substituents at the phosphinooxazoline (phox) ligands were systematically varied. To this end, a combination of X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy, time-resolved emission spectroscopy, quenching experiments and cyclic voltammetry was used to assess the photophysical and electrochemical properties. Furthermore, time-dependent density functional theory calculations were applied to also analyze the excited state structures and characteristics. Surprisingly, a strong dependency on the chirality of the respective P^N ligand was found, whereas the specific kind and size of the different substituents has only a minor impact on the properties in solution. Most importantly, all complexes except C3 are photostable in solution and show fully reversible redox processes. Sacrificial reductants were applied to demonstrate a successful electron transfer upon light irradiation. These properties render this class of photosensitizers as potential candidates for solar energy conversion issues.

Effect of Cp-Ligand Methylation on Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Annulations of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids with Alkynes: Synthesis of Isocoumarins and PAHs for Organic Light-Emitting Devices

An efficient protocol was developed for the synthesis of π-extended isocoumarins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on the oxidative coupling of aromatic carboxylic acids with internal alkynes catalyzed by (cyclopentadienyl)rhodium complexes. The coupling chemoselectivity strongly depends on whether Cp or the methylated Cp* ligands are used. The pentamethyl derivative [Cp*RhCl₂ ]₂ predominantly gives isocoumarins, while the non-methylated complex [CpRhI₂ ]_n produces naphthalene derivatives. The polyaromatic carboxylic acids (such as 1-naphthoic acid, 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid, fluorene-1-carboxylic acid, and dibenzofuran-4-carboxylic acid) are suitable for this approach. A mixture of Cp*H/RhCl₃ can be used as a catalyst instead of [Cp*RhCl₂ ]₂ . The structures of 3,4-diphenylindeno[1,2-h]isochromen-1(11H)-one and 7,10-dimethyl-8,9-diphenylbenzo[pqr]tetraphene were determined by X-ray diffraction. In addition, the optical properties of the prepared compounds were studied. 7,8-Diphenyl-10H-phenaleno[1,9-gh]isochromen-10-one was employed as an emissive layer for OLED manufacturing. The OLED emits yellow-green light with a maximum intensity 1740 cd ⋅ m^-2 at 15 V.

Efficient white polymer light-emitting diodes (WPLEDs) based on covalent-grafting of into PVK

Thanks to the straightforward white light of single grafting-type polymers based on earth-abundant Zn(ii)-complexes, producing cost-effective flexible WOLEDs/WPLEDs with good device performance remains a formidable challenge. Herein, by using the polymer Poly(NVK-co-[Zn2(MP)3(OAc)]) with excellent physical properties for single-layer WPLEDs, record-high efficiencies (η ^Max _c = 13.0 cd A^-1, η ^Max _p = 6.1 lm W^-1 and η ^Max _EQE = 9.2%) and low (ca. 25%) efficiency roll-off compared to previous organo-Zn²⁺-based WOLEDs/WPLEDs are realized. This finding renders single Zn(ii)-complex-grafted polymers a new route to low-cost and large-area flexible WPLEDs for potential full-colour flat displays.

Photophysics and photochemistry with Earth-abundant metals - fundamentals and concepts

Recent exciting developments in the area of mononuclear photoactive complexes with Earth-abundant metal ions (Cu, Zr, Fe, Cr) for potential eco-friendly applications in (phosphorescent) organic light emitting diodes, in imaging and sensing systems, in dye-sensitized solar cells and as photocatalysts are presented. Challenges, in particular the extension of excited state lifetimes, and recent conceptual breakthroughs in substituting precious and rare-Earth metal ions (e.g. Ru, Ir, Pt, Au, Eu) in these applications by abundant ions are outlined with selected examples. Relevant fundamentals of photophysics and photochemistry are discussed first, followed by conceptual and instructive case studies.

Copper(i) ionic complexes based on imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin diimine chelating ligands: crystal structures, and photo- and electroluminescence properties

Four new luminescent diimine Cu(i) complexes have been synthesized and applied in organic light-emitting diodes.

Luminescent vapochromic single crystal to single crystal transition in one-dimensional coordination polymer featuring the first Cu(i) dimer bridged by an aqua ligand

Vapochromic luminescence caused by included solvent mobility is observed in reversible single-crystal to single-crystal (SC–SC) transitions in a one-dimensional coordination polymer bearing the first reported water molecule bridging two Cu(i) ions.

The shiny side of copper: bringing copper(i) light-emitting electrochemical cells closer to application

Heteroleptic [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF₆] complexes, where N^N is 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5,5′-Me₂bpy), 4,5,6-trimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4,5,6-Me₃bpy), 6-(tert-butyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (6-tBubpy) and 2-ethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2-Etphen) and P^P is either bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)ether (POP, PIN [oxydi(2,1-phenylene)]bis(diphenylphosphane)) or 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (xantphos, PIN (9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphane)) have been synthesized and their NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, structural, electrochemical and photophysical properties were investigated. The single-crystal structures of [Cu(POP)(5,5′-Me₂bpy)][PF₆], [Cu(xantphos)(5,5′-Me₂bpy)][PF₆], [Cu(POP)(6-tBubpy)][PF₆], [Cu(POP)(4,5,6-Me₃bpy)][PF₆]·1.5Et₂O, [Cu(xantphos)(4,5,6-Me₃bpy)][PF₆]·2.33CH₂Cl₂, [Cu(POP)(2-Etphen)][PF₆] and [Cu(xantphos)(2-Etphen)][PF₆] are described. While alkyl substituents in general exhibit electron-donating properties, variation in the nature and substitution-position of the alkyl group in the N^N chelate leads to different effects in the photophysical properties of the [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF₆] complexes. In the solid state, the complexes are yellow to green emitters with emission maxima between 518 and 602 nm, and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) ranging from 1.1 to 58.8%. All complexes show thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The complexes were employed in the active layer of light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). The device performance properties are among the best reported for copper-based LECs, with maximum luminance values of up to 462 cd m⁻² and device half-lifetimes of up to 98 hours.

Heteroleptic copper(i) complexes with bisphosphanes and astutely tuned N^N chelating ligands as emitters give bright LECs with record-breaking stability.

A Small Cationic Organo-Copper Cluster as Thermally Robust Highly Photo- and Electroluminescent Material

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are revolutionizing display applications. In this aspect, luminescent complexes of precious metals such as iridium, platinum, or ruthenium still playing a significant role. Emissive compounds of earth-abundant copper with equivalent performance are desired for practical, large-scale applications such as solid-state lighting and displays. Copper(I)-based emitters are well-known to suffer from weak spin-orbit coupling and a high reorganization energy upon photoexcitation. Here we report a cationic organo-copper cluster [Cu₄(PCP)₃]⁺ (PCP = 2,6-(PPh₂)₂C₆H₃) that features suppressed nonradiative decays, giving rise to a robust narrow-band green luminophore with a photoluminescent (PL) efficiency up to 93%. PL decay kinetics corroborated by DFT calculations reveal a complex emission mechanism involving contributions of both thermally activated delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence. This robust compound was solution-processed into a thin film in prototype OLEDs with external quantum efficiency up to 11% and a narrow emission bandwidth (65 nm fwhm).

Synthesis of novel polycarbonyl Schiff bases by ring-opening reaction of ethyl 5-acyl-4-pyrone-2-carboxylates with primary mono- and diamines

An approach for the introduction of the tricarbonyl moiety into aromatic, heterocyclic, and aliphatic amines with the use of acylpyrones has been developed for the synthesis and the design of novel polycarbonyl Schiff base ligands, including salphen structures. This Michael addition–ring-opening reaction proceeds under mild conditions (stirring at 0–20 °C) via the attack at the C-6 position of the pyrone ring in good to high yields (up to 99%) with excellent selectivity. The products can be easily isolated by crystallization without the use of chromatography. The scope of the reaction, tautomeric equilibrium of open-chain products, and their cyclization into pyridone structures were investigated.

An approach for the introduction of the tricarbonyl moiety into various amines has been developed based on acylpyrones.

Carbene metal amide photoemitters: tailoring conformationally flexible amides for full color range emissions including white-emitting OLED

Conformationally flexible "Carbene-Metal-Amide" (CMA) complexes of copper and gold have been developed based on a combination of sterically hindered cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) and 6- and 7-ring heterocyclic amide ligands. These complexes show photoemissions across the visible spectrum with PL quantum yields of up to 89% in solution and 83% in host-guest films. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence (PL) studies combined with DFT calculations indicate the important role of ring structure and conformational flexibility of the amide ligands. Time-resolved PL shows efficient delayed emission with sub-microsecond to microsecond excited state lifetimes at room temperature, with radiative rates exceeding 10⁶ s^-1. Yellow organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on a 7-ring gold amide were fabricated by thermal vapor deposition, while the sky-blue to warm-white mechanochromic behavior of the gold phenothiazine-5,5-dioxide complex enabled fabrication of the first CMA-based white light-emitting OLED.

Hinged and Wide: A New P^P Ligand for Emissive [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] Complexes

Heteroleptic [Cu(BIPHEP)(N^N)][PF6] complexes (BIPHEP = 1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diylbis(diphenylphosphane)), in which N^N is 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 6-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (6-Mebpy), 6-ethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (6-Etbpy), or 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5,5'-Me2bpy), have been synthesized and characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopies and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The single crystal structures of [Cu(BIPHEP)(bpy)][PF6]∙CH2Cl2, [Cu(BIPHEP)(5,5'-Me2bpy)][PF6]∙CH2Cl2, [Cu(BIPHEP)(6-Mebpy)][PF6]∙Et2O∙0.5H2O and [Cu(BIPHEP)(6-Etbpy)][PF6] confirm distorted tetrahedral {Cu(P^P)(N^N)} coordination environments. Each compound shows a quasi-reversible Cu+/Cu2+ process. In deaerated solution, the compounds are weak emitters. Powdered samples are yellow emitters (λemmax in the range 558-583 nm) and [Cu(BIPHEP)(5,5'-Me2bpy)][PF6] exhibits the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY = 14%). On cooling to 77 K (frozen 2-methyloxolane), the emission maxima are red-shifted and the excited state lifetimes increase from τ1/2 < 8 μs, to τ1/2 values of up to 53 μs, consistent with the compounds with N^N = 6-Mebpy, 6-Etbpy and 5,5'-Me2bpy exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF).

Highly soluble fluorine containing Cu(i) AlkylPyrPhos TADF complexes

Luminescent Cu(i) AlkylPyrPhos complexes with a butterfly-shaped Cu₂I₂ core and halogen containing ancillary ligands, with a special focus on fluorine, have been investigated in this study. These complexes show extremely high solubilities and a remarkable (photo)chemical stability in a series of solvents. A tunable emission resulting from thermally activated delayed fluorescence with high quantum yields was determined by luminescence and lifetime investigations in solvents and solids. Structures of the electronic ground states were analyzed by single crystal X-ray analysis. The structure of the lowest excited triplet state was determined by transient FTIR spectroscopy, in combination with quantum chemical calculations. With the obtained range of compounds we address the key requirement for the production of organic light emitting diodes based on solution processing.

Strongly Luminescent Tungsten Emitters with Emission Quantum Yields of up to 84 %: TADF and High-Efficiency Molecular Tungsten OLEDs

Metal-TADF (thermally activated delayed fluorescence) emitters hold promise in the development of next generation light-emitting materials for display and lighting applications, examples of which are, however, largely confined to Cu^I and recently Au^I , Ag^I , and Au^III emitters. Herein is described the design strategy for an unprecedented type of metal-TADF emitter based on inexpensive tungsten metal chelated with Schiff base ligand that exhibit high emission quantum yields of up to 56 % in solutions and 84 % in thin-film (5 wt % in 1,3-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene, mCP) at room temperature. Femtosecond time-resolved emission (fs-TRE) spectroscopy and DFT calculations were undertaken to decipher the TADF properties. Solution-processed OLEDs fabricated with the W-TADF emitter demonstrated external quantum efficiency (EQE) and luminance of up to 15.6 % and 16890 cd m^-2 , respectively.

Highly luminescent copper(i) halide complexes chelated with a tetradentate ligand (PNNP): synthesis, structure, photophysical properties and theoretical studies

Strongly emissive copper(i) halide complexes constructed from a new tetradentate chelating ligand and butterfly-shaped Cu₂X₂ cores are presented and systematically investigated.

Modulation of emission properties of phosphine-sulfonate ligand containing copper complexes: playing with solvato-, thermo-, and mechanochromism

A series of Cuprous and Cuprate(i) complexes have been selectively obtained by addition of solvents or metal salts.

Pyridylphosphine supported Ag(i) and Cu(i) complexes for detection of alcohols and nitriles via structural transformations from 1D to 0D

One-dimensional chain Ag(i) and Cu(i) complexes exhibit vapochromic luminescence for the detection of alcohols and nitriles via structural transformations from 1D to 0D.

Iodine monobromide catalysed regioselective synthesis of 3-arylquinolines from α-aminoacetophenones and trans-β-nitrostyrenes

A simple and efficient method for regioselective synthesis of 3-arylquinolines is described from α-aminoacetophenones and trans-β-nitrostyrenes using 20 mol% iodine monobromide as a catalyst in acetonitrile solvent at 80 °C.

Photoluminescence of Ag(i) complexes with a square-planar coordination geometry: the first observation

First examples of square-planar Ag(i) complexes showing MLCT emission are reported. They demonstrate an interesting thermochromic luminescence with the nano- and microsecond lifetime components.

Facile synthesis of substituted quinolines by iron(iii)-catalyzed cascade reaction between anilines, aldehydes and nitroalkanes

A library of substituted quinolines has been synthesized by the reaction of aldehydes, anilines and nitroalkanes using a catalytic amount of Fe(iii) chloride.

Chemoselective mechanochemical route toward a bright TADF-emitting CuI-based coordination polymer

We report a simple and effective mechanochemical synthesis of a strongly-emissive TADF-material based on a CuI-coordination polymer that is unobtainable through traditional wet methods.

Phosphane tuning in heteroleptic [Cu(N^N)(P^P)]+ complexes for light-emitting electrochemical cells

The effects on photo-and electroluminescent properties of structurally modifying the bisphosphane in [Cu(N^N)(P^P)]⁺ complexes (N^N = bpy, 6-Mebpy, 6,6′-Me₂bpy) are described.

Photoredox catalysts based on earth-abundant metal complexes

Visible light photoredox catalysis has exploded into the consciousness of the synthetic chemist. We critically review Earth-abundant metal complexes photocatalysts including Cu(i), Zn(ii), Ni(0), V(v), Zr(iv), W(0), W(vi), Mo(0), Cr(iii), Co(iii) and Fe(ii).

Luminescence and reactivity of a charge-transfer excited iron complex with nanosecond lifetime

Iron’s abundance and rich coordination chemistry are potentially appealing features for photochemical applications. However, the photoexcitable charge-transfer states of most iron complexes are limited by picosecond or subpicosecond deactivation through low-lying metal-centered states, resulting in inefficient electron-transfer reactivity and complete lack of photoluminescence. In this study, we show that octahedral coordination of iron(III) by two mono-anionic facialtris-carbene ligands can markedly suppress such deactivation. The resulting complex [Fe(phtmeimb)2]+, where phtmeimb is {phenyl[tris(3-methylimidazol-1-ylidene)]borate}−, exhibits strong, visible, room temperature photoluminescence with a 2.0-nanosecond lifetime and 2% quantum yield via spin-allowed transition from a doublet ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (2LMCT) state to the doublet ground state. Reductive and oxidative electron-transfer reactions were observed for the2LMCT state of [Fe(phtmeimb)2]+in bimolecular quenching studies with methylviologen and diphenylamine.

A Toolbox Approach To Construct Broadly Applicable Metal-Free Catalysts for Photoredox Chemistry: Deliberate Tuning of Redox Potentials and Importance of Halogens in Donor-Acceptor Cyanoarenes

The targeted choice of specific photocatalysts has been shown to play a critical role for the successful realization of challenging photoredox catalytic transformations. Herein, we demonstrate the successful implementation of a rational design strategy for a series of deliberate structural manipulations of cyanoarene-based, purely organic donor-acceptor photocatalysts, using 1,2,3,5-tetrakis(carbazol-9-yl)-4,6-dicyanobenzene (4CzIPN) as a starting point. Systematic modifications of both the donor substituents as well as the acceptors' molecular core allowed us to identify strongly oxidizing as well as strongly reducing catalysts (e.g., for an unprecedented detriflation of unactivated naphthol triflate), which additionally offer remarkably balanced redox potentials with predictable trends. Especially halogen arene core substitutions are instrumental for our targeted alterations of the catalysts' redox properties. Based on their preeminent electrochemical and photophysical characteristics, all novel, purely organic photoredox catalysts were evaluated in three challenging, mechanistically distinct classes of benchmark reactions (either requiring balanced, highly oxidizing or strongly reducing properties) to demonstrate their enormous potential as customizable photocatalysts, that outperform and complement prevailing typical best photocatalysts.

Photoactive Complexes with Earth-Abundant Metals

In this invited Perspective, recent developments and possible future directions of research on photoactive coordination compounds made from nonprecious transition metal elements will be discussed. The focus is on conceptually new, structurally well-characterized complexes with excited-state lifetimes between 10 ps and 1 ms in fluid solution for possible applications in photosensitizing, light-harvesting, luminescence and catalysis. The key metal elements considered herein are Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Mo, W and Ce in various oxidation states equipped with diverse ligands, giving access to long-lived excited states via a range of fundamentally different types of electronic transitions. Research performed in this area over the past five years demonstrated that a much broader spectrum of metal complexes than what was long considered relevant exhibits useful photophysics and photochemistry.

Intensely Photoluminescent Diamidophosphines of the Alkaline-Earth Metals, Aluminum, and Zinc

The positively charged and weakly polarizable s-block metals commonly do not usually have phosphine ligands in molecular complexes. Herein, we report mono- and dinuclear small diamidophosphine complexes of the alkaline-earth metals Mg, Ca, and Sr, which were prepared from simple precursors and a phosphine-functionalized diamine ligand N,N-bis(2-(diphenyl-phosphino)phenyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (PNHNHP). The alkaline-earth metal based complexes [(PNNP)Mg]₂ and [(PNNP)M(thf)₃ ] (M=Ca, Sr), exhibit unusual coordination spheres and show bright fluorescence, both in the solid state and in solution. For comparison, the even stronger luminescent Al and Zn complexes [(PNNP)Zn]₂ and [(PNNP)AlCl] were prepared. Emission lifetimes in the nanosecond range and high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 93 % are observed at room temperature.

Rise of Conjugated Poly-ynes and Poly(Metalla-ynes): From Design Through Synthesis to Structure-Property Relationships and Applications

Conjugated poly-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes) constitute an important class of new materials with potential application in various domains of science. The key factors responsible for the diverse usage of these materials is their intriguing and tunable chemical and photophysical properties. This review highlights fascinating advances made in the field of conjugated organic poly-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes) incorporating group 4-11 metals. This includes several important aspects of conjugated poly-ynes viz. synthetic protocols, bonding, electronic structure, nature of luminescence, structure-property relationships, diverse applications, and concluding remarks. Furthermore, we delineated the future directions and challenges in this particular area of research.

Study on Relationship Between Fluorescence Properties and Structure of Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinoline Zinc Complexes

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) produced from 8-hydroxyquinoline metal complexes play a vital role in modern electroluminescent devices. In this manuscript, a series of 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives were synthesized by different methods and their corresponding zinc metal complexes were prepared. The UV and fluorescence properties of the complexes were measured aiming to understand the effect of substituents at the quinoline ring on the fluorescence properties of the complexes. When the C-5 of 8-hydroxyquinoline was replaced by halogen group, the fluorescence emission wavelengths had been red-shifted, at the same time, blue-shifted of fluorescence emission wavelength was observed when the C-5 position of 8-hydroxyquinoline was substituted by electron-withdrawing group. When the C-4 position of 8-hydroxyquinolie was substituted by methyl or the C-5 position was substituted by sulfonic acid group, the corresponding zinc complexes had higher fluorescence intensity than 8-hydroxyquinolie zinc.

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of a new luminescent NiII complex: bis{2,4-dichloro-6-[(2-hydroxypropyl)iminomethyl]phenolato-κ3O,N,O'}nickel(II)

The design and preparation of transition-metal complexes with Schiff base ligands are of interest due to their potential applications in the fields of molecular magnetism, nonlinear optics, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), sensing and photoluminescence. Luminescent metal complexes have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. A new luminescent nickel(II) complex, [Ni(C₁₀H₁₀Cl₂NO₂)₂], has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis, UV-Vis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and LC-MS/MS. Molecules of the complex in the crystals lie on special positions, on crystallographic binary rotation axes. The Ni^II atoms are six-coordinated by two phenolate O, two imine N and two hydroxy O atoms from two tridentate Schiff base 2,4-dichloro-6-[(2-hydroxypropyl)iminomethyl]phenolate ligands, forming an elongated octahedral geometry. Furthermore, the complex exhibits a strong green luminescence emission in the solid state at room temperature, as can be seen from the (CIE) chromaticity diagram, and hence the complex may be a promising green OLED (organic light-emitting diode) in the development of electroluminescent materials for flat-panel-display applications.

"Two-in-one" organic-inorganic hybrid MnII complexes exhibiting dual-emissive phosphorescence

Unprecedented organic-inorganic hybrid complexes, [Mn(L)3]MnHal4, containing both four- and hexacoordinated Mn2+ ions were synthesized by reacting MnCl2 or MnBr2 with bis(phosphine oxide) ligands (L) such as dppmO2, dppeO2, and 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphinyl)-1,3-butadiene (dppbO2). In the [Mn(L)3]2+ cation of the complexes, the Mn2+ ion features a [MnO6] octahedral coordination environment (Oh), and the [MnHal4]2- anion adopts a tetrahedral geometry (Td). These "two-in-one" complexes exhibit strong long-lived luminescence (τav = 12-15 ms at 300 K) having interesting thermochromic behavior attributed to the thermal equilibrium between two emission bands. So, in an emission spectrum of the typical complex [Mn(dppbO2)3]MnBr4, the intense "red" (ca. 620 nm) and weak "green" (ca. 520 nm) bands, originating from Mn2+ ions in Oh and Td environments, respectively, are observed. Cooling from 300 to 77 K simultaneously leads to (i) redshift of both bands by ca. 20 nm, (ii) increasing their intensities, and (iii) causing a substantial change of their integral intensity ratio from about 4 : 1 to 2 : 1. As a result, the colour of the emission changes from orange (CIE 0.56, 0.45) at 300 K to deep red (CIE 0.62, 0.39) at 77 K. This behavior was rationalized using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopy at various temperatures. The high photoluminescence quantum yields (up to 61% at 300 K) and fascinating dual-emissive phosphorescence coupled with high thermal stability and solubility suggest a high potential of this novel class of emissive Mn2+ complexes as promising emitters for OLED devices and potential stimuli-responsive materials.

White perovskite based lighting devices

Hybrid organic–inorganic and all-inorganic metal halide perovskites have been one of the most intensively studied materials during the last few years.