Constructing Highly Efficient Blue OLEDs with External Quantum Efficiencies up to 7.5 % Based on Anthracene Derivatives

Nitrogen Atom Induced Contrast Effect on the Mechanofluorochromic Characteristics of Anthracene-Based Acceptor-Donor-Acceptor Fluorescent Molecules

The mechanofluorochromic (MFC) characteristics of anthracene-based acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) fluorescent molecules are explored through a comprehensive investigation of their photophysical behaviors. Six 9,10-diheteroarylanthracene derivatives with varying acceptor groups (pyridin-4-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl, pyrazinyl and quinoxalinyl) are synthesized and systematically characterized. The photophysical properties in both solution and solid-state are examined, revealing subtle yet significant influences of the spatial arrangement and number of nitrogen atoms within the acceptor group on fluorescence emission. Single-crystal structures of these compounds provide insights into their steric configurations and intermolecular packing modes, offering valuable insights into the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the observed MFC properties. This study illuminates the intricate interplay between MFC properties and the refined molecular structure, thus presenting promising avenues for the design and advancement of novel MFC materials.

A Breakthrough in Solution-Processed Ultra-Deep-Blue HLCT OLEDs: A Record External Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 10% Based on Novel V-Shaped Emitters

It is always a great challenge to achieve high-efficiency solution-processed ultra-deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1931 chromaticity coordinates matching the blue primary of Rec. International Telecommunication Union-Radiocommunication BT.2100, which specifies high dynamic range television image parameters. Inspired by hybrid local and charge transfer (HLCT) excited state emitters improving exciton utilization through high-lying reverse intersystem crossing, here, a series of high-performance blue emitters by a V-shaped symmetric donor (D)-π-acceptor (A)-π-D design strategy are developed. Here, the large torsions and unstable bonds of D-A structures can be improved through π bridges, and also the conjugation length and donor groups can be easily adjusted. The obtained emitters merit excellent photophysical and electrochemical properties, thermal stability, solution processibility, and HLCT excited state excellence. Results suggest that the OLEDs based on the obtained blue emitters all achieve high maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax ) of more than 8% with very low efficiency roll-off. In particular, the device based on 4',5'-bis(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)spiro[fluorene-9,2'-imidazole] exhibits a satisfactory ultra-deep-blue emission (CIEx , y = 0.1579, 0.0387) and a record-high EQEmax (10.40%) among solution-processed HLCT OLEDs, which is very close to the record EQEmax of devices by vacuum vapor deposition technology.

Indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole-Derived Narrowband Violet-Blue Fluorophores: Tuning the Optical and Electroluminescence Properties by Chromophore Juggling

The development of rigid polyaromatic building blocks for narrowband violet fluorophores has received tremendous attention. Herein, we designed and synthesized two new triangle-shaped rigid building blocks, namely, 2,5-di-tert-butylindolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole (tBuICz) and 2,11-di-tert-butylindolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole-4-carbonitrile (tBuICzCN), and tethered them with different chromophores to yield a series of violet-blue fluorophores, viz., ICzTPA-ICzPICN, and studied their structure-function relationship. The appended chromophores and cyano unit played a vital role in controlling the optical and electrical properties of the compounds. Except triphenylamine-substituted derivatives, the compounds showed pure violet emission (λ_em ≤ 403 nm). Intriguingly, the compounds exhibited narrow-band emission with a full-width at half-maximum ≤ 40 nm, attributed to the rigidity of the ICz core. The emission of the compounds displayed positive solvatochromism, which is ascribed to the photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in the excited state. The compounds revealed excellent thermal robustness with T_5d ≥ 363 °C. The triphenylamine-featuring derivatives displayed a high-lying HOMO compared to their congeners due to their electron-rich nature. When we applied these materials in organic light-emitting diodes, ICzPI outperformed in the series with an EQE_max of 3.07% and a current efficiency of 1.04 cd/A. Notably, its CIEy ∼ 0.046 precisely matched with the Rec.2020 standard of deep-blue color (CIEy ∼ 0.046).