Theoretical design of phosphorescence parameters for organic electro-luminescence devices based on iridium complexes

Cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes towards blue-emissive dopant for organic light-emitting diodes: fundamentals of photophysics and designing strategies

The fundamental photophysics of cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes and surveys design strategies for efficient blue phosphorescent Ir(iii) complexes are summarised.

Judicious Design of Cationic, Cyclometalated Ir(III) Complexes for Photochemical Energy Conversion and Optoelectronics

The exponential growth in published studies on phosphorescent metal complexes has been triggered by their utilization in optoelectronics, solar energy conversion, and biological labeling applications. Very recent breakthroughs in organic photoredox transformations have further increased the research efforts dedicated to discerning the inner workings and structure-property relationships of these chromophores. Initially, the principal focus was on the Ru(II)-tris-diimine complex family. However, the limited photostability and lack of luminescence tunability discovered in these complexes prompted a broadening of the research to include 5d transition metal ions. The resulting increase in ligand field splitting prevents the population of antibonding e_g* orbitals and widens the energy range available for color tuning. Particular attention was given to Ir(III), and its cyclometalated, cationic complexes have now replaced Ru(II) in the vast majority of applications. At the start, this Account documents the initial efforts dedicated to the color tuning of these complexes for their application in light emitting electrochemical cells, an easy to fabricate single-layer organic light emitting device (OLED). Systematic modifications of the ligand sphere of [Ir(ppy)₂bpy]⁺ (ppy: 2-phenylpyridine, bpy: 2,2'-bipyridine) with electron withdrawing and donating substituents allowed access to complexes with luminescence emission maxima throughout the visible spectrum exhibiting room temperature excited state lifetimes ranging from nanoseconds to dozens of microseconds and quantum yields up to 15 times that of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺. The diverse photophysical properties were also beneficial when using these Ir(III) complexes for driving solar fuel-producing reactions. For instance, photocatalytic water-reduction systems were explored to gain access to efficient water splitting systems. For this purpose, a variety of water reduction catalysts were paired with libraries of Ir(III) photosensitizers in high-throughput photoreactors. This parallelized approach allowed exploration of the interplay between the diverse photophysical properties of the Ir compounds and the electron-accepting catalysts. Further work enhanced and simplified the critical electron transfer processes between these two species through the use of bridging functional groups installed on the photosensitizer. Later, a novel approach summarized in this Account explores the possibility of using Zn metal as a solar fuel. Structure-activity relationships of the light-driven reduction of Zn²⁺ to Zn metal are described. DFT calculations along with cyclic voltammetry were utilized to gain clear insights into the complexes' electronic structures responsible for the effective photochemical properties observed in these dyes. While [Ir(ppy)₂bpy]⁺ and its derivatives were found to be much more photostable than the Ru(II)-tris-diimine complex family, mass spectrometry indicated that the bpy ligand still photodissociated under extensive illumination. An interesting new approach involved the substitution of the bidentate 2,2'-bipyridine with a stronger chelating terpyridine ligand. This approach leaves room for one 2-phenylpyridine ligand and a third, anionic ligand, either Cl^- or CN^-. This Account reviews the effect of structural modifications on the photophysical properties of these [Ir(tpy)(ppy)X]⁺ complexes and corroborates the findings with the results obtained through DFT modeling. These complexes found application in photocatalytic CO₂ reductions as well as a solvent tolerant light-absorber for the photogeneration of hydrogen. It was also documented that the robustness of these dyes in photoredox processes supersedes those of the commercially available [Ir(ppy)₂(dtbbpy)]PF₆ and [Ir(dF(CF₃)ppy)₂(dtbbpy)]PF₆ complexes pioneered in the Bernhard laboratory.

Anomalous Phosphorescence from an Organometallic White-Light Phosphor

We report theoretical results on the possible violation of Kasha's rule in the phosphorescence process of (acetylacetonato)bis(1-methyl-2-phenylimidazole)iridium(III) and show that the anomalous emission from both the T₁ and T₂ states is key to its white-light phosphorescence. This analysis is supported by the calculated Boltzmann-averaged phosphorescence lifetime of 2.21 μs, estimated including both radiative and nonradiative processes and in excellent agreement with the experimentally reported value of 1.96 ± 0.1 μs. The T₂ state is found to be of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer character (dπ → nπ), and the d orbital contribution comes from 5d_z² and 5d_x²-y², whereas the S₁ and T₁ states both have dπ-pπ character with significant 5d_xz orbital contribution, allowing for efficient intersystem crossing from the S₁ to the T₂ state and, in turn, phosphorescence from the T₂ state. Our results open new opportunities for tailoring the phosphorescence wavelength and thus the design of molecules with improved photovoltaic properties.

Theory and Calculation of the Phosphorescence Phenomenon

Phosphorescence is a phenomenon of delayed luminescence that corresponds to the radiative decay of the molecular triplet state. As a general property of molecules, phosphorescence represents a cornerstone problem of chemical physics due to the spin prohibition of the underlying triplet-singlet emission and because its analysis embraces a deep knowledge of electronic molecular structure. Phosphorescence is the simplest physical process which provides an example of spin-forbidden transformation with a characteristic spin selectivity and magnetic field dependence, being the model also for more complicated chemical reactions and for spin catalysis applications. The bridging of the spin prohibition in phosphorescence is commonly analyzed by perturbation theory, which considers the intensity borrowing from spin-allowed electronic transitions. In this review, we highlight the basic theoretical principles and computational aspects for the estimation of various phosphorescence parameters, like intensity, radiative rate constant, lifetime, polarization, zero-field splitting, and spin sublevel population. Qualitative aspects of the phosphorescence phenomenon are discussed in terms of concepts like structure-activity relationships, donor-acceptor interactions, vibronic activity, and the role of spin-orbit coupling under charge-transfer perturbations. We illustrate the theory and principles of computational phosphorescence by highlighting studies of classical examples like molecular nitrogen and oxygen, benzene, naphthalene and their azaderivatives, porphyrins, as well as by reviewing current research on systems like electrophosphorescent transition metal complexes, nucleobases, and amino acids. We furthermore discuss modern studies of phosphorescence that cover topics of applied relevance, like the design of novel photofunctional materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), photovoltaic cells, chemical sensors, and bioimaging.

Predicting phosphorescent lifetimes and zero-field splitting of organometallic complexes with time-dependent density functional theory including spin-orbit coupling

The (photo)physical properties of organometallic complexes are crucially affected by relativistic effects. In a non- or scalar-relativistic picture, triplet states are threefold degenerate. Spin-orbit coupling lifts this degeneracy (zero-field splitting, ZFS) and enables phosphorescence from the three triplet-like states to the ground state. The fine structure and radiative lifetimes of phosphorescent organometallic complexes are important properties for designing efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Here we show that experimental ZFSs and phosphorescent lifetimes for a large variety of organometallic complexes are well reproduced by self-consistent spin-orbit coupling TDDFT (SOC-TDDFT) calculations with a continuum solvation model. By comparing with perturbative SOC-TDDFT and gas phase calculations, we find that both full spin-orbit and solvation effects are important for the predicted properties. SOC-TDDFT is thus shown to be a useful predictive tool for the rational design of phosphors in OLEDs and other optoelectronic devices.

Spin–orbit coupling analyses of phosphorescent processes in Ir(Zppy)3 (Z = NH2, NO2 and CN)

Appropriate combinations of substituents provide brighter blue-color emission in OLEDs. The present MCSCF + SOCI + SOC calculations suggest that the best material for blue-color emission is fac-Ir(5-NO₂ppy)₃ or fac-Ir(5-NO₂-4,6-dfppy)₃, or practically fac-Ir(5-CN-3,4,6-tfppy)₃.

FIrpic: archetypal blue phosphorescent emitter for electroluminescence

FIrpic is the most investigated bis-cyclometallated iridium complex. This Perspective reviews the main experimental and theoretical aspects of FIrpic as well as its use as sky-blue emitter for OLED.

Ir(iii) complexes designed for light-emitting devices: beyond the luminescence color array

This Perspective highlights the photophysics and recent breakthroughs in the study of emissive Ir(iii) compounds, including a personal account elucidating the role of molecular and electronic structures in controlling the photophysics of heteroleptic [Ir(N^C)₂(L^X)]⁺ complexes.

Hetero Bodipy-dimers as heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers showing a long-lived triplet excited state for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion

Bodipy dimers in which the two different sub-units take an orthogonal orientation were prepared, which show strong absorption of visible light, long-lived triplet excited states (140.9 μs) and high singlet oxygen ((1)O2) quantum yields (64%). The dimers were used for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (quantum yield is up to 3.7%).

A theoretical study on tuning the electronic structures and photophysical properties of newly designed platinum(ii) complexes by adding substituents on functionalized ligands as highly efficient OLED emitters

Adding strong π-accepting and electron-donating groups could stabilize MLCT and improve the photophysical properties in platinum(ii) complexes.

Triplet photosensitizers: from molecular design to applications

Triplet photosensitizers (PSs) are compounds that can be efficiently excited to the triplet excited state which subsequently act as catalysts in photochemical reactions. The name is originally derived from compounds that were used to transfer the triplet energy to other compounds that have only a small intrinsic triplet state yield. Triplet PSs are not only used for triplet energy transfer, but also for photocatalytic organic reactions, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photoinduced hydrogen production from water and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion. A good PS should exhibit strong absorption of the excitation light, a high yield of intersystem crossing (ISC) for efficient production of the triplet state, and a long triplet lifetime to allow for the reaction with a reactant molecule. Most transition metal complexes show efficient ISC, but small molar absorption coefficients in the visible spectral region and short-lived triplet excited states, which make them unsuitable as triplet PSs. One obstacle to the development of new triplet PSs is the difficulty in predicting the ISC of chromophores, especially of organic compounds without any heavy atoms. This review article summarizes some molecular design rationales for triplet PSs, based on the molecular structural factors that facilitate ISC. The design of transition metal complexes with large molar absorption coefficients in the visible spectral region and long-lived triplet excited states is presented. A new method of using a spin converter to construct heavy atom-free organic triplet PSs is discussed, with which ISC becomes predictable, C60 being an example. To enhance the performance of triplet PSs, energy funneling based triplet PSs are proposed, which show broadband absorption in the visible region. Applications of triplet PSs in photocatalytic organic reactions, hydrogen production, triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion and luminescent oxygen sensing are briefly introduced.

Theoretical study on electronic structures and phosphorescence properties of four tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

The geometry structures, electronic structures, absorption, and phosphorescence properties of four tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes IrL3, that is, 1 (L = 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato,N,C2′), 2 (L = 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato,N,C2′-5-phenyl), 3 (L = 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato,N,C2′-5-(p-tolyl)), and 4 (L = 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl) benzo[h]isoquinoline), have been investigated under the framework of the time-dependent density functional theory approach. For assumed 2 and 3, the emission energies are nearly the same, consistent with their similar HOMO−LUMO energy gaps. The calculated lowest energy emissions are localized at 523, 605, 616, and 642 nm for 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Calculations of ionization potential and electron affinity were used to evaluate the injection abilities of holes and electrons into these complexes. For 2, the calculated results evidenced a larger 3MLCT contribution (27.0%), a large S0 → S1 transition dipole moment ([Formula: see text]) of 1.43 D, and a small S1−T1 splitting energy ([Formula: see text]) of 0.33 eV, which could result in a large radiative decay rate (kr). We hope that this theoretical work can provide a suitable guide to the future design and synthesis of novel phosphorescent materials for use in the organic light-emitting diodes.