Synthesis of High-Triplet-Energy Host Polymer for Blue and White Electrophosphorescent Light-Emitting Diodes

Luminescent carbene-copper(i)-amide polymers for efficient host-free solution-processed OLEDs

Luminescent metallopolymers have attracted broad interest in the fields of healthcare and organic electronics. However, polymeric emitters based on earth-abundant metal complexes are scarce. Here, two series of Cu(i) polymers, PMAC-x and PCAAC-x (x = 1-3) have been developed using two kinds of Cu(i)-based carbene-metal-amide (CMA) complexes as side-chain emitter units to combine with a nonconjugated polystyrene backbone. These Cu(i) polymers emit via distinct thermally activated delayed fluorescence or dominant phosphorescence, inherited from the grafted Cu(i)-based CMA units. Particularly, the PMAC-x polymers exhibit high photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of up to 0.78, short emission lifetimes of down to 0.66 μs, and fast radiative rates of up to 106 s-1 in neat films. Thanks to the good encapsulation effect of the polystyrene backbone, these Cu(i) polymers not only demonstrate favorable moisture stability but also show significant aggregation-induced emission. The resultant host-free solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) achieve outstanding electroluminescence performance with a record external quantum efficiency of 13.8% at a practical luminance of ∼100 nits, representing state-of-the-art device efficiency for metallopolymer-based OLEDs. This work not only presents the first example of CMA polymers but also provides the future direction of polymeric emitters from earth-abundant metal complexes for the OLED application.

Synthetic Strategies for 3,6-Substituted Carbazole-based Polymers and Their Opto-Electronic Applications-A Review

The use of conducting polymers in devices makes them desirable due to their allowance for the fabrication of flexible, lightweight, and potentially inexpensive devices. This review explores the synthetic strategies and characterizations of 3,6-substituted carbazole-based polymers, emphasizing the influence of these modifications on their electronic structure and absorption properties. Polymers containing carbazole substituents are widely studied due to their unique optical and electronic properties, high electron-donating ability, and photoconductivity. The structural adaptability of the carbazole with the 3,6-substitution makes it as an outstanding candidate for their integration into polymers and also possesses improved stability and triplet energy. The role of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) was highlighted by donor-acceptor architectures with tailoring energy levels to extract their advantageous physicochemical characteristics and optimized performances. Collectively, this comprehensive review delves into the burgeoning field of 3,6-substituted carbazole-based polymers and their crucial role in advancing optoelectronic applications. By amalgamating materials design, synthetic strategies, and application-driven insights, the review serves as a valuable resource for researchers to understand the structure-property relationships and foster innovative solutions for next-generation opto-electronic applications.

New Light-Green Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Polymer Based on Dimethylacridine-Triphenyltriazine Light-Emitting Unit and Tetraphenylsilane Moiety as Non-Conjugated Backbone

In the search for solution-processable TADF materials as a light emitting layer for OLED devices, polymers have attracted considerable attention due to their better thermal and morphological properties in the film state with respect to small molecules. In this work, a new polymer (p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ) with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) light-emitting characteristics was prepared from a conjugation-break unit (TPS) and a well-known TADF core (DAMC-TRZ). This material was designed to preserve the photophysical properties of DAMC-TRZ, while improving other properties, such as thermal stability, promoted by its polymerization with a TPS core. Along with excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as toluene, chloroform and THF, the polymer (M_n = 9500; M_w = 15200) showed high thermal stability (TDT_5% = 481 °C), and a T_g value of 265 °C, parameters higher than the reference small molecule DMAC-TRZ (TDT_5% = 305 °C; T_g = 91 °C). The photoluminescence maximum of the polymer was centered at 508 nm in the solid state, showing a low redshift compared to DMAC-TRZ (500 nm), while also showing a redshift in solution with solvents of increasing polarity. Time-resolved photoluminescence of p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ at 298 K, showed considerable delayed emission in solid state, with two relatively long lifetimes, 0.290 s (0.14) and 2.06 s (0.50), and a short lifetime of 23.6 ns, while at 77 K, the delayed emission was considerably quenched, and two lifetimes in total were observed, 24.6 ns (0.80) and 180 ns (0.20), which was expected from the slower RISC process at lower temperatures, decreasing the efficiency of the delayed emission and demonstrating that p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ has a TADF emission. This is in agreement with room temperature TRPL measurements in solution, where a decrease in both lifetime and delayed contribution to total photoluminescence was observed when oxygen was present. The PLQY of the mCP blend films with 1% p-TPS-DMAC-DMAC-TRZ as a dopant was determined to be equal to 0.62, while in the pure film, it was equal to 0.29, which is lower than that observed for DMAC-TRZ (0.81). Cyclic voltammetry experiments showed similarities between p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ and DAMC-TRZ with HOMO and LUMO energies of -5.14 eV and -2.76 eV, respectively, establishing an electrochemical bandgap value of 2.38 eV. The thin film morphology of p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ and DMAC-TRZ was compared by AFM and FE-SEM, and the results showed that p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ has a smoother surface with fewer defects, such as aggregations. These results show that the design strategy succeeded in improving the thermal and morphological properties in the polymeric material compared to the reference small molecule, while the photophysical properties were mostly maintained, except for the PLQY determined in the pure films. Still, these results show that p-TPS-DMAC-TRZ is a good candidate for use as a light-emitting layer in OLED devices, especially when used as a host-guest mixture in suitable materials such as mCP.

Suzuki-Miyaura Catalyst-Transfer Polycondensation of Triolborate-Type Carbazole Monomers

Herein, we report the Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst-transfer polycondensation (SCTP) of triolborate-type carbazole monomers, i.e., potassium 3-(6-bromo-9-(2-octyldodecyl)-9H-carbazole-2-yl)triolborate (M1) and potassium 2-(7-bromo-9-(2-octyldodecyl)-9H-carbazole-2-yl) triolborate (M2), as an efficient and versatile approach for precisely synthesizing poly[9-(2-octyldodecyl)-3,6-carbazole] (3,6-PCz) and poly[9-(2-octyldodecyl)-2,7-carbazole] (2,7-PCz), respectively. The SCTP of triolborate-type carbazole monomers was performed in a mixture of THF/H₂O using an initiating system consisted of 4-iodobenzyl alcohol, Pd₂(dba)₃•CHCl₃, and t-Bu₃P. In the SCTP of M1, cyclic by-product formation was confirmed, as reported for the corresponding pinacolboronate-type monomer. By optimizing the reaction temperature and reaction time, we successfully synthesized linear end-functionalized 3,6-PCz for the first time. The SCTP of M2 proceeded with almost no side reaction, yielding 2,7-PCz with a functional initiator residue at the α-chain end. Kinetic and block copolymerization experiments demonstrated that the SCTP of M2 proceeded in a chain-growth and controlled/living polymerization manner. This is a novel study on the synthesis of 2,7-PCz via SCTP. By taking advantage of the well-controlled nature of this polymerization system, we demonstrated the synthesis of high-molecular-weight 2,7-PCzs (M_n = 5–38 kg mol⁻¹) with a relatively narrow Ð_M (1.35–1.48). Furthermore, we successfully synthesized fluorene/carbazole copolymers as well as 2,7-PCz-containing diblock copolymers, demonstrating the versatility of the present polymerization system as a novel synthetic strategy for well-defined polycarbazole-based materials.

All-Solution-Processed Multilayered White Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes (WPLEDs) Based on Cross-Linked [Ir(4-vb-PBI)2(acac)]

All-solution-processed multilayered white polymer light-emitting diodes (WPLEDs) are promising candidates for low-cost and large-area flexible full-color flat-panel displays and solid-state lighting. However, it is still challenging to improve their performance. In this work, based on an elegant strategy of orthogonal materials, the utilization of the cross-linked Ir³⁺ polymer film poly(NVK-co-[Ir(4-vb-PBI)₂(acac)]-co-NVK) (NVK = N-vinyl-carbazole; 4-vb-HPBI = 1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole; and Hacac = acetylacetone) as the emitting layer (EML) between a hydrophilic polymer film poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the hole injection layer (HIL) and a hydrophobic polymer film poly(vinyl-PBD) (vinyl-PBD = 2-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-5-(4'-vinyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazole) as the electron transport layer (ETL) led to the successful fabrication of reliable all-solution-processed multilayered WPLEDs. The device exhibits a η_CE^Max of 18.19 cd/A, a η_PE^Max of 8.16 lm/W, and a η_EQE^Max of 9.32% with stable white light (Commission International De L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates x = 0.269-0.283, y = 0.317-0.330; corrected color temperatures (CCTs) of 7237-8199 K, and CRIs (color rendering indices) of 63-72) under a wide applied-voltage range. Its high performance, especially with record efficiencies among those of reported all-solution-processed WPLEDs, renders cross-linked Ir³⁺ polymers a new platform to all-solution-processed multilayered WPLEDs.

Efficient Red Phosphorescent Polymers with Trap-Assisted Charge Balance: Molecular Design, Synthesis, and Electroluminescent Properties

Three classes of red phosphorescent polymers (PF-H- x, PF-DPO- x, and PF-DPA- x, where x denotes the mole content of Ir complex) have been designed and synthesized, where the C^∧N ligand of the tethered dopant bis(2,4-diphenylquinolyl)iridium(acetylacetonate) is substituted by hydrogen (H), diphenylphosphine oxide (DPO), and diphenylamine (DPA), respectively. It is found that the electron-withdrawing DPO group can lower the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of the phosphor, whereas the electron-donating DPA group leads to an upshifted highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of the phosphor. Following a sequence of PF-DPA- x, PF-H- x, and PF-DPO- x, the electron trap depth between dopant and host is gradually up from 0.43 to 1.01 eV, and the hole trap depth is correspondingly down from 0.74 to 0.46 eV. As a result, PF-DPO- x achieves the most balanced charge transport in the emitting layer among these polymers, revealing a record-high luminous efficiency (LE) of 10.3 cd/A and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.62, 0.33) on the basis of the simple single-layer device structure. Compared with PF-H- x (3.8 cd/A) and PF-DPA- x (1.2 cd/A) containing the same Ir content, the significantly improved performance indicates that trap-assisted charge balance is a promising strategy to optimize the device efficiency of red phosphorescent polymers.

Realization of high-power-efficiency white electroluminescence from a single polymer by energy-level engineering

Single white light-emitting polymers with a record power efficiency of 52.1 lm W^–1 are realized by energy-level engineering of poly(arylene phosphine oxide)-based phosphorescent polymers.

Single white light-emitting polymers (SWPs) represent a high-fidelity system for generating white light emission from polymers without phase separation compared to polymer blend systems. However, their device performance so far has been limited because of the unwanted hole scattering caused by an energy-level mismatch between emitters and hosts, and the large injection barrier at the polymer/anode interface. Here, we report novel poly(arylene phosphine oxide)-based all-phosphorescent SWPs by using the combination of a high-HOMO-level blue phosphor and high-HOMO-level poly(arylene phosphine oxide) host to achieve a low turn-on voltage of 2.8 V, high external quantum efficiency of 18.0% and remarkable power efficiency of 52.1 lm W^–1, which makes them the most efficient SWPs so far. This record power efficiency is realized by using the high-HOMO-level blue phosphor to eliminate the hole scattering effect and by using the high-HOMO-level polymer host to reduce the hole injection barrier. This result represents an important progress in SWPs to achieve efficiency surpassing that of the polymer blends currently used for solution-processed white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) and even comparable with that of the small molecules used for vacuum-deposited WOLEDs.

Silylated oligomeric poly(ether-azomethine)s from monomers containing biphenyl moieties: synthesis and characterization

In this study, four new silicon-containing poly(ether-azomethine)s with linear structures were prepared using original silicon and biphenyl moiety-containing monomers: two diamines and two dialdehydes. The oligomeric natures of the samples were established by GPC analysis, which showed chains containing 3 to 5 repetitive units. The monomers and the oligomeric samples were structurally characterized by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The solubilities of the samples in common organic solvents and their thermal behavior enable improvement of their industrial and technological processability. The optical band gaps of the oligomeric samples were estimated from optical measurements (UV-vis), and their electrical behavior in films was determined using the four-point method. The surface arrangements and morphological characteristics of the films were determined via atomic force microscopy measurements. The roughness, area increase percentage and layer stiffness of the films were also measured using this technique.

In this study, four new silicon-containing poly(ether-azomethine)s with linear structures were prepared using original silicon and biphenyl moiety-containing monomers: two diamines and two dialdehydes.

High Triplet Energy Level Achieved by Tuning the Arrangement of Building Blocks in Phosphorescent Polymer Backbones for Furnishing High Electroluminescent Performances in Both Blue and White Organic Light-Emitting Devices

A high triplet energy level (E_T) of ca. 2.83 eV has been achieved in a novel polymer backbone through tuning the arrangement of two kinds of building blocks, showing enhanced hole injection/transporting capacity. Based on this new polymer backbone with high E_T, both blue and white phosphorescent polymers were successfully developed with a trade-off between high E_T and enhanced charge-carrier transporting ability. In addition, their photophysical features, electrochemical behaviors, and electroluminescent (EL) properties have been characterized in detail. Benefitting from the advantages associated with the novel polymer backbone, the blue phosphorescent polymers show top-ranking EL performances with a maximum luminance efficiency (η_L) of 15.22 cd A^-1, corresponding to a power efficiency (η_P) of 12.64 lm W^-1, and external quantum efficiency (η_ext) of 6.22% and the stable Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.19, 0.38). Furthermore, blue-orange (B-O) complementary-colored white phosphorescent polymers based on this novel polymer backbone were also obtained showing encouraging EL efficiencies of 12.34 cd A^-1, 9.59 lm W^-1, and 4.10% in the optimized WOLED together with exceptionally stable CIE coordinates of (Δx = 0.014, Δy = 0.010) in a wide driving voltage range from 4 to 16 V. All of these attractive EL results achieved by these novel phosphorescent polymers show the great potential of this new polymer backbone in developing highly efficient phosphorescent polymers.

Enhanced Electron Affinity and Exciton Confinement in Exciplex-Type Host: Power Efficient Solution-Processed Blue Phosphorescent OLEDs with Low Turn-on Voltage

A benzimidazole/phosphine oxide hybrid 1,3,5-tris(1-(4-(diphenylphosphoryl)phenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene (TPOB) was newly designed and synthesized as the electron-transporting component to form an exciplex-type host with the conventional hole-transporting material tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA). Because of the enhanced triplet energy and electron affinity of TPOB, the energy leakage from exciplex-state to the constituting molecule was eliminated. Using energy transfer from exciplex-state, solution-processed blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) achieved an extremely low turn-on voltage of 2.8 V and impressively high power efficiency of 22 lm W(-1). In addition, the efficiency roll-off was very small even at luminance up to 10 000 cd m(-2), which suggested the balanced charge transfer in the emission layer. This study demonstrated that molecular modulation was an effective way to develop efficient exciplex-type host for high performanced PHOLEDs.