Carbazole/fluorene copolymers with dimesitylboron pendants for blue light-emitting diodes

A series of random and alternating carbazole/fluorene copolymers with various dimesitylboron-containing carbazole derivative contents were synthesized by Suzuki polymerization for use as a light-emitting layer in blue light-emitting diodes. Two carbazole derivatives, CzPhB and CzPhThB consisted of a carbazoyl group as the donor and a dimesitylboron group as the acceptor group, separated by phenyl and phenyl-thiophene groups π-conjugated systems, respectively. The copolymers exhibited good thermal stability and blue emission in both solution and the solid state. Moreover, the CzPhB/fluorene and CzPhThB/fluorene copolymers exhibited a higher PL quantum efficiency than the fluorene-based homopolymer (POF). Higher brightness and larger current efficiency were observed for the CzPhB/fluorene and CzPhThB/fluorene copolymer-based devices compared to the POF-based device. Additionally, the CzPhThB/fluorene copolymer-based devices had better EL performances than the CzPhB/fluorene copolymer-based devices. The turn-on voltage, maximal brightness, and highest luminescence efficiency of the carbazole/fluorene copolymer-based devices were found to be 4.5-8.5 V, 436 cd/m², and 0.51 cd/A, respectively.     

New tetraphenylethylene-containing conjugated polymers: Facile synthesis,aggregation-induced emission enhanced characteristics and application as explosive chemsensors and PLEDs

In this paper, tetraphenylethylene (TPE) units, one of the typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) moieties, are utilized to construct a new functional polyfluorene (PF) P1, which exhibited the exciting property of the aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE), instead of the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of normal PFs, and could probe the explosive with high sensitivity both in the nanoparticles and solid state. Three other TPE-containing polymers, P2–P4, were also successfully prepared, and demonstrated good performance as explosive chemosensors and light-emitting materials. P3, bearing carbazole as hole-transporting units showed the best performance with a maximum luminance efficiency of 1.17 cd/A and a maximum brightness of 3609 cd/m² at 12.9 V in its light-emitting diode device.     

Novel yellow phosphorescent iridium complexes containing a carbazole–oxadiazole unit used in polymeric light-emitting diodes

Yellow iridium complexes Ir(PPOHC)₃ and (PPOHC)₂Ir(acac) (PPOHC: 3-(5-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-9-hexyl-9H-carbazole) were synthesized and characterized. The Ir(PPOHC)₃ complex has good thermal stability with 5% weight-reduction occurring at 370 °C and a glass-transition temperature of 201 °C. A polymeric light-emitting diode using the Ir(PPOHC)₃ complex as a phosphorescent dopant showed a luminance efficiency of 16.4 cd/A and the maximum external quantum efficiency of 6.6% with CIE coordinates of (0.50, 0.49). A white polymeric light-emitting diode was fabricated using Ir(PPOHC)₃ which showed a luminance efficiency of 15.3 cd/A, with CIE coordinates of (0.39, 0.44). These results indicate that the iridium complexes containing a linked carbazole–oxadiazole unit are promising candidates in high-efficiency electroluminescent devices.     

Polylactide‐perylene derivative for blue biodegradable organic light‐emitting diodes

In this work we demonstrate, for the first time, the use of polylactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable host matrix for the construction of the active emissive layer of organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) devices for potential use in bioelectronics. In this preliminary study, we report a robust synthesis of two fluorescent PLA derivatives, pyrene‐PLA ( AH10 ) and perylene‐PLA ( AH11 ). These materials were prepared by the ring opening polymerisation of l ‐lactide with hydroxyalkyl‐pyrene and hydroxyalkyl‐perylene derivatives using 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene as catalyst. OLEDs were fabricated from these materials using a simple device architecture involving a solution‐processed single‐emitting layer in the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK:OXD‐7 (35%): AH10 or AH11 (20%)/TPBi/LiF/Al (ITO, indium tin oxide; PEDOT:PSS, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonic acid); PVK, poly(vinylcarbazole); OXD‐7, (1,3‐phenylene)‐bis‐[5‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole]; TPBi, 2,2′,2″‐(1,3,5‐benzenetriyl)tris(1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzimidazole)). The turn‐on voltage for the perylene OLED at 10 cd m^–2 was around 6 V with a maximum brightness of 1200 cd m^–2 at 13 V. The corresponding external quantum efficiency and device current efficiency were 1.5% and 2.8 cd A^–1 respectively. In summary, this study provides proof of principle that OLEDs can be constructed from PLA, a readily available and renewable bio‐source. © 2020 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.     

Synthesis of laterally attached side-chain liquid crystalline poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and polyfluorene derivatives for the application of polarized electroluminescence

Two series of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and polyfluorene derivatives (PPV1-PPV4 and PF1-PF5) containing laterally attached penta(p-phenylene) mesogenes were synthesized and characterized. These polymers show nematic liquid crystalline behavior. The optical properties of the polymers were investigated by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectrometers and these polymers were fabricated to form the polarized electroluminescent devices using poly(ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT-PSS) as an alignment layer. In the series of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) derivatives, polymer PPV4 offered the best EL device performance. It emitted yellow light at 588 nm at 4 V. The maximum brightness was about 1337 cd/m² at 9 V with a polarized ratio of 2.6. In another series of polyfluorene derivatives, PF4 offered the best EL device performance with the polarized ratio of 12.4 and a maximum luminescence of 1855 cd/m². In the case of polarized white light, as a consequence of blending small amount of PF4 and PF5 with a host polymer PF2, polarized ratio of up to 10.2 and a maximum brightness of 2454 cd/m² have been attained. The aligned films exhibited pronounced polarized ratio, implying that the polymers exhibit potential for linearly polarized LED application.     

Green polymer-light-emitting-diodes based on polyfluorenes containing N-aryl-1,8-naphthalimide and 1,8-naphthoilene-arylimidazole derivatives as color tuner

A novel series of green light emitting single polymers were prepared by end-capping of N-aryl-1,8-naphthalimide and 1,8-naphthoilenearylimidazole derivatives into polyfluorene. The electroluminescence (EL) spectra of polymers (P1 ∼ P5) exhibit greenish-blue, bluish-green, pure green, and yellowish-green emission (λ_max = 465 nm, 490 nm, 500 nm, and 545 nm, respectively) from compounds (M1 ∼ M5). It was found that by the introduction of a small amount of compounds (M1 ∼ M5) (5 mol-%) into polyfluorene, the emission color can be tuned from the blue to green region. The color tuning was found to have gone through charge trapping and Förster energy transfer. The device of P4 emits pure green light with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.20, 0.41), and exhibits a maximum brightness of 11500 cd/m² at 12 V with a structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) [PEDOT:PSS]/PVK/emission layer/Ca/Ag. The device of P5 emits yellowish green light with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.36, 0.56), and exhibits a maximum brightness of 6534 cd/m² at 17 V.     

High Brightness Green Light-Emitting Diode Based on Silole-Containing Polyfluorenes

A novel silole-containing polyfuorene (PSFN) was successfully synthesized by palladium(0)-catalyzed Suziki coupling reactions. Optoelectronic properties of the copolymer were characterized by NMR, UV absorption, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence (EL). The film of the copolymer showed silole-dominant green emission. An EL device of the copolymer with a sandwich configuration of ITO/Polymer/Al displayed exclusive silole emission, which peaked at ~532 nm with the CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.54). The polymer layer contained a conjugated silole-containing polyfluorene that emits green light, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, a low vapor pressure highly crosslinkable liquid, and lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate at a weight ratio of 20:5:1. A dynamic p–i–n junction was formed in thin films of light-emitting polymers admixed with an ionically conductive medium. The PLEC device was turned on at 8 V and the brightness reached up to 2000 cd/m² at 12 V.     

Novel pyrene derivatives: Synthesis, properties and highly efficient non-doped deep-blue electroluminescent device

Two novel pyrene derivatives 1,6-bis(3,5-diphenylphenyl)pyrene (BDPP) and 1,6-bis(2-naphthyl)pyrene (BNP) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectrum and elemental analysis. The compounds BDPP and BNP exhibit bright blue emission with high fluorescence quantum yields. The quantum chemical calculations show that BDPP has a higher non-coplanar structure compared to BNP. The electrochemical properties and energy levels of the compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. BDPP exhibits a high thermal stability with the decomposition temperature of 440 °C and the glass transition temperature of 139 °C. The non-doped device based on BDPP achieves a very stable deep-blue emission with a maximum efficiency of 3.26 cd/A. The 1931 CIE coordinates (0.15, 0.11) of this device are very close to the National Television System Committee blue standard.     

Synthesis and electrophosphorescent device study of carbazole containing dendronized styrenic polymers

Styrenic polymers P1(G0-CZ) and P2(G2-CZ) with carbazoles and carbazole containing dendrons as side chains were efficiently synthesized via “graft-to” approach by using copper-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The new polymers showed wide band gaps and had good thermal stabilities. Two new polymers were studied as electrophosphorescent host materials in OLED devices. Electrophosphorescent devices with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymers:Ir(ppy)₃/TPBI/LiF/Al were fabricated. The polymer P1(G0-CZ) based device showed a maximum current efficiency of 21.4 cd/A, a power efficiency of 12.7 lm/W and an external quantum efficiency of 6.02%. The effect of host polymer structures on the aggregation of transition metal complexes Ir(ppy)₃ in active layer was also investigated.     

Functionalization of conjugated copolymers with phosphorescent iridium complexes and carbazole/1,3,4-oxadiazole dendrons via click chemistry

New types of polyfluorene derivatives containing Ir complexes and carbazole/1,3,4-oxadiazole dendrons on the side chain have been synthesized through “click chemistry” efficiently. By introducing propargyl group into the binaphthyl unit on the polyfluorene backbone, different Ir complex- and functional dendron-containing azides could be quantitatively clicked into the main chain through the Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The efficiency of the click reaction was confirmed by using ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectra. The resulting copolymers exhibited desirable properties, such as excellent solubility, good thermal stability, high molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distribution. The photophysical properties of the copolymers in solutions and solid films were investigated, and the results indicated that the energy transfer from the main chain to the green or red Ir complex was incomplete, and more efficient energy transfer in solid films was observed as compared with that in solution.     

Functional derivatives of (bi)phenyl-substituted carbazoles as building blocks for electro-active polymers

(Bi)phenyl-substituted carbazoles containing reactive functional groups were synthesized by the multi-step synthetic rout. The monomers were examined by various techniques including thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, UV and fluorescence spectrometry as well as electron photoemission technique. These derivatives were also tested as hole transporting materials in bilayer OLEDs with Alq₃ as the emitter. The devices exhibited promising overall performance with a turn-on voltage of ～3 V, a maximal photometric efficiency of 5.1 cd/A and maximum brightness of 12,200–15,600 cd/m².     

Efficient white polymer-light-emitting-diodes based on polyfluorene end-capped with yellowish-green fluorescent dye and blended with a red phosphorescent iridium complex

A novel series of blue and yellowish-green light-emitting single polymers were prepared by end-capping of low contents of 4-bromo-7H-benzo [de]naphtha[2′,3′:4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-7-one (M1) into polyfluorene. Electroluminescence (EL) spectra of these polymers exhibit blue emission (λ_max = 430/460 nm) from the fluorene segments and yellowish-green emission (λ_max = 510/530 nm) from the M1 units. For the polymer (PFNAP-0.06) with the M1 unit content of 0.06 mol-%, its EL spectrum shows balanced intensities of blue emission and yellowish-green emission with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.25, 0.34). The maximum brightness of the device prepared from the polymer (PFNAP-0.06) is 6704 cd/m² at 10 V with a structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) [PEDOT:PSS]/PVK/emission layer/Ca/Ag. A new white polymer-light-emitting-diode (WPLED) can be developed from the single polymer (PFNAP-0.06) system blended with a red phosphorescent iridium complex [Bis(2-[2′-benzothienyl)-pyridinato-N,C^3′] iridium (acetylacetonate) (BtpIr)]. We were able to obtain a white-light-emission device by adjusting the molar ratio of BtpIr to PFNAP-0.06 with a structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) [PEDOT:PSS]/PVK/emission layer/Ca/Ag. The brightness in such a device configuration is 4030 cd/m² at 9 V with CIE coordinates of (0.32, 0.34).     

Hole-limiting conductive vinyl copolymers for AlQ3-based OLED applications

A series of soluble conductive vinyl copolymers containing a hole-transporting N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-phenylnaphthalen-1-amine (MeONPA) moiety and an electron-transporting/hole-blocking 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (OXA) moiety at different composition ratios were synthesized and characterized. The copolymers were applied as the hole-transporting layer (HTL) for a series of heterojunction Organic Light-emitting Diodes (OLEDs) employing the commonly used green emitter tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (AlQ₃) as the electron-transporting layer. AlQ₃ is known to have inferior electron mobility compared to most typical hole-transporting materials. As a result, oxidative degradation of the AlQ₃ emitters caused by the excessive holes accumulated at the interface led to deterioration of the device over time. From the measurement of hole current only devices using electron blocking gold as cathode (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/copolymer/Au), it was found that the hole current for the copolymers reduced as the OXA composition increased. Optimum performance for the AlQ₃-based OLED (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/copolymer/AlQ₃/Ca/Al) was achieved for a 82/18 (molar ratio) (MeONPA/OXA) copolymer. The maximum current efficiency and luminance were 4.2 cd/A and ca 24,000 cd/m² respectively for the charge-balanced copolymer compared to 3.5 cd/A and 6600 cd/m² for similar device employing a homopolymer P(MeONPA) as the HTL.     

Phosphorescent,green-emitting Ir(III) complexes with carbazolyl-substituted 2-phenylpyridine ligands: Effect of binding mode of the carbazole group on photoluminescence and electrophosphorescence

The ligands, 9-((6-phenylpyridin-3-yl)methyl)-9H-carbazole and 9-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)benzyl)-9H-carbazole were synthesized by attaching a carbazolyl group to the pyridine and phenyl rings of 2-phenylpyridine, respectively. Ir(III) complexes were prepared by a simple procedure and the solubility of the novel complexes was significantly better than that of the conventional, green-emitting conventional fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato-C²,N)iridium(III). The Ir(III) complexes were used to prepare electrophosphorescent polymer light-emitting devices. The device comprising 10% of fac-tris(2-(4′-((9H-carbazol-9-yl)methyl)phenyl)pyridinato-C²,N)iridium(III) exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 7.88%, luminous efficiency of 23.01 cd/A, and maximum brightness of 32,640 cd/m². The color of the emissions of fac-tris(2-(4′-((9H-carbazol-9-yl)methyl)phenyl)pyridinato-C²,N)iridium(III) was similar to that of conventional fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato-C²,N)iridium(III). This work shows that integration of a rigid hole-transporting carbazole and phosphorescent complex in one molecule provides a new route to highly efficient, solution-processable complexes for electrophosphorescent applications.     

Improved electroluminescence efficiency of polyfluorenes by simultaneously incorporating dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide unit in main chain and oxadiazole moiety in side chain

A series of efficient and spectrally stable blue light-emitting polyfluorene derivatives containing 3,7-dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide (SO) unit in main chain and oxadiazole (OXD) moiety in the side chain were synthesized via Suzuki copolymerization. It was realized that the glass transition temperatures of the resulted copolymers PFSO-OXD increased gradually with the content of OXD, while the UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence spectra, as well as electrochemical properties were not significantly influenced by the molar ratio of OXD unit. Apparent solvatochromism of copolymers PFSO-OXD can be realized by varying polarity of solvents from toluene to dichloromethane. Light-emitting devices based on PFSO-OXD exhibited superior performances to those of PFSO and PF-OXD20 due to the more balanced charge carrier mobility of the devices. The electroluminescence spectra of all copolymers are independent with the current densities and thermal annealing. The best device performance was achieved based on PFSO-OXD20 with a maximal luminous efficiency of 4.9 cd A⁻¹ with the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.16, 0.12). The results indicated that the strategy of concurrently incorporating SO and OXD unit into the main chain and side chain of polyfluorenes, respectively has great potential to achieve efficient blue light-emitting polymers.     

Novel white-light-emitting polyfluorenes with benzothiadiazole and Ir complex on the backbone

Novel white-emitting polyfluorenes were synthesized by mixing fluorescence and phosphorescence emission. Benzothiadiazole(BT) and iridium(III)bis(2-(1-naphthalene)pyridine-C^2′,N)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione[(1-npy)₂Ir(tmd)] units were incorporated into polyfluorene backbone as green and red chromophores by Suzuki polycondensation. The device from PFG03-IrR07 shows a maximum luminous efficiency (LE) of 5.3 cd/A, a maximum luminance of 9900 cd/m² at a current density of 453 mA/cm² and a CIE coordinate of (0.32, 0.34) with the configuration: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK/emissive layer/CsF/Al. Besides, the EL efficiencies decline slightly with increasing the current density. All emissions located very close to the equi-energy white point (0.33, 0.33) when applied voltage change from 9 to 14 V. Furthermore, the white emission of devices based on these materials shows very good color quality, with high color rendering index range between 84 and 89. Our results indicate that, by incorporation of singlet and triplet species into polymer backbone, the obtained white-emitting materials and devices are promising candidates for display and solid-state-lighting purpose.     

Green electroluminescent polyfluorenes containing 1,8-naphthalimide moieties as color tuner

A series of copolymers (CNPFs) containing low-band-gap 1,8-naphthalimide moieties as color tuner was prepared by a Yamamoto coupling reaction of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene (DBF) and different amount of 4-(3,6-dibromocarbazol-9-yl)-N-(4′-tert-butyl-phenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (Br-CN) (0.05-1 mol% feed ratio). The light emitting properties of the resulting copolymers showed a heavy dependence on the feed ratio. In photoluminescence (PL) studies, an efficient color tuning through the Förster energy transfer mechanism was revealed from blue to green as the increase of Br-CN content, while in electroluminescence (EL) studies, the color tuning was found to go through a charge trapping mechanism. It was found that by introduction of a very small amount of Br-CN (0.1-0.5 mol%) into polyfluorene, the emission color can be tuned from blue to pure green with Commission International de l'Echairage (CIE) coordinates being (0.21, 0.42) and (0.21, 0.48). A green emitting EL single-layer device based on CNPF containing 0.1 mol% of Br-CN showed good performances with a low turn-on voltage of 4.2 V, a brightness of 9104 cd/m², the maximum luminous efficiency of 2.74 cd/A and the maximum power efficiency of 1.51 lm/W. To further improve the EL performances through balancing the charge trapping process, a copolymer (BCNPF05) derived from 0.5 mol% of a triarylamine-containing 4-{3,6-bis-[4″-(4?-bromophenyl-p-tolyl-amino)-phenyl]-carbazol-9-yl}-N-(4′-tert-butyl-phenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (Br-BCN) and 99.5 mol% of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene was also prepared. As expected, a single layer EL device based on BCNPF05 exhibited better performances with a brightness of 14228 cd/m², the maximum luminous efficiency of 4.53 cd/A and the maximum power efficiency of 1.57 lm/W.     

Syntheses and properties of electroluminescent polyfluorene-based conjugated polymers, containing oxadiazole and carbazole units as pendants, for LEDs

New polyfluorenes (PF)-based conjugated copolymers, containing oxadiazole and carbazole units as pendants, were prepared as the electroluminescent (EL) layer in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to show that most of them have higher maximum brightness and EL efficiency as compared to poly(2,7-(9,9-bis(2-ethylhexyl)fluorene)) (PF2/6). The prepared polymers, poly[(9-(6-(N-carbazolyl)-hexyl)-9-hexyl)-fluorene-2,7-diyl]-co-[(9-hexyl-9-(6-(4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl)-phenoxy)-hexyl)-fluorene-2,7-diyl)] (Oxd-PF-co-Cz-PF), were soluble in common organic solvents and used as the EL layer in double layer light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (ITO/PEDOT/polymer/Al). All polymers show photoluminescence around λ_max=430 nm (exciting wavelength, 370 nm) and blue EL around λ_max=426 nm. The current–voltage–luminance (I–V–L) characteristics of the polymers show turn-on voltages of 3.5–5.5 V which are lower than that of PF2/6. The maximum brightness and EL efficiency of the device with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT/polymer/Al were 3000 cd/m² at 10 V and 2.13 cd/A at 10.6 mA/cm², respectively, which are all higher than those of PF2/6.     

Thermally cross-linkable hyperbranched polymers containing triphenylamine moieties: Synthesis, curing and application in light-emitting diodes

This paper demonstrates synthesis of hyperbranched polymers (HTP and HTPOCH₃), containing triphenylamine moieties in main chain and thermally cross-linkable periphery or terminal vinyl groups, and application as hole-transporting layer (HTL) in multilayer light-emitting diodes. Absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to investigate their photophysical, electrochemical properties and thermal curing behaviors, respectively. The hyperbranched HTP and HTPOCH₃ were readily cross-linked by heating scan, with the exothermic peaks being at 221 and 210 °C respectively. The glass-transition temperatures (T_g) of the hyperbranched polymers were higher than 140 °C after thermal cross-linking at 210 °C for 30 min. Multilayer light-emitting diodes (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/HTL/MEH-PPV/Ca/Al), using HTP and HTPOCH₃ as HTL, were readily fabricated by successive spin-coating. The performance of MEH-PPV device (maximum luminance: 9310 cd/m², luminance efficiency: 0.26 cd/A) was effectively enhanced by inserting the thermally cross-linked HTP or HTPOCH₃ as HTL (HTP: 12610 cd/m², 0.32 cd/A; HTPOCH₃: 14060 cd/m², 0.33 cd/A). This indicates that these thermally cross-linkable hyperbranched HTP and HTPOCH₃ are very suitable for the fabrication of multilayer PLEDs using solution processes.     

Electroluminescent Characteristics of DBPPV–ZnO Nanocomposite Polymer Light Emitting Devices

We have demonstrated that fabrication and characterization of nanocomposite polymer light emitting devices with metal Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and 2,3-dibutoxy-1,4-poly(phenylenevinylene) (DBPPV). The current and luminance characteristics of devices with ZnO nanoparticles are much better than those of device with pure DBPPV. Optimized maximum luminance efficiencies of DBPPV–ZnO (3:1 wt%) before annealing (1.78 cd/A) and after annealing (2.45 cd/A) having a brightness 643 and 776 cd/m² at a current density of 36.16 and 31.67 mA/cm² are observed, respectively. Current density–voltage and brightness–voltage characteristics indicate that addition of ZnO nanoparticles can facilitate electrical injection and charge transport. The thermal annealing is thought to result in the formation of an interfacial layer between emissive polymer film and cathode.