Charge conduction study of phosphorescent iridium compounds for organic light-emitting diodes application

The charge conduction properties of a series of iridium-based compounds for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been investigated by thin-film transistor (TFT) technique. These compounds include four homoleptic compounds: Ir(ppy)₃, Ir(piq)₃, Ir(Tpa-py)₃, Ir(Cz-py)₃, and two heteroleptic compounds Ir(Cz-py)₂(acac) and FIrpic. Ir(ppy)₃, Ir(piq)₃ and FIrpic are commercially available compounds, while Ir(Tpa-py)₃, Ir(Cz-py)₃ and Ir(Cz-py)₂(acac) are specially designed to test their conductivities with respect to the commercial compounds. In neat films, with the exception of FIrpic, all Ir-compounds possess significant hole transporting capabilities, with hole mobilities in the range of about 5 × 10⁻⁶–2 × 10⁻⁵ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. FIrpic, however, is non-conducting as revealed by TFT measurements. We further investigate how Ir-compounds modify carrier transport as dopants when they are doped into a phosphorescent host material CBP. The commercial compounds are chosen for the investigation. Small amounts of Ir(ppy)₃ and Ir(piq)₃ (<10%) behave as hole traps when they are doped into CBP. The hole conduction of the doped CBP films can be reduced by as much as 4 orders of magnitude. Percolating conduction of Ir-compounds occurs when the doping concentrations of the Ir-compounds exceed 10%, and the hole mobilities gradually increase as their values reach those of the neat Ir films. In contrast to Ir(ppy)₃ and Ir(piq)₃, FIrpic does not participate in hole conduction when it is doped into CBP. The hole mobility decreases monotonically as the concentration of FIrpic increases due to the increase of the average charge hopping distance in CBP.     

An efficient bis(2-phenylquinoline) (acetylacetonate) iridium(III)-based red organic light-emitting diode with alternating guest:host emitting layers

We report a highly efficient electrophosphorescent bis(2-phenylquinoline) (acetylacetonate) iridium(III) [Ir(2-phq)₂(acac)]-based red organic light-emitting diode. The emission layer consists of a periodic thin layer of guest material of Ir(2-phq)₂(acac) separated by host material of 4,4′-Bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl. The guest and host thicknesses were optimized independently to obtain the best performance. The current efficiency reaches to a maximum of 16.2 cd/A then drops to 15 and 11 cd/A at brightness of 10 and 100 cd/m², respectively. By reducing the thickness of the host layer, the power efficiency was further improved. Device with a maximum power efficiency of 8.3 lm/W was obtained. We also found that the concentration quenching in Ir(2-phq)₂(acac) is dominated by molecular aggregation. Excitonic quenching by radiationless Förster process is miniscule.     

Green and blue-green phosphorescent heteroleptic iridium complexes containing carbazole-functionalized β-diketonate for non-doped organic light-emitting diodes

Two novel iridium complexes both containing carbazole-functionalized β-diketonate, Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) [bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C²)iridium(1-(carbazol-9-yl)-5,5-dimethylhexane-2,4-diketonate)], Ir(dfppy)₂(CBDK) [bis(2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C²)iridium(1-(carbazol-9-yl)-5,5-dimethylhexane-2,4-diketonate)] and two reported complexes, Ir(ppy)₂(acac) (acac = acetylacetonate), Ir(dfppy)₂(acac) were synthesized and characterized. The electrophosphorescent properties of non-doped device using the four complexes as emitter, respectively, with a configuration of ITO/N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-1,1′-diphenyl-4,4′-diamine (NPB) (20 nm)/iridium complex (20 nm)/2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP) (5 nm)/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (AlQ) (45 nm)/Mg_0.9Ag_0.1 (200 nm)/Ag (80 nm) were examined. In addition, a most simplest device, ITO/Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) (80 nm)/Mg_0.9Ag_0.1 (200 nm)/Ag (80 nm), and two double-layer devices with configurations of ITO/NPB (30 nm)/Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) (30 nm)/Mg_0.9Ag_0.1 (200 nm)/Ag (80 nm) and ITO/Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) (30 nm)/AlQ (30 nm)/Mg_0.9Ag_0.1 (200 nm)/Ag (80 nm) were also fabricated and examined. The results show that the non-doped four-layer device for Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) achieves maximum lumen efficiency of 4.54 lm/W and which is far higher than that of Ir(ppy)₂(acac), 0.53 lm/W, the device for Ir(dfppy)₂(CBDK) achieves maximum lumen efficiency of 0.51 lm/W and which is also far higher than that of Ir(dfppy)₂(acac), 0.06 lm/W. The results of simple devices involved Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) show that the designed complex not only has a good hole transporting ability, but also has a good electron transporting ability. The improved performance of Ir(ppy)₂(CBDK) and Ir(dfppy)₂(CBDK) can be attributed to that the bulky carbazole-functionalized β-diketonate was introduced, therefore the carrier transporting property was improved and the triplet–triplet annihilation was reduced.     

Highly efficient two component phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes based on direct hole injection into dopant and gradient doping

A series of two component phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) combing the direct hole injection into dopant strategy with a gradient doping profile were demonstrated. The dopant, host, as well as molybdenum oxide (MoO₃)-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) anode were investigated. It is found that the devices ITO/MoO₃ (0 or 1 nm)/fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium [Ir(ppy)₃]:1,3,5-tris(N-phenylbenzimidazole-2-yl)benzene (TPBi) (30 → 0 wt%, 105 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) show maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) over 20%, which are comparable to multi-layered PHOLEDs. Moreover, the systematic variation of the host from TPBi to 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Bphen), dopant from Ir(ppy)₃ to bis(2-phenylpyridine)(acetylacetonate)iridium [Ir(ppy)₂(acac)], and anodes between ITO and ITO/MoO₃ indicates that balancing the charge as well as controlling the charge recombination zone play critical roles in the design of highly efficient two component PHOLEDs.     

Functionalized terfluorene for solution-processed high efficiency blue fluorescence OLED and electrophosphorescent devices

A new multifunctional blue-emitting terfluorene derivative (TFDPA) featured with triphenylamine groups for hole-transportation and long alkyl chains for solution processability on the conjugation inert bridge centers was reported. TFDPA can give homogeneous thin film by solution process and exhibits high hole mobility (μ_h ≈ 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1) and suitable HOMO for hole injection. Particularly, TFDPA performs efficient deep-blue emission with high quantum yield (～100% in solution, 43% in thin film) and suitable triplet energy (E_T = 2.28 eV), making solution-processed OLED devices of using TFDPA as blue emitter and as host for iridium-containing phosphorescent dopants feasible. The solution-processed nondoped blue OLED device gives saturated deep-blue electroluminescence [CIE = (0.17, 0.07)] with EQE of 2.7%. TFDPA-hosted electrophosphorescent devices performed with EQE of 6.5% for yellow [(Bt)₂Ir(acac)], 9.3% of orange [Ir(2–phq)₃], and 6.9% of red [(Mpq)₂Ir(acac)], respectively. In addition, with careful control on the doping concentration of [(Bt)₂Ir(acac)], a solution-processed fluorescence–phosphorescence hybrided two-color-based WOLED with EQE of 3.6% and CIE coordinate of (0.38, 0.33) was successfully achieved.     

Enhancing the efficiency of simplified red phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes by exciton harvesting

High efficiency red phosphorescent organic light emitting diode (PHOLED) employing co-doped green emitting molecule bis(2-phenylpyridine)(acetylacetonate)iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)₂(acac)] and red emitting molecule bis(2-methyldibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline)(acetylacetonate)iridium(III) [Ir(MDQ)₂(acac)] into 4,4′-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl (CBP) host in a simplified wide-bandgap platform is demonstrated. The green molecule is shown to function as an exciton harvester that traps carriers to form excitons that are then efficiently transferred to the Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) by triplet-to-triplet Dexter energy transfer, thereby significantly enhancing red emission. In particular, a maximum current efficiency of 37.0 cd/A and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24.8% have been achieved without additional out-coupling enhancements. Moreover, a low efficiency roll-off with the EQE remaining as high as 20.8% at a high luminance of 5000 cd/m² is observed.     

Ideal host and guest system in phosphorescent OLEDs

Ideal host-guest system for emission in phosphorescent OLEDs with only 1% guest doping condition for efficient energy transfer have been demonstrated in the present investigation. Using a narrow band-gap fluorescent host material, bis(10-hydroxybenzo[h] quinolinato)beryllium complex (Bebq₂), and red dopant bis(2-phenylquinoline)(acetylacetonate)iridium (Ir(phq)₂acac), highly efficient red phosphorescent OLEDs (PHOLEDs) exhibiting excellent energy transfer characteristics with a doping concentration of 1% were developed. Fabricated PHOLEDs show a driving voltage of 3.7 V, maximum current and power efficiencies of 26.53 cd/A and 29.58 lm/W, and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 21%. Minimized electron or hole trapping at the phosphorescent guest molecules and efficient Förster and Dexter energy transfers from the Bebq₂ host singlet and triplet states to the emitting triplet of Ir(phq)₂acac guest appear to be the key mechanism for ideal phosphorescence emission.     

Highly efficient solution-processed small-molecule white organic light-emitting diodes

Solution-processed small-molecule white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) were fabricated with a co-host of hole-transporter 4,4′,4″-Tris(carbazol-9-yl)triphenylamine (TCTA) and electron-transporter 2,7-Bis(diphenylphosphoryl)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (SPPO13). By doping 15 wt% FIrpic or F₃Irpic and 0.5 wt% Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) in to the TCTA/SPPO13 host, highly efficient white OLEDs have been achieved which exhibit nearly identical emission spectra at different luminance. The F₃Irpic and Ir(MDQ)₂(acac)-based WOLED shows maximum efficiencies of 40.9 cd/A, 36.7 lm/W and 16.9%, and even high efficiencies of 30.1 cd/A and 12.3% at the practical luminance of 1000 cd/m², which are among the highest efficiencies of the solution-processed small-molecule WOLEDs. These results demonstrate a convenient way to realize solution-processed WOLEDs with high efficiency and high spectral stability through full small-molecule materials system.     

A rational molecular design on choosing suitable spacer for better host materials in highly efficient blue and white phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes

A series of host materials, 3,3′-linked carbazole-based molecules have been designed with phenyl and biphenyl spacers. Their optical and electrical properties can be fine-tuning by the spacers. Their HOMO energy levels depend on HOMO distributions within the range of −5.64 to −5.96 eV. On the other hand, the three compounds have similar LUMO energy levels and triplet energies. Their thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and carrier mobilities properties were also systematically investigated. The relationship between the molecular structures and optoelectronic properties are discussed. A blue PHOLED device incorporating PBCz achieved a maximum external quantum efficiency, current efficiency, and power efficiency of 19.5%, 45.5 cd/A and 43.8 lm/W, respectively. Moreover a two-color, all-phosphor and single-emitting-layer WOLED hosted by PBCz was also achieved with a maximum external quantum efficiency, current efficiency and power efficiency of 24.6%, 76.3 cd/A and 69.4 lm/W respectively. Furthermore, we also utilized this versatile host for three-component RGB white PHOLEDs and show excellent performance. For example, combination of PBCz with FIrpic, Ir(ppy)₂(acac) and Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) in the active layer, the resulting WOLEDs showed three evenly separated peaks and gave a high efficiency of 49.2 cd/A. The efficient PHOLEDs demonstrated that the versatile host PBCz has great potential for applications in the solid-state lighting.     

Highly efficient bluish green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes based on heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes with phenylpyridine main skeleton

A new series of heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes, bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C2′)iridium (2-(2′,4′-difluorophenyl)-4-methylpyridine), (ppy)₂Ir(dfpmpy) and bis(2-(2′,4′-difluorophenyl)-4-methylpyridinato-N,C2′)iridium (2-phenylpyridine) (dfpmpy)₂Ir(ppy), have been synthesized by using phenylpyridine as a main skeleton for bluish green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). The Ir(III) complexes showed high thermal stability and high photoluminescent (PL) quantum yields of 95% ± 4% simultaneously. As a result, the PhOLEDs with the heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes showed excellent performances approaching 100% internal quantum efficiency with a very high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ∼27%, a low turn-on voltage of 2.4 V, high power efficiency of ∼85 lm/W, and very low efficiency roll-off up to 20,000 cd/m².     

High-color-quality white emission in AC-driven field-induced polymer electroluminescent devices

The high-color-quality white emission in an AC-driven field-induced electroluminescence (FIPEL) device consisting of a white emitting ter-polymer: poly(fluorene–benzothiadiazole–quinoline) PF–BT–QL combined with a red emitting dye: Bis(2-methyl-dibenzof,hquinoxaline)(acetylacetonate)iridium (III) Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) was achieved. The wide EL emission effectively covered the visible spectral region at the concentration of 5% Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) in PF–BT–QL and largely enriched the color rendering capability with a CIE (0.36, 0.38) close to the ideal equal-energy white (0.33, 0.33) and a CRI as high as 97.4, close to the blackbody curve characteristic and CCT between 3034 K and 5334 K which are required for high-quality white-light illumination. When further increasing the concentration of Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) to 10%, leading to a more pure white with CIE (0.36, 0.37) and a CRI as high as 97.1. Surprisingly, the FIPEL devices containing 20% and 30% Ir(MDQ)₂(acac) in PF–BT–QL still exhibit high-quality white emission with CIE (0.42, 0.37) and (0.32, 0.38) and CRI 93.9 and 88.9 at high electric field, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of two-component FIPELs with a CRI > 90, especially with such a high concentration of the phosphor dopant. We attribute this to the unique carrier injection characteristics of the AC-driven field induced device. This further suggests its great potential application in display and solid state lighting.     

p-Doped p-phenylenediamine-substituted fluorenes for organic electroluminescent devices

Two novel p-phenylenediamine-substituted fluorenes have been designed and synthesized. Their applications as hole injection materials in organic electroluminescent devices were investigated. These materials show a high glass transition temperature and a good hole-transporting ability. It has been demonstrated that the 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ) doped p-phenylene-diamine-substituted fluorenes, in which F4-TCNQ acts as p-type dopant, are highly conducting with a good hole-transporting property. The organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) utilizing these F4-TCNQ-doped materials as a hole injection layer were fabricated and investigated. The pure Alq₃-based OLED device shows a current efficiency of 5.2 cd/A at the current density of 20 mA/cm² and the operation lifetime is 1500 h with driving voltage increasing only about 0.7 mV/h. The device performance and stability of this hole injection material meet the benchmarks for the commercial requirements for OLED materials.     

Small molecule interlayer for solution processed phosphorescent organic light emitting device

Using a 4,4′,4′′-tris(N-carbazolyl)-triphenylamine (TCTA) small molecule interlayer, we have fabricated efficient green phosphorescent organic light emitting devices by solution process. Significantly a low driving voltage of 3.0 V to reach a luminance of 1000 cd/m² is reported in this device. The maximum current and power efficiency values of 27.2 cd/A and 17.8 lm/W with TCTA interlayer (thickness 30 nm) and 33.7 cd/A and 19.6 lm/W with 40 nm thick interlayer are demonstrated, respectively. Results reveal a way to fabricate the phosphorescent organic light emitting device using TCTA small molecule interlayer by solution process, promising for efficient and simple manufacturing.     

Electrical and optical characteristics of phosphorescent organic light-emitting device with thin-codoped layer insertion

In this paper, we demonstrated the changes of electrical and optical characteristics of a phosphorescent organic light-emitting device (OLED) with tris(phenylpyridine)iridium Ir(ppy)₃ thin layer (4 nm) slightly codoped (1%) inside the emitting layer (EML) close to the cathode side. Such a thin layer helped for electron injection and transport from the electron transporting layer into the EML, which reduced the driving voltage (0.40 V at 100 mA/cm²). Electroluminescence (EL) spectral shift at different driving voltage was observed in our blue OLED with [(4,6-di-fluoropheny)-pyridinato-N,C^2′]picolinate (FIrpic) emitter, which came from the recombination zone shift. With the incorporation of thin-codoped Ir(ppy)₃, such EL spectral shift was almost undetectable (color coordinate shift (0.000, 0.001) from 100 to 10,000 cd/m²), due to the compensation of Ir(ppy)₃ emission at low driving voltage. Such a methodology can be applied to a white OLED which stabilized the EL spectrum and the color coordinates ((0.012, 0.002) from 100 to 10,000 cd/m²).     

Highly efficient single-layer organic light-emitting devices using cationic iridium complex as host

Highly efficient single-layer organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) based on blended cationic Ir complexes as emitting layer have been demonstrated using narrow band gap cationic Ir complex [Ir(Meppy)₂(pybm)](PF₆) (C1) as guest and wide band gap cationic Ir complex [Ir(dfppy)₂(tzpy-cn)](PF₆) (C2) as host. As compared with single cationic Ir complex emitting layer, these host–guest systems exhibit highly enhanced efficiencies, with maximum luminous efficiency of 25.7 cd/A, external quantum efficiency of 8.6%, which are nearly 3-folds of those of pure C1-based device. Compared with a multilayer host-free device containing C1 as emitting layer and TPBI as electron-transporting and hole-blocking layer, the above single-layer devices also show 2-folds enhancement efficiencies. The high efficiencies achieved in these host–guest systems are among the highest values reported for ionic Ir complexes-based solid-state light-emitting devices. In addition, a white-similar emission with CIE of (0.36, 0.47) has also been achieved with luminous efficiency of 4.2 cd/A as the C1 concentration is 0.1 wt.%. The results demonstrate that the ionic Ir complexes-based host–guest system provides a new approach to achieve highly efficient OLEDs upon single-layer device structure and solution-processing technique.     

A hybrid white organic light-emitting diode with stable color and reduced efficiency roll-off by using a bipolar charge carrier switch

A hybrid white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) with an emission layer (EML) structure composed of red phosphorescent EML/green phosphorescent EML/spacer/blue fluorescent EML was demonstrated. This hybrid WOLED shows high efficiency, stable spectral emission and low efficiency roll-off at high luminance. We have attributed the significant improvement to the wide distribution of excitons and the effective control of charge carriers in EMLs by using mixed 4,4′,4″-tri(9-carbazoyl) triphenylamine (TCTA) and bis[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-pyridine] beryllium (Bepp₂) as the host of phosphorescent EMLs as well as the spacer. The bipolar mixed TCTA:Bepp_2, which was proved to be a charge carrier switch by regulating the distribution of charge carriers and then the exciton recombination zone, plays an important role in improving the efficiency, stabilizing the spectrum and reducing the efficiency roll-off at high luminous. The hybrid WOLED exhibits a current efficiency of 30.2 cd/A, a power efficiency of 32.0 lm/W and an external quantum efficiency of 13.4% at a luminance of 100 cd/m², and keeps a current efficiency of 30.8 cd/A, a power efficiency of 27.1 lm/W and an external quantum efficiency of 13.7% at a 1000 cd/m². The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.43, 0.43) and the color rendering index (CRI) of 89 remain nearly unchanged in the whole range of luminance.     

Matrix influence on the OLED emitter Ir(btp)2(acac) in polymeric host materials – Studies by persistent spectral hole burning

Fundamental photophysical properties of the phosphorescent organometallic complex Ir(btp)₂(acac) doped in the polymeric matrices PVK, PFO, and PVB, respectively, are investigated. PVK and PFO are frequently used as host materials in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). By application of the laser spectroscopic techniques of phosphorescence line narrowing and persistent spectral hole burning – improved by a synchronous scan technique – we studied the zero-field splitting (ZFS) of the T₁ state into the substates I, II, and III. Thus, we were able to probe the effects of the local environment of the emitter molecules in the different amorphous matrices. The magnitude of ZFS is determined by the extent of spin–orbit coupling (SOC) of the T₁ state to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states. Only by mixings of MLCT singlets, a short-lived and intense emission of the triplet state to the singlet ground state becomes possible. Thus, sufficiently large ZFS is crucial for favorable luminescence properties of emitter complexes for OLED applications. The analysis of the spectral hole structure resulting from burning provides information about the ZFS values and their statistical (inhomogeneous) distribution in the amorphous matrices. For Ir(btp)₂(acac), we found a significant value of ≈18 cm⁻¹ for the splitting between the substates II and III for all three matrices. Interestingly, for PVK the width of the ZFS distribution is found to be ≈14 cm⁻¹ – almost twice as large as for PFO and PVB. Consequently, for a considerable fraction of Ir(btp)₂(acac) molecules in PVK, the ZFS is relatively small and thus, the effective SOC is weak. Therefore, it is indicated that a part of the emitter molecules shows a limited OLED performance.     

Concentration-insensitive and low-driving-voltage OLEDs with high efficiency and little efficiency roll-off using a bipolar phosphorescent emitter

A series of simplified trilayer phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) with high efficiency and little efficiency roll-off based on a bipolar iridium emitter Iridium(III) bis(2-phenylpyridinato)-N,N′-diisopropyl-diisopropyl-guanidinate (ppy)₂Ir(dipig) has been demonstrated. They are dominated by the efficient direct-exciton-formation mechanism and show gratifying concentration-insensitive and low-driving-voltage features. In particular, very high and stable electroluminescence (EL) efficiencies (maximum power efficiency and external quantum efficiency >98 lm W^?1 and 25% respectively, and external quantum efficiency >20% over a wide luminance range of 1–15,000 cd m^?2) are achieved in the PHOLEDs based on emitting layers (EMLs) consisting of (ppy)₂Ir(dipig) codeposited with common host CBP in an easily controlled doping concentration range (15–30 wt%). The EL performance of the PHOLEDs is comparable to the highest PHOLEDs reported in scientific literature.     

Low driving voltage white organic light-emitting diodes with high efficiency and low efficiency roll-off

Single emission layer white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) showing high color stability, low turn-on voltage, high efficiency and low efficiency roll-off by incorporating iridium(III) bis[(4,6-difluo-rophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2] (FIrpic) and bis(2-phenylbenzothiazolato) (acetylacetonate)iridium(III) (Ir(BT)₂(acac)) phosphors dyes have been demonstrated. Our WOLEDs without any out-coupling schemes as well as n-doping strategies show low operating voltages, low turn-on voltage (defined for voltage to obtain a luminance of 1 cd/m²) of 2.35 V, 79.2 cd/m² at 2.6 V, 940.5 cd/m² at 3.0 V and 10 300 cd/m² at 4.0 V, respectively, and achieve a current efficiency of 40.5 cd/A, a power efficiency of 42.6 lm/W at a practical brightness of 1000 cd/m², and a low efficiency roll-off 14.7% calculated from the maximum efficiency value to that of 5000 cd/m². Such improved properties are attributed to phosphors assisted carriers transport for achieving charge carrier balance in the single light-emitting layer (EML). Meanwhile the host–guest energy transfer and direct exciton formation process are two parallel pathways serve to channel the overall excitons to dopants, greatly reduced the unfavorable energy losses.     

Green and blue–green light-emitting electrochemical cells based on cationic iridium complexes with 2-(4-ethyl-2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole ancillary ligand

The ionic iridium complexes, [Ir(ppy)₂(EP-Imid)]PF₆ (Complex 1) and [Ir(dfppy)₂(EP-Imid)]PF₆ (Complex 2) are used as the light-emitting material for the fabrication of light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). These complexes have been synthesized, employing 2-(4-ethyl-2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole (EP-Imid) as the ancillary ligand, 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) as the cyclometalated ligands, which were characterized by various spectroscopic, photophysical and electrochemical methods. The photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra in acetonitrile solution show blue–green and blue light emission for Complexes 1 and 2 respectively. However, LECs incorporating these complexes resulted in green (522 nm) light emission for Complex 1 with the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.33, 0.56) and blue–green (500 nm) light emission for Complex 2 with the CIE coordinates of (0.24, 0.44). Using Complex 1, a maximum luminance of 1191 cd m⁻² and current efficiency of 1.0 cd A⁻¹ are obtained while that of Complex 2 are 741 cd m⁻² and 0.88 cd A⁻¹ respectively.