Dipyrenylpyridines for electron-transporting materials in organic light emitting devices and their structural effect on electron injection from LiF/Al cathode

3,5-Dipyrenylpyridine (PY1) and 2,6-dipyrenylpyridine (PY2) were synthesized to achieve not only efficient electron injection from cathode but also high electron mobility. The both of compounds showed much higher electron mobilities than that of Alq₃, and have a similar ionization potential and electron affinity. However, the barrier height of electron injection from cathode to PY1 in an organic light emitting device was much smaller than that to PY2, probably due to the steric hindrance to the central pyridine group. These results suggest that the chemical affinity of electron-transporting materials with cathode is more important than their own electron affinity to improve the electron injection.