Acsaelm 2c00648
Acsaelm 2c00648
Acsaelm 2c00648
org/acsaelm Article
■ INTRODUCTION
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have massive interna-
storage information,15 and so forth. As a result, the
development of UV−blue fluorescent materials is attracting
tional demand both in the academic and industrial circle considerable attention because of their long device lifetimes,
because of their advantages of low-cost fabrication, easy low-efficiency roll-off at high current density, superior color
synthesis, and adjustable performance by a modifiable purity of electroluminescence (EL), and ability to fabricate
structural design since the innovative effort of Tang and cost-effective full-color displays and WOLEDs. In general,
VanSlyke.1 For full-color displays, three primary colors, are NUV−blue emission requires emitters with a controlled
essential with high efficiency, high color purity, and equal conjugation, wide highest occupied molecular orbital
stability.2,3 In full-color OLEDs, efficient violet−blue light- (HOMO), and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital
emitting materials also has a great importance since violet− (LUMO) band gaps, and these properties lead to inferior
blue light not only can generate white light but also efficiently carrier combination in the devices,16 low EL performance, and
minimize the power intake and the color range of full-color
displays, as well as can function as a host for dopants Received: May 15, 2022
emitters.4−7 Additionally, near-ultraviolet (NUV) emissive Accepted: August 30, 2022
pure organic materials also have a promising candidate in Published: September 12, 2022
other areas such as biological sensing,8 antibacterial blue light
treatment (ABL),9 photocopying,10 photodynamic therapy
(PDT),11 sterilizing,12 water purification,13,14 high-density
low photoluminescence quantum yield. Generally, the charge their easy synthesis method and sufficient thermal stability,
transfer in the simple donor−acceptor structure can realize the they give a very narrow emission band (less FWHM) due to
unwanted redshifted emission, which ultimately does not favor the great twisting conformation of the imidazole unit.
obtaining violet/deep blue emission with color coordinate CIE However, because of its stiff molecular skeleton, morpho-
y value <0.05. To overcome these encountered problems, the logical, thermal, and photochemical stabilities, as well as its
structural molecular design (beyond the conventional way of good hole-transporting properties, triphenylamine (TPA) is
connecting donor−acceptor moieties in a single fluorophore one of the fascinating structural units investigated by material
structure) plays a crucial role that it can separate the charge chemists in the field of OLEDs.30,31 When the imidazole (A)
injection group, selection of electron-donating/withdrawing unit is connected with triphenylamine (D) via a meta-linking
moiety with proper inductive strength, suppression of π- strategy, it may decrease the molecular conjugation and
conjugation length, and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effectively suppress the ICT through bond and space
effect to minimize their interactions.17 interactions among the donors and acceptors. Hence, there is
In comparison to prior generations of emitters (phosphor- considerable interest to improve their photophysical and
escent molecular complexes/thermally activated delayed bipolar carrier properties by designing appropriate imidazole−
fluorescence (TADF) based emitters), extensive attempts TPA hybrids, which are expected to exhibit near-UV−blue
have been made to date to investigate the various NUV− emitters.
blue fluorescent emitters. At present, very few reports are Inspired by this approach, twisted 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-
available based on violet−blue emitters with good effi- BICFTPA were prepared by incorporating imidazole as an
ciency.18,19 For instance, more recently, Lee et al. developed electron-carrying moiety, functionalizing the imidazole at the
a novel violet emitter based on meta-oriented bis-fusion of the N1 position with substituted phenyl rings (m-CF3), and TPA
two DMID subunits (m-FLDID). Doped devices based on as a hole-transporting moiety. Here, we use the electron-
these materials display violet emission maxima at 407 nm with withdrawing (EW) group (−CF3) because it will increase the
a CIEy coordinate of ∼0.03.20 Similar observation has also EW ability of the imidazole unit, which ultimately results in
been encountered in pyrene-based (TFPy2, TFPy3, and good electron-transporting properties and device efficacy.
TFPy4) materials.9 In the year of 2013, Gao et al. reported Here, TPA is connected via a meta linkage with both
the derivate based on the phenanthroimidazole (M2) and imidazoles to suppress the conjugation length, which
applied it as a violet−blue OLED displaying a maximum EQE ultimately restricts the unvented redshift and results in near-
of 3.02% with CIE color coordinates of (0.166, 0.056).21 Yang UV−blue emission of the emitters, as displayed in Figure 1.
and co-workers reported benzimidazole and substituted
carbazole (Cz-2pbb). The device based on the Cz-2pbb
shows efficient deep-blue EL with CIE of (0.16, 0.05) having
4.1% EQE. Moreover, based on the Cz-2pbb emitter, a white
OLED was shown to display an EQE above 10% and power
efficiency (PE) of 14.8 lm W−1 at a luminance of 500 cd m−2.22
Another efficient deep-blue/NUV fluorescence material with
balanced charged injection based on twisted 9-phenylcarbazole
and triazole (PCZTZ) was developed. The nondoped-device-
based PCZTZ shows a bright NUV emission with an EQE of
6.57% and CIE coordinates of (0.17, 0.07).23 The new
fluorescent emitter was designed, and the device based on it Figure 1. Design strategy and chemical structure.
demonstrated deep-blue EL with a maximum EQE of 4.34%
and CIExy values of (0.15, 0.05). Additionally, by optimizing Both the fluorophores were well characterized by the different
the emitter composition, cool-white OLEDs have been spectroscopic methods. The theoretical investigation was done
fabricated, and the device displays an EQE of 9% and CIE to have knowledge of the electronic features and optical
coordinates of (0.34 and 0.33).24 Recently, our group properties of the fluorophores. Extremely narrow NUV−blue
developed a new emitter based on imidazole (A) and carbazole emissions in the solution and solid phase were obtained for
(D) by incorporating an alkyl spacer between the donor and both the fluorophores. Electrochemical analysis reveals the
acceptor. The emitter BICFOCz displays a very intense blue HOMO−LUMO energy levels. Furthermore, the blue emissive
EL emission having a CIEy of 0.05 and a maximum EQE of materials were also examined as NUV/deep blue-emitting
3.4%. Additionally, 0.5 wt % of the emitter in the orange−red dopants in solution-processed multilayer OLEDs. The device
dye was found to emit pure white light with an EQE of 11.5% based on 3-PIMCFTPA emitters shows NUV/deep blue
and CIExy values of (0.35, 0.32).25 emission with peaks at ∼395 nm and a CIEy of 0.10 and 0.02
For the last two decades, phenanthroimidazole (PI)-based with an EQEmax of 5.7 and 3.4%, respectively. Additionally,
emitters remain attracting much attention in OLEDs. PI itself inspired by the CIE color coordinates, as well as their EL
is an excellent ultraviolet (UV)-light-emitting unit, showing characteristics of 3-PIMCFTPA, solution-processed hybrid
high fluorescent quantum yield and superior charge-trans- white OLED devices were fabricated. Remarkably, we observed
porting properties. They show structural alteration at N1 and a 1 wt% yellow emitter-based device displaying a PEmax of 22.5
C2 of the imidazole ring and a rigid imidazole structure, great lm W−1, a CEmax of 25.4 cd A−1, and an EQEmax of 12.0% with
thermal stability, and film-forming capability, which lead to a CIE coordinate (0.34, 0.39) at 1000 cd m−2.
enhanced applications as blue emitters in high-performance
OLEDs26,27 and diphenylimidazole,28,29 which is gaining
significant interest in the organic electronics community.
■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Theoretical Calculations. To assimilate the structure and
Since these materials attracted considerable attention due to electronic characteristics of the fluorophores, density func-
4369 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
tional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) the 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA fluorophores were
were executed. The optimized geometry at the ground state of localized mainly over imidazole’s N1-functionalized (Ph-CF3)
the targeted fluorophores was done in the gas phase with the part. By carefully inspecting the FMOs (Figure S20), it is seen
help of the basis set of B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) using Gaussian 09 that the complete segregation of the HOMO and LUMO
software package.32,33Figure 2 displays an energy-minimized configurations in both fluorophores, along with the absence of
geometry with the dihedral angle in the gas phase and electron an MO overlap, serves as an indicator of the forbidden nature
density contours of the designed blue fluorophores. The of the transitions. This might be because imidazoles have a
optimized structures of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA show strong EW group (Ph-CF3) at the N1 position, which draws
a twisted geometry, as the twisted geometries in the molecular electron density to the N1-substituted moiety (shows only the
structure not only result in suppression of π-conjugation, CT character). While the allowed singlet transition is observed
keeping the system in higher energy end, but also help with from HOMO to LUMO + 1 (higher energy level), in this case,
emission in the NUV to the blue area. This diminishes the LUMO + 1 was localized mainly on the acceptor (imidazole)
solid phase aggregation and ICT, which generally influences and the N1-substituted substituted unit, as shown in Figure
the color purity of the fluorophores.34 S20, and the transitions are tabulated in Table S4.36,37
The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) diagram of 3- Theoretical HOMO−LUMO energies, energy band gaps
PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA shows that fully separated (Eg), and first singlet−triplet excited-state energies of
HOMO−LUMO energy levels are advantageous for the fluorophores are summarized in Table S2. The predicted
effective electron and hole carrier properties since it could HOMO/LUMO energies of the targeted fluorophores are
generate a charge hopping route between the charges, which −4.96/−1.58 eV for 3-PIMCFTPA and −4.94/−1.47 for 3-
may be beneficial for the EL performance of the OLEDs.35 BICFTPA, respectively. The estimated theoretical band gap
From Table S2, it was noticed that energy differences of the (Eg) was found to be 3.39 and 3.47 eV for the fluorophores 3-
HOMO and LUMO were very identical for both the PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA, respectively (Table 1).
fluorophores, and the same can be visualized from the Subsequently, simulated UV−vis spectra of the targeted
FMOs(Figure 2). The HOMO of both 3-PIMCFTPA and fluorophores were calculated in the gas and DCM phases, as
3-BICFTPA were mostly distributed on the TPA and π- shown in Figure S19 in the Supporting Information. However,
conjugated aromatic rings (π-spacer). However, the LUMOs of no obvious variations were perceived in the absorption spectra
4370 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
of the targeted materials. Table S3 provides an overview of the presence of an inert atmosphere. The reagents and chemicals used
fluorophores’ calculated vertical transition, orbital contribu- were purchased from commercial sources and utilized without
tions, and oscillatory strength (f) in the gas and solvent phases. additional purification. NMR spectra (1H, 13C, and 19F) were
XYZ Cartesian coordinates for optimized geometries of both recorded on an AV 400 Avance-III 400 MHz FT-NMR spectrometer
(Bruker Biospin International, Switzerland) with tetramethylsilane
the fluorophores were specified in SI6 in the Supporting (TMS) as a standard reference, and mass spectra of all the synthesized
Information. fluorophores were recorded on a high-Resolution mass spectrometer
■ EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
General Information and Measurements. The used solvents
(HRMS), Waters, USA, XEVO G2-XS QTOF model. Thermogravi-
metric analysis (TGA) was performed using a TA Instrument
TGAQ50 thermal analysis system. UV−vis absorption was measured
using a UV−vis spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Corporation, Japan/
during the reactions were properly dried and distilled from the
suitable desiccants before use, and all reactions were conducted in the UV-2450 Perkin Elmer, USA/Lamda 25), and photoluminescence
(PL) spectra were recorded using an Edinburgh instrument FLS980
spectrofluorometer. The absolute PL quantum yields (PLQY) were
measured using an Edinburgh instrument spectrofluorometer,
integrating the sphere SC-30 model. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of
the fluorophores was carried out by using an AUTOLAB 302 modular
potentiostat electrochemical analyzer at 298 ± 1 K. The tests were
conducted using three conventional electrode configurations: an Ag/
AgCl reference electrode, a platinum plate secondary electrode, and a
glassy carbon working electrode. Tetrabutylammonium perchlorate
(Bu 4 NClO 4 ) was used as a supporting electrolyte in the
dimethylformamide (DMF) used for the tests, and the scan rate
was kept at 100 mV s−1. Molecular geometrical properties of the
fluorophores, optimized structure, and HOMO−LUMO energy levels
of the fluorophores were theoretically calculated by using DFT with
B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) basic set using Gaussian09 program package.
Device Fabrication and Measurements. The demonstration of
OLED devices using synthesized materials as a dopant and pure film
was fabricated as ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CBP: emitters of 1, 3, 5, and 100
Figure 3. Thermographs of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA. wt %/TPBi/LiF/Al (Figure 8). The indium tin oxide (ITO)-
4371 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Figure 4. UV−vis absorption spectra of the fluorophores in (a) solution (b) solid.
Figure 6. Lifetime decay profiles of (a) 3-PIMCFTPA and (b) 3-BICFTPA in solution.
the prepared substrate and baked at 130 °C for 15 min. The emissive
layer (EML) consisted of a (CBP) as a host with dopant 3-
PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA. The host is doped with 1, 3, 5, and
100 wt % of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA, respectively, in the
tetrahydrofuran solution. The EML (20 nm) was spin-casted onto the
HIL at 2500 rpm for 20 s. Later, the substrate was transferred to a
physical vapor deposition vacuum chamber. TPBi (ETL) (45 nm),
LiF (EIL) (1 nm), and Al (cathode) (150 nm) were thermally
evaporated at a vacuum of <6 × 10−6 torr. To analyze the device, the
EL spectrum, luminance, and the CIE coordinates were measured
using a PR-655 spectrometer. The current density−voltage−
luminance (J−V−L) characteristics were calculated by a voltmeter
Figure 7. Cyclic voltammogram of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA. (Keithley 2400) and CS-100 Minolta. All the characteristic measure-
ments of the fabricated devices were done at ambient temperature in a
sputtered glass substrate was properly washed with acetone at 50 °C dark room.
and subsequently by isopropyl alcohol at 60 °C. Additionally, the glass Synthesis of Targeted Fluorophores. In the presence of
substrate was exposed to UV�ozone for 15 min and shifted into a ammonium acetate (NH4OAc) and acetic acid (AcOH), intermedi-
N2-filled glovebox for spin-coating. The hole-injection layer (HIL) ates were synthesized via condensation between diketone, aniline
(PEDOT:PSS) (40 nm) was spin-casted at 4000 rpm for 20 s onto derivatives, and aldehyde derivatives, and Suzuki coupling reactions
4372 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Table 3. Doping Concentration Influences on EL Properties, Such as PE, Current Efficacy (CE), EQE, CIE Coordinates, and
Maximum Luminance (Lmax) of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA
O. V.
doping con. D.V. (V)@100 cd PE100/ PEmax/ CIExy Lmax
dopant (wt %) (V) m−2 CE100/EQE100 (lm W−1/cd A−1/%) CEmax/EQEmax (lm W−1/cd A−1/%) coordinates (cd m−2)
3-PIMCFTPA 1 4.1 5.2 0.4/0.6/3.0 0.6/0.8/3.4 (0.17, 0.02) 530
3 4.2 5.4 0.4/0.7/2.8 0.6/0.8/3.4 (0.17, 0.07) 614
5 4.2 5.3 0.5/0.8/3.0 0.8/1.2/3.8 (0.17, 0.09) 588
7.5 4.1 5.0 0.9/1.5/5.1 1.1/1.7/5.7 (0.17, 0.10) 1077
100 3.8 5.2 0.2/0.4/0.2 0.3/0.4/0.2 (0.28, 0.38) 213
3-BICFTPA 1 6.3 7.7 0.1/0.1/0.3 0.1/0.1/0.4 (0.16, 0.11) 256
3 6.1 7.7 0.1/0.2/0.3 0.1/0.2/0.4 (0.16, 0.11) 257
5 6.1 7.7 0.1/0.2/0.3 0.1/0.2/0.4 (0.16, 0.11) 418
7.5 6.0 7.3 0.1/0.2/0.5 0.1/0.3/0.5 (0.16, 0.11) 473
100 5.1 7.2 0.1/0.1/0.1 0.1/0.2/0.1 (0.24, 0.35) 112
were used to synthesize final products as shown in Scheme 1. The fluorophore showed better thermal stability than that of 3-BICFTPA
synthetic procedure was adopted from our previous reports.38,39 because of the presence of the rigid aromatic structure of
N,N-Diphenyl-3′-(1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-phenanthro- phenanthroimidazole than that of diphenylimidazole. The TGA
[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-amine (3-PIMCFTPA). results propose that the newly synthesized fluorophores provide
Yield: 70%, mp 178 °C, 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, TMS, δ desirable thermal properties, and good thermal stabilities are
ppm): 8.91 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.82 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 8.75 (d, J = significant to getting a stable device architecture that endows
8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.88−7.68 (m, 5H), 7.58−7.41 operation stability to the fluorophores.
(m, 2H), 7.39 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H).7.34−7.28 (m, 9H) 7.13 (dd, J = Photophysical Properties. The study of optical properties, such
11.6, 7.6 Hz, 5H), 7.07 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, as UV−visible absorption and PL behavior of the new fluorophores, is
CDCl3, TMS, δ ppm): 147.59, 147.50, 134.11, 132.70, 129.31, carried out in both the solution [dichloromethane (DCM)] and solid
128.90, 128.37, 127.70, 127.48, 127.33, 126.49, 125.92, 125.19, phase. The absorption spectra are displayed in Figure 4, and the
124.48, 124.38, 123.75, 123.15, 123.04, 122.88, 122.67, 120.48. 19F corresponding data are summarized in Table 1. The absorption
NMR (376 MHz, CDCl3, TMS, δ ppm): −62.41 (s), IR (KBr, ν/ spectra of the blue fluorophore in solution (Figure 4a) show an
cm−1): 1592, 1513, 1495, 1457, 1333, 1279, 1176, 1132, 1091, 1069, absorption band at the higher energy end at ∼242 and ∼264 nm for
752, 696, 510. MS (m/z): calcd for C46H30F3N3, 682.2465 found, 3-PIMCFTPA and ∼241 and ∼274 nm for 3-BICFTPA due to π−π*
682.1555 [M + H]+. transition of the aromatic rings and imidazole rings. Additionally, at
3′-(4,5-Diphenyl-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-imidazol-2- the higher wavelength side, a weak absorption band at ∼332 and
yl)-N,N-diphenyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-amine (3-BICFTPA). Yield: 76%, ∼334 nm in the case of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA was observed
mp 150 °C, 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, TMS, δ ppm) 7.68−7.62 due to the weak ICT between imidazole and TPA units because of
(m, 2H), 7.60−7.50 (m, 2H), 7.43 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.39−7.25 (m, less communication between triphenylamine (D) and imidazole (A)
14H), 7.23 (dd, J = 7.6, 3.2 Hz, 1H), 7.19−7.02 (m, 9H), 7.08−6.92 due to metaconnectivity between triphenylamine and imidazole.40
(m, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3, TMS, δ ppm) 147.60, 147.37, From the solid absorption spectra (Figure 4b), the absorption bands
147.02, 140.69, 138.61, 137.78, 134.25, 133.97, 131.80, 131.50, are found to be redshifted than that of the solution, peaking at 345
131.13, 130.69, 130.25, 130.10, 129.84, 129.03, 128.77, 128.66, and 352 nm for 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA, respectively. This
128.43, 128.28, 127.68, 127.54, 127.42, 127.36, 126.91, 126.87, behavior is seen because of the presence of intermolecular π−π
125.46, 125.43, 124.94, 123.74, 123.00, 122.73, 121.81, 121.68. 19F stacking.41
NMR (376 MHz, CDCl3, TMS, δ ppm): −62.90 (s). IR (KBr, ν/ The PL spectra of the new fluorophores in solution (DCM) and
cm−1): 1592, 1513, 1493, 1452, 1336, 1275, 1174, 1136, 1095, 1069, solid phase are shown in Figure 5 (the key parameters are tabulated in
754, 696, 511. MS (m/z): calcd for C46H32F3N3, 684.2621 found, Table 1). Both the fluorophores show NUV-to-pure blue emission in
684.1241 [M + H]+. dilute solution (Figure 5a, and the PL spectra of 3-PIMCFTPA and
Thermal Properties. The thermal stability of both the blue 3-BICFTPA fluorophores exhibit emission peaking at 408 and 404
fluorophores was studied by using TGA in an inert atmosphere (up to nm, respectively. Similarly, PL spectra of these blue-emissive materials
800 °C), and TGA curves are presented in Figure 3. In general, in the solid phase were observed redshifted than that of the solution
materials with high thermal stabilities are essential since they are phase, and their picking wavelength was found to be 428 nm for 3-
crucial in the device operation and fabrication process. The PIMCFTPA and 418 nm for 3-BICFTPA. The encountered redshift
thermograph reveals that both the fluorophores possess good thermal from solution to solid states suggests an existence of aggregation in
properties, and the thermal degradation temperature (Td) (at 5% the synthesized fluorophores.42 In addition, the PL spectra of 3-
weight loss) of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA was observed at 253 PIMCFTPA shows two vibronic peaks at around 428 and 444 nm;
and 220 °C, respectively (Table 1). It is observed that due to the these are extra peaks that were observed as a result of excimer
decomposition of the material segments, the final decomposition formation in aggregates states.38 The CIE color coordinates of new
temperature was found to be around ∼570 °C for both the fluorophores in solution and solid are shown in Figure S16, and the
fluorophores, which might be because of the rigid aromatic nature resulting x and y color coordinates are tabulated in Table S1. The
of fluorophores. Among these two fluorophores, the 3-PIMCFTPA PLQY (Φ) of the synthesized fluorophores was calculated in the
4373 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Figure 8. Schematic energy level diagram of doped/undoped emitters. (a) Neat film of 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA and (b) emitters dopped
with host CBP. A proposed energy transmission pathway from host to guest in (c) CBP:3-PIMCFTPA and (d) CBP:3-BICFTPA. (e) Structures
of materials that are used in this research work.
4374 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Figure 9. EL characteristics, such as (a) luminance vs voltage, (b) current density vs voltage, (c) PE vs luminance, and (d) CE vs luminance and
(e) normalized EL spectra and (f) CIE chromatograph of the of 5 wt % doped 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA in CBP host matrix-based solution-
processed deep-blue OLED devices.
solution and solid phase by using an integrating sphere. The absolute ns in the undoped state versus 2.50 ns in the doped state. Similar to
quantum yield (Φ) of the targeted blue-emissive materials was studied this, when doped, 4-BICFTPA exhibits a lifetime of 3.45 ns as
in solution and neat film. The quantum yield (solution/neat film) of opposed to 1.91 ns when undoped.
3-PIMCFTPA is 69.4%/60.3% and 3-PIMCFTPA is 45.1%/24.9%. Electrochemical Properties. An electrochemical study was done
The fluorophores with a good quantum yield are necessary for high- to learn more about the fluorophores’ redox characteristics. Figure 7
performance blue OLEDs. displays the deep-blue-emissive materials’ cyclic voltammograms, and
To know the properties of the excited states of newborn Table 2 contains the relevant electrochemical data. The new blue
fluorophores, the fluorescence lifetime was taken into account using emitters have dissimilar redox behavior, which indicates bipolar
the time-correlated single-photon counting technique under the charge transport characteristics. The onset oxidation potential (Eonset
oxd )
excitation by an appropriate laser source, and the decay curve of the was found to be 1.38 and 1.28 V versus Ag/AgCl, and onset reduction
fluorophores is shown in Figure 6. The data obtained for the potential (Eonset
red ) occurs at −1.54 and −1.21 V versus Ag/AgCl for 3-
fluorescence lifetime are summarized in Table 1. Owing to the PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA, respectively. Redox behavior of the
presence of a single emissive site, the decays were fitted into a fluorophores is very important to evaluate the HOMO and LUMO
monoexponential, and the lifetime of blue emissive materials was energy for the application in OLEDs. Equations 2 and 3 reported by
calculated by using eq 1 de Leeuw et al. can be used to determine the HOMO−LUMO energy
levels.44
i ty
( ) = I0 + A1expjjj zzz onset
k { (1) E HOMO = (Eox + 4.4) eV (2)
where t is the time in ns, I0 is the offset value (I0 = 0), A1 is the scalar
onset
quantity determined from curve fitting, and τ is the exponential decay E LUMO = (Ered + 4.4) eV (3)
time.43 The blue-emissive materials doped in the CBP host were also
subjected to an examination of excited-state lifetimes, and the decay The HOMO/LUMO energy of deep-blue-emissive materials is
curves are displayed in Figure S17. It is observed that in comparison found to be −5.78/−2.86 eV (3-PIMCFTPA) and −5.68/−3.19 eV
to their undoped state, the emitters had a longer lifetime after being (3-BICFTPA), with an energy band gap of 2.92 eV (3-PIMCFTPA)
doped with 1 wt % of CBP. 3-PIMCFTPA exhibits a lifetime of 1.90 and 2.49 eV (3-BICFTPA).37
4375 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Figure 10. Schematic energy level diagram of (a) hole-only and (b) electron-only devices having different materials, 3BICFTPA and 3PIMCFTPA,
while (c,d) displays their corresponding current−density−voltage characteristics.
Figure 11. Atomic force microscopic images of (a−c) ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CBP:5 wt % 3-BICFTPA and (d−f) ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CBP:5 wt % 3-
PIMCFTPA. Where left to right images in each display correspond to the height, amplitude, and phase image. 3-BICFTPA-based EML exhibits Ra
= 0.5 nm and Rq = 0.7 nm, while 3-PIMCFTPA-based EML displays Ra = 0.4 nm and Rq = 0.5 nm.
Electroluminescence Properties. We are inspired to explore the architecture and unique fluorescent emitters were fabricated. The
electroluminescent properties of newly synthesized fluorophore-based investigated undoped and doped stacked devices are displayed in
OLED devices with novel fluorophores’ superior characteristics, such Figure 8a,b. The undoped device configuration exhibits the respective
as high thermal stability, superb redox activity, and suitable device structure: ITO (150 nm)/PEDOT:PSS (35 nm)/3-PIMCFT-
photophysical properties. To examine the EL performance of these PA or 3-BIPTPA (20 nm)/TPBi (40 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (200 nm).
dyes, a number of nondoped/doped OLEDs having optimal device Moreover, according to the report, the EL performance of the device
4376 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Figure 12. (a) Energy level diagram of the studied hybrid white OLED. (b) CIE chromatograph, which shows CIE coordinates (0.35, 0.39), (0.34,
0.39), and (0.33, 0.37) at the brightness of 100, 1000, and 10000 cd m−2, respectively. (c) Energy transmission paths from host to dopants.
can be subsequently enhanced by utilizing an appropriate host for the Figures S21,S22. This resulting lower EL is attributed to the
emitters and effective device-making ideas. Therefore, for examining respective key factors: (i) leakage of electrons and holes from the
the primary required tools such as HOMO/LUMO, singlet and triplet recombination layer at the interface/electrodes, (ii) mismatched hole
energy levels, and band gap of newly synthesized fluorescent emitters, and electron injection barriers, which provided imbalance between
a carbazole-derivative-based suitable bipolar host named CBP was these charge carriers in the emissive zone, (iii) exciton quenching
incorporated, and numerous doped devices were made. The doped induced by self-aggregation of emitters, and (iv) generation of
device configuration contains the respective device structure: ITO nonradiative excitons at the junction between the charge-transporting
(150 nm)/PEDOT:PSS (35 nm)/CBP: X wt % 3-PIMCFTPA or 3- layers and the EML.45,46 We also detected that the doped devices
BIPTPA (20 nm)/TPBi (40 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (200 nm), where X exhibited better performance as compared with undoped devices.47,48
is 1, 3, 5, 7.5, and 100 wt % of dopants in the host material. Herein, We observed that the doped devices fabricated with 5 wt% 3-
ITO and LiF/Al bilayers were incorporated as the anode and cathode, PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA emitters doped in CBP displayed
which help to improve the hole and electron injection into studied brightness of 588 and 418 cdm−2, respectively, as shown in Table 3.
devices, and Al also works as a light reflector, which improves the The proposed energy transfer route from host to dopants has been
emission of light toward the glass substrate side. The conducting shown in Figure 8c,d. The energy transfer route from CBP to 3-
organic materials, such as polyethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrene PIMCFTPA demonstrates that the higher singlet (3.3 eV) energy
sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and 2,2′,2″-(1,3,5-benzinetriyl)-tris(1-phe- level of CBP as compared with that of the 3-PIMCFTPA singlet (3.2
nyl-1-H-benzimidazole) (TPBi), are utilized as the HIL and electron- eV) energy level helps to transfer sufficient energy from the host
transport layer (ETL)/hole blocking layer (HBL), respectively, while material to the guest and prevent back energy transmission from guest
lithium fluoride (LiF) has been incorporated as an electron injection to host. While the energy transfer route from CBP to 3-BICFTPA
layer. The PEDOT:PSS and EML are spin coated on ITO-sputtered displays that the singlet energy level (3.3 eV) of CBP is equivalent to
substrates by the low-cost wet-process method, while the remaining the singlet energy level (3.3 eV) of 3-BICFTPA, which might have
layers of organic and inorganic materials, that is, TPBi, LiF, and Al, some back energy transmission from guest to host, encouraging low
have been deposited via the thermal evaporation method, which performance in the OLED device. In this energy transfer route, the
supports production of the best performance-based devices. The Förster energy transfer process dominates more, and the triplet energy
structures of organic materials utilized in this research have been transfer process causes nonradiative exciton recombination in
revealed in Figure 8c. Initially, the undoped devices experienced fluorescent OLEDs. This demonstrates that the singlet excitons that
significant hole carrier confinement into the undoped EML and participate in PL generation provide 25% internal quantum efficiency
effective exciton generation because of the employed TPBi layer, and 5% external quantum efficiency.
which has a deep HOMO and high triplet energy. However, all the Initially, the concentration of dopants is optimized by incorporat-
undoped devices exhibited poor performance. The summarized EL ing 1, 3, 5, and 7.5 wt% in CBP. The investigated EL performances for
properties of fabricated OLED devices are shown in Table 3. We doped devices with the different concentration devices are presented
observed that the undoped devices fabricated with 3-PIMCFTPA and in Figures S21,S22 and summarized in Table 3. It is displayed in these
3-BICFTPA emitters displayed brightness of 213 and 112 cdm−2, figures that the maximum PE and CE increase as the concentration
respectively. Furthermore, we also observed that the undoped devices varies between 1 and 5 wt%. We also found that the current density
exhibited low luminance and also high current density, as displayed in rises rapidly with respect to the increase in voltage, indicating that the
4377 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
Figure 13. Effects of the concentration on EL properties (a) luminance vs voltage, (b) current density vs voltage, (c) PE vs luminance, (d) CE vs
luminance, and (e) EL spectra of the OLED embedded with CBP as a host and emitters, 5 wt% 3-PIMCFTPA and x wt% PO-01. Where x is 0.5,
1.0, 1.5, and 3.0% dopant concentration.
devices had diode characteristics. The EL spectra return to the blue- transfer from host to guest has a significant impact on EL emission.
emissive area once the emitters are doped into the CBP host, and the Moreover, a higher LUMO (2.86 eV) of 3-PIMCFTPA exhibits
color emission also stays steady as the dopant concentrations are effective electron confinement in the EML and causes higher EL
increased. It advocates the suppression of aggregation as the different performance as compared with the 3-BICFTPA-based deep blue
concentrations of dopants doped into the CBP host. It is seen that the OLED. When we compared the power and PE of 3-PIMCFTPA with
dopant concentration is increased, and the luminance is also increased 3-BICFTPA, 3-PIMCFTPA exhibited superior performance, as
up to 3 wt% of dopants as the density of radiative exciton increases. displayed in Figure 9c,d. The 5 wt% 3-PIMCFTPA-based deep
However, the luminance instigated to reduce at 5 wt% dopant blue OLED exhibited a maximum PEmax of 0.8 lm/W, a CEmax of 1.2
concentration of 3-PIMCFTPA, which may be a result of self- cdA−1, and an EQEmax of 3.8% along with a brightness of 588 cdm−2,
aggregation. The OLED device consisting of 1, 3, 5, and 7.5 wt % 3- while 5 wt% 3-BICFTPA doped in the CBP host-based device
PIMCFTPA dopant concentration exhibited an EQEmax of 3.4, 3.4, displayed a PEmax of 0.1 lmW−1, a CEmax of 0.2 cdA−1, and an EQEmax
3.8, and 5.7%, with CIE coordinates (0.17, 0.02), (0.17, 0.07), (0.17, of 0.4%, along with a maximum brightness of 418 cdm−2. The attained
0.09), and (0.17, 0.10). While the OLED device consisting of 1, 3, 5, EQE of 3.8% and CIE showed around (0.17, 0.02) of the solution-
and 7.5 wt% 3-BICFTPA dopant concentration exhibited an EQEmax processed OLED device, which is comparable to the previous report,
of 0.4, 0.4, 0.4, and 0.5%, with CIE coordinates (0.16, 0.11), (0.16, as summarized in Table S4.49,50 The superior performance of the 3-
0.11), (0.16, 0.11), and (0.16, 0.11). The device performance is PIMCFTPA-based deep blue OLED device may be attributed to
optimized at 7.5 wt% for the deep blue fluorophore dopants 3- efficient radiative exciton generation, effective energy transfers from
PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA. The summarized EL properties of host to guest, and high quantum yield of the deep blue emitter.
deep blue OLED devices fabricated with 3-PIMCFTPA and 3- Moreover, the 3-PIMCFTPA-based deep blue OLED possesses a
BICFTPA emitters have been displayed in Figure 9 and Table 3. The 60.3% internal quantum yield, while 3-BICFTPA displays a 24.9%
high current density and high luminance are displayed for 5 wt% 3- internal quantum yield. Exciton utilization efficiency (EUE) values of
PIMCFTPA doped into CBP, which is higher than the 5 wt% doped 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA are calculated to be ≈ 47.5 and
3-BICFTPA-based deep blue devices, as shown in Figure 9a,b. The 10.0%. We observed that 3-PIMCFTPA’s EUE is substantially higher
higher current density and high luminance of the 3-PIMCFTPA- than the theoretical 25% limit of conventional fluorescent emitters,
based device as compared with those of the 3-BICFTPA-based device showing that many triplet excitons are being converted to singlet
indicate that despite charge trapping effects in the host, energy excitons throughout the EL process. While EUE of 3-BICFTPA is
4378 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
lower than 25%, this may be due to back energy transfer from guest to
Lmax (cd
Table 4. Summary of EL Properties of the Studied OLED Embedded with CBP as a Host and Emitters 3-PIMCFTPA at 3 wt% and PO-01 at Different Concentrations
13,690
17,680
20,590
23,070
host. Both dopant materials 3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA
m−2)
displayed ultraviolet deep blue emission having CIE of (0.17, 0.09)
and (0.16, 0.11), respectively, and exhibited emission maximum
0.37) centered at 385 and 390 nm wavelength. In addition, the EL spectra at
0.37)
0.41)
0.47)
different voltages for different doping concentrations of 3-
PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA were also carried out and presented
0.38)/(0.29,
0.39)/(0.33,
0.42)/(0.37,
0.49)/(0.41, in Figure S23. From the respective Figure S23, it is observed that EL
CIExy coordinates
transmission.
The fabrication of single charge carrier devices with 3-BICFTPA
and 3-PIMCFTPA compounds was done to realize if these materials
exhibit better charge transport ability and to investigate charge
(0.31,
(0.35,
(0.40,
(0.44,
11.8/13.2/14.2
15.8/17.6/14.8
10.0/11.1/8.6
4379 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
■ CONCLUSIONS
In summary, we exploited two new NUV/deep blue emitters,
Notes
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
3-PIMCFTPA and 3-BICFTPA, by integrating TPA as a hole-
transporting moiety (D) and imidazole as an electron
transporting moiety (A) with metaconnectivity using a
■ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
S.V. acknowledges SERB, Department of Science and
Technology (DST), India (EMR/2016/002462), for financial
solution-processed technique. These emitters offered intense
support.
blue emissions in solution and solid. Using 3-PIMCFTPA
fluorophores as the dopant material, the doped OLED was
fabricated, and the devices exhibited NUV/deep-blue EL with
greater efficiencies, a PEmax of 0.6 lm W−1, a CEmax of 0.8 cd
■ REFERENCES
(1) Tang, C. W.; VanSlyke, S. A. Organic Electroluminescent
Diodes. Appl. Phys. Lett. 1987, 51, 913−915.
A−1, and an EQEmax of 3.4%, with CIE (0.17, 0.02) at 1 wt% (2) Tagare, J.; Swayamprabha, S. S.; Dubey, D. K.; Yadav, R. A. K.;
doping concentration and a PEmax of 1.1 lm W−1, a CEmax of Jou, J.-H.; Vaidyanathan, S. Highly Twisted Tetra-N-Phenylbenzi-
1.7 cd A−1, and an EQEmax of 5.7%, with CIE of(0.17, 0.10) at dine-Phenanthroimidazole Based Derivatives for Blue Organic Light
7.5 wt % doping concentration. Additionally, 3-PIMCFTPA Emitting Diodes: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation. Org.
was also successfully used as an efficient NUV emitter for Electron. 2018, 62, 419−428.
fabricating a highly efficient hybrid white OLED. The resultant (3) Zhang, Z.; Wang, Q.; Dai, Y.; Liu, Y.; Wang, L.; Ma, D. High
device exhibited a high-efficiency hybrid white OLED with a Efficiency Fluorescent White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with
Red, Green and Blue Separately Monochromatic Emission Layers.
PEmax of 22.5 lm W−1 and an EQEmax of 12.0% with a CIE
Org. Electron. 2009, 10, 491−495.
coordinate (0.34, 0.39) at 1000 cd m−2, which is essential for (4) Wei, Y.; Chen, C.-T. Doubly Ortho-Linked cis-4,4′-Bis-
the lighting and display applications. (diarylamino)stilbene/Fluorene Hybrids as Efficient Nondoped,
Sky-Blue Fluorescent Materials for Optoelectronic Applications. J.
■
*
ASSOCIATED CONTENT
sı Supporting Information
Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7478−7479.
(5) Wen, S.-W.; Lee, M.-T.; Chen, C. H. Recent Development of
Blue Fluorescent OLED Materials and Devices. J. Disp. Technol. 2005,
The Supporting Information is available free of charge at 1, 90−99.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648. (6) Du, M.; Feng, Y.; Zhu, D.; Peng, T.; Liu, Y.; Wang, Y.; Bryce, M.
R. Novel Emitting System Based on a Multifunctional Bipolar
Compounds’ characterization, synthesis of intermedi- Phosphor: An Effective Approach for Highly Efficient Warm-White
ates, NMR spectra (1H, 13C, and 19F NMR), HRMS, Light-Emitting Devices with High Color-Rendering Index at High
computed UV/Vis absorption spectra, vertical transition Luminance. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 5963−5968.
composition, atom coordinates of both fluorophores, (7) Cui, L.-S.; Liu, Y.; Liu, X.-Y.; Jiang, Z.-Q.; Liao, L.-S. Design and
Synthesis of Pyrimidine-Based Iridium(III) Complexes with Hori-
and CIE coordinates for the compounds in the liquid zontal Orientation for Orange and White Phosphorescent OLEDs.
and solid phase (PDF) ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7, 11007−11014.
4380 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
(8) Shinar, J.; Shinar, R. Organic Light-Emitting Devices (OLEDs) (25) Tagare, J.; Yadav, R. A. K.; Swayamprabha, S. S.; Dubey, D. K.;
and OLED-Based Chemical and Biological Sensors: An Overview. J. Jou, J.-H.; Vaidyanathan, S. Efficient solution-processed deep-blue
Phys. D Appl. Phys. 2008, 41, 133001. CIEy ∈ (0.05) and pure-white CIEx,y ∈ (0.34, 0.32) organic light-
(9) Zou, S.-N.; Chen, X.; Yang, S.-Y.; Kumar, S.; Qu, Y.-K.; Yu, Y.-J.; emitting diodes: experimental and theoretical investigation. J. Mater.
Fung, M.-K.; Jiang, Z.-Q.; Liao, L.-S. Efficient Violet Organic Light- Chem. C 2021, 9, 4935−4947.
Emitting Diodes with CIEy of 0.02 Based on Spiro Skeleton. Adv. Opt. (26) Tagare, J.; Vaidyanathan, S. Recent Development of
Mater. 2020, 8, 2001074. Phenanthroimidazole-Based Fluorophores for Blue Organic Light-
(10) Thakare, D. S.; Omanwar, S. K.; Muthal, P. L.; Dhopte, S. M.; Emitting Diodes (OLEDs): An Overview. J. Mater. Chem. C 2018, 6,
Kondawar, V. K.; Moharil, S. V. UV-Emitting Phosphors: Synthesis, 10138−10173.
Photoluminescence and Applications. Phys. Status Solidi 2004, 201, (27) Xu, Z.; Tang, B. Z.; Wang, Y.; Ma, D. Recent Advances in High
574−581. Performance Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on
(11) Hao, Z.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, X.; Ren, X.; Luo, Y.; Lu, S.; Wang, X. Fluorescence Emitters. J. Mater. Chem. C 2020, 8, 2614−2642.
Intense Violet-Blue Emitting (CaCl2/SiO2) : Eu2+ phosphor Powders (28) Tagare, J.; Dubey, D. K.; Jou, J.-H.; Vaidyanathan, S. Synthesis,
for Applications in UV-LED Based Phototherapy Illuminators. J. Phys. Photophysical, Theoretical and Electroluminescence Study of
D Appl. Phys. 2008, 41, 182001. Triphenylamine-Imidazole Based Blue Fluorophores for Solution-
(12) Thi Tuyet Nhung, L.; Nagata, H.; Takahashi, A.; Aihara, M.; Processed Organic Light Emitting Diodes. Dyes Pigm. 2019, 160,
Okamoto, T.; Shimohata, T.; Mawatari, K.; Akutagawa, M.; Kinouchi, 944−956.
Y.; Haraguchi, M. Sterilization effect of UV light on Bacillus spores (29) Ouyang, X.; Li, X.-L.; Bai, Y.; Mi, D.; Ge, Z.; Su, S.-J. Highly-
using TiO2 films depends on wavelength. J. Med. Invest. 2012, 59, 53− Efficient Hybrid White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on a
58. High Radiative Exciton Ratio Deep-Blue Emitter with Improved
(13) Nguyen, T. M. H.; Suwan, P.; Koottatep, T.; Beck, S. E. Concentration of Phosphorescent Dopant. RSC Adv. 2015, 5, 32298−
Application of a Novel, Continuous-Feeding Ultraviolet Light 32306.
Emitting Diode (UV-LED) System to Disinfect Domestic Wastewater (30) Chen, W.-C.; Yuan, Y.; Ni, S.-F.; Zhu, Z.-L.; Zhang, J.; Jiang, Z.-
for Discharge or Agricultural Reuse. Water Res. 2019, 153, 53−62. Q.; Liao, L.-S.; Wong, F.-L.; Lee, C.-S. Highly Efficient Deep-Blue
(14) Lui, G. Y.; Roser, D.; Corkish, R.; Ashbolt, N.; Jagals, P.; Stuetz, Electroluminescence from a Charge-Transfer Emitter with Stable
R. Photovoltaic Powered Ultraviolet and Visible Light-Emitting Donor Skeleton. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 7331−7338.
Diodes for Sustainable Point-of-Use Disinfection of Drinking Waters. (31) Liang, M.; Chen, J. Arylamine Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized
Sci. Total Environ. 2014, 493, 185−196. Solar Cells. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 3453−3488.
(15) van Santen, H.; Neijzen, J. H. M. Deep-UV Liquid Immersion (32) Frisch, M. J.; et al.Gaussian 09, Revision D.01; Gaussian, Inc.:
Mastering of High Density Optical Discs. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 2003, 42, Wallingford CT, 2009.
1110−1112. (33) Bauernschmitt, R.; Ahlrichs, R. Treatment of Electronic
(16) Jiang, Q.; Chu, Z.; Wang, P.; Yang, X.; Liu, H.; Wang, Y.; Yin, Excitations within the Adiabatic Approximation of Time Dependent
Z.; Wu, J.; Zhang, X.; You, J. Planar-Structure Perovskite Solar Cells
Density Functional Theory. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1996, 256, 454−464.
with Efficiency beyond 21%. Adv. Mater. 2017, 29, 1703852. (34) Ivanauskaite, A.; Lygaitis, R.; Raisys, S.; Kazlauskas, K.; Kreiza,
(17) Kang, S.; Huh, J.-S.; Kim, J.-J.; Park, J. Highly Efficient Deep-
G.; Volyniuk, D.; Gudeika, D.; Jursenas, S.; Grazulevicius, J. V.
Blue Fluorescence OLEDs with Excellent Charge Balance Based on
Structure−Property Relationship of Blue Solid State Emissive
Phenanthro[9,10-d]Oxazole-Anthracene Derivatives. J. Mater. Chem.
Phenanthroimidazole Derivatives. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2017, 19,
C 2020, 8, 11168−11176.
(18) Tagare, J.; Dubey, D. K.; Jou, J.-H.; Vaidyanathan, S. Near UV/ 16737−16748.
(35) Tagare, J.; Boddula, R.; Sudheendran, S. S.; Dubey, D. K.; Jou,
Deep-Blue Phenanthroimidazole-Based Luminophores for Organic
J.-H.; Patel, S.; Vaidyanathan, S. Efficient near Ultraviolet Emissive
Light-Emitting Diodes: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation.
ChemistrySelect 2019, 4, 6458−6468. (CIEy < 0.06) Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Phenan-
(19) Obolda, A.; Peng, Q.; He, C.; Zhang, T.; Ren, J.; Ma, H.; Shuai, throimidazole−Alkyl Spacer−Carbazole Fluorophores: Experimental
Z.; Li, F. Triplet-Polaron-Interaction-Induced Upconversion from and Theoretical Investigation. J. Mater. Chem. C 2020, 8, 16834−
Triplet to Singlet: a Possible Way to Obtain Highly Efficient OLEDs. 16844.
Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 4740−4746. (36) Liu, H.; Chen, P.; Hu, D.; Tang, X.; Pan, Y.; Zhang, H.; Zhang,
(20) Patil, V. V.; Lim, J.; Lee, J. Y. Strategic Synchronization of 7,7- W.; Han, X.; Bai, Q.; Lu, P.; Ma, Y. Separation of Electrical and
Dimethyl-5,7-dihydroindeno[2,1-b]carbazole for Narrow-Band, Pure Optical Energy Gaps: Selectively Adjusting the Electrical and Optical
Violet Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with an Efficiency of > 5% and Properties for a Highly Efficient Blue Emitter. Chem.�Eur. J. 2014,
a CIE y Coordinate of. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13, 14440− 20, 2149−2153.
14446. (37) Hu, D.; Shen, F.; Liu, H.; Lu, P.; Lv, Y.; Liu, D.; Ma, Y.
(21) Gao, Z.; Liu, Y.; Wang, Z.; Shen, F.; Liu, H.; Sun, G.; Yao, L.; Separation of Electrical and Optical Energy Gaps for Constructing
Lv, Y.; Lu, P.; Ma, Y. High-Efficiency Violet-Light-Emitting Materials Bipolar Organic Wide Bandgap Materials. Chem. Commun. 2012, 48,
Based on Phenanthro[9,10-d]Imidazole. Chem.�Eur. J. 2013, 19, 3015−3017.
2602−2605. (38) Girase, J. D.; Tagare, J.; Shahnawaz; Nagar, M. R.; Siddiqui, I.;
(22) Yang, X.; Zheng, S.; Bottger, R.; Chae, H. S.; Tanaka, T.; Li, S.; Jou, J.-H.; Patel, S.; Vaidyanathan, S. Deep-Blue Emitters (CIEy
Mochizuki, A.; Jabbour, G. E. Efficient Fluorescent Deep-Blue and ∼0.07) Based on Phenanthroimidazole: Remarkable Substitution
Hybrid White Emitting Devices Based on Carbazole/Benzimidazole Effects at the N1 Position of Imidazole on the Excited States and
Compound. J. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115, 14347−14352. Electroluminescence Properties. Dyes Pigments 2021, 196, 109791.
(23) Xue, S.; Qiu, X.; Ying, S.; Lu, Y.; Pan, Y.; Sun, Q.; Gu, C.; Yang, (39) Devesing Girase, J.; Rani Nayak, S.; Tagare, J.; Shahnawaz;
W. Highly Efficient Nondoped Near-Ultraviolet Electroluminescence Ram Nagar, M.; Jou, J.-H.; Vaidyanathan, S. Solution-processed deep-
with an External Quantum Efficiency Greater Than 6.5% Based on a blue (y∼0.06) fluorophores based on triphenylamine-imidazole
Carbazole-Triazole Hybrid Molecule with High and Balanced Charge (donor-acceptor) for OLEDs: computational and experimental
Mobility. Adv. Opt. Mater. 2017, 5, 1700747. exploration. J. Inf. Disp. 2021, 23, 53−67.
(24) Huang, C.-C.; Xue, M.-M.; Wu, F.-P.; Yuan, Y.; Liao, L.-S.; (40) Liu, H.; Bai, Q.; Yao, L.; Zhang, H.; Xu, H.; Zhang, S.; Li, W.;
Fung, M.-K. Deep-Blue and Hybrid-White Organic Light Emitting Gao, Y.; Li, J.; Lu, P.; Wang, H.; Yang, B.; Ma, Y. Highly efficient near
Diodes Based on a Twisting Carbazole-Benzofuro[2,3-b]Pyrazine ultraviolet organic light-emitting diode based on a meta-linked donor-
Fluorescent Emitter. Molecules 2019, 24, 353. acceptor molecule. Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 3797−3804.
4381 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382
ACS Applied Electronic Materials pubs.acs.org/acsaelm Article
(41) Park, Y.-S.; Lee, S.; Kim, K.-H.; Kim, S.-Y.; Lee, J.-H.; Kim, J.-J.
Exciplex-Forming Co-Host for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with
Ultimate Efficiency. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2013, 23, 4914−4920.
(42) Kalinowski, J.Excimers and Exciplexes in Organic Electro-
luminescence; Materials Science-Poland, 2009.
(43) Werts, M. H. V.; Jukes, R. T. F.; Verhoeven, J. W. The Emission
Spectrum and the Radiative Lifetime of Eu3+ in Luminescent
Lanthanide Complexes. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2002, 4, 1542−1548.
(44) de Leeuw, D. M.; Simenon, M. M. J.; Brown, A. R.; Einerhand,
R. E. F. Stability of N-Type Doped Conducting Polymers and
Consequences for Polymeric Microelectronic Devices. Synth. Met.
1997, 87, 53−59.
(45) Chercka, D.; Yoo, S.-J.; Baumgarten, M.; Kim, J.-J.; Müllen, K.
Pyrene Based Materials for Exceptionally Deep Blue OLEDs. J. Mater.
Chem. C 2014, 2, 9083−9086.
(46) Sun, H.; Hu, Z.; Zhong, C.; Chen, X.; Sun, Z.; Brédas, J.-L.
Impact of Dielectric Constant on the Singlet−Triplet Gap in
Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials. J. Phys. Chem.
Lett. 2017, 8, 2393−2398.
(47) Kumar Konidena, R.; Justin Thomas, K. R.; Kumar Dubey, D.;
Sahoo, S.; Jou, J.-H. A New Molecular Design Based on Hybridized
Local and Charge Transfer Fluorescence for Highly Efficient (>6%)
Deep-Blue Organic Light Emitting Diodes. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53,
11802−11805.
(48) Jou, J.-H.; Yang, Y.-M.; Chen, S.-Z.; Tseng, J.-R.; Peng, S.-H.;
Hsieh, C.-Y.; Lin, Y.-X.; Chin, C.-L.; Shyue, J.-J.; Sun, S.-S.; Chen, C.-
T.; Wang, C.-W.; Chen, C.-C.; Lai, S.-H.; Tung, F.-C. High-Efficiency
Wet- and Dry-Processed Green Organic Light Emitting Diodes with a
Novel Iridium Complex-Based Emitter. Adv. Opt. Mater. 2013, 1,
657−667.
(49) Wang, Z.; Feng, Y.; Li, H.; Gao, Z.; Zhang, X.; Lu, P.; Chen, P.;
Ma, Y.; Liu, S. Dimeric Phenanthroimidazole for Blue Electro-
luminescent Materials: The Effect of Substituted Position Attached to
Biphenyl Center. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2014, 16, 10837−10843.
(50) Ouyang, X.; Li, X.-L.; Zhang, X.; Islam, A.; Ge, Z.; Su, S.-J.
Effective Management of Intramolecular Charge Transfer to Obtain
from Blue to Violet-Blue OLEDs Based on a Couple of Phenanthrene Recommended by ACS
Isomers. Dyes Pigm. 2015, 122, 264−271.
(51) Zhao, F.; Wei, Y.; Xu, H.; Chen, D.; Ahamad, T.; Alshehri, S.;
Pei, Q.; Ma, D. Spatial Exciton Allocation Strategy with Reduced Structure–Property Relationship of Triscarbazole-
Energy Loss for High-Efficiency Fluorescent/Phosphorescent Hybrid diphenyltriazine-type Blue Thermally Activated Delayed
White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes. Mater. Horiz. 2017, 4, 641− Fluorescent Emitters
648. Sung Yong Byeon, Jun Yeob Lee, et al.
(52) Lee, M.-T.; Chu, M.-T.; Lin, J.-S.; Tseng, M.-R. Host-Free, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Yellow Phosphorescent Material in White Organic Light-Emitting ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS READ
Diodes. J. Phys. D Appl. Phys. 2010, 43, 442003.
“Awakening” of the S2 Emission of Tricarbocyanine Dyes
Stimulated by Interaction with Carbon Quantum Dots
Oleg P. Dimitriev, Aleksey B. Ryabitskii, et al.
JULY 14, 2022
THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS READ
4382 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00648
ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 2022, 4, 4368−4382