Coordination complexes exhibiting room-temperature phosphorescence: Evaluation of their suitability as triplet emitters in organic light emitting diodes

Strategies for Enabling RGB Emission in Fused Carbazole Derivatives

The development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has witnessed remarkable progress in material design and device architecture. Recent advancements, particularly in the fourth generation of OLEDs, have introduced groundbreaking innovations such as hyperfluorescence and multiresonance (MR) thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MRTADF) emitters. Carbazole has emerged as a versatile scaffold, playing a pivotal role in conventional fluorescence, TADF, roomtemperature phosphorescence (RTP), and MRTADF systems. In recent years, fused carbazole derivatives have gained significant attention as both emitting and host materials in OLEDs. The fusion of carbazole units enhances molecular rigidity and extends the πconjugation, enabling precise tuning of optoelectronic properties across a wide color gamut, including blue, green, orange, yellow, and red emissions. This review systematically explores the application of various fused carbazole systems such as indolocarbazole, thienocarbazole, furocarbazole, indenocarbazole, triazatruxene, acridinecarbazole, chromenocarbazole, pyrenocarbazole, helicene carbazole, and carbazolefused boron/carbonyl MRTADF emitters in OLEDs. The discussion is organized into three sections based on their application in blue, green, and red OLEDs, providing a comprehensive understanding of structure-property relationships. Additionally, other color-emitting OLEDs are discussed where relevant, offering a holistic perspective on the potential of fused carbazole derivatives in next-generation OLED technologies.

Enhanced blue phosphorescence in platinum acetylide complexes via a secondary heavy metal and anion-controlled aggregation

Organoplatinum compounds represent a promising class of blue-phosphorescent molecules for electroluminescent color displays. Much recent work has focused on decreasing the nonradiative rate constant (k nr) to improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ PL) of these compounds, but in most cases small radiative rate constants (k r) lead to long excited-state lifetimes (τ) poorly suited for electroluminescence applications. In this work, we present an approach to increase k r and Φ PL in blue-phosphorescent platinum acetylide complexes with the general formula cis-[Pt(CN-R)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-2-py)2] (CN-R is an alkyl isocyanide and C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-2-py is 2-pyridylacetylide). This method incorporates secondary heavy metals, Cu(i) or Ag(i), bound by the pyridyl moieties. We observe the formation of dimer complexes in the solid state due to noncovalent interactions between the secondary metal and the acetylide ligands, especially strong in the case of Cu(i). Incorporation of Cu(i) also erodes the desired blue-phosphorescence by introducing a low-lying metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) state that dominates the observed phosphorescence. In the complexes bound to Ag(i), we find that phosphorescence profile is strongly dependent on the counteranion, which we propose is caused by different degrees of aggregation. With this insight, we show that coordination of AgBArF 4 (BArF 4 - = tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate), with a large noncoordinating counteranion, inhibits aggregation and results in a 4-8× increase in k r and a 5-10× increase in Φ PL while preserving a pure blue phosphorescence profile.

Unveiling mechanistic insights and applications of aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE)-active polynuclear transition metal complexes

Aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) in polynuclear transition metal complexes (PTMCs) represents a major advancement in luminescent materials, overcoming the limitations of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) in traditional systems. Unlike conventional materials that suffer from quenching, AEE-active PTMCs exhibit enhanced luminescence in the aggregated state, driven by mechanisms such as restricted molecular motion, π-π stacking, and metal-metal interactions. These properties make PTMCs highly versatile for applications including chemical sensing, bioimaging, photodynamic therapy (PDT), optoelectronics (e.g., OLEDs, WOLEDs, and LEDs), and security technologies (e.g., anti-counterfeiting inks). They enable the sensitive detection of pollutants, facilitate high-performance bioimaging, and enhance the efficiency of energy devices. However, PTMCs face several challenges, including complex synthesis, limited thermal and photostability, solubility issues, and environmental and toxicity concerns. Additionally, high production costs, instability in different media, and the need for optimized energy transfer efficiency must be addressed to enhance their practical performance. This review explores the mechanisms behind AEE in PTMCs and discusses strategies for overcoming these challenges, including ligand engineering, hybrid material development, and sustainable synthesis methods. It also highlights their potential in advancing energy-efficient technologies, precision therapeutics, and secure communication systems, contributing to a more sustainable and innovative future.

Singlet, Doublet, and Triplet Emissions of Diarylamine-Modified Bismuth Pincer Complexes

We present six bismuth complexes (NCRN)BiX2 (X = Cl, I) with diarylamine-modified pincer ligands (NCRN = (4-R-C6H4)2N-C6H2-(CH2NMe2)2-1,3; R = Me, O, NMe2) and report on their optoelectronic, photophysical, and electrochemical properties. The complexes exhibit intriguing photophysical behavior, with the p-tolyl and p-anisyl derivatives showing phosphorescence at 77 K in frozen solvent matrices and at room temperature (r.t.) in the solid state. In THF solutions at r.t., only ligand-based fluorescence is observed with strongly reduced quantum yields compared to free proligands NCHRN. Electrochemical studies reveal up to three reversible one-electron oxidations. The NMe2-substituted complexes display the lowest oxidation potentials and the largest number of redox waves. Radical cations [NCHNMe2N]+ and [(NCNMe2N)BiX2]+ are chemically stable and fluoresce weakly in the near-infrared (NIR) at ca. 1200 nm.

Raman, ROA, and luminescence spectra of chiral lanthanide complexes with L- and D-alanine

The Raman spectra of lanthanide [Ln(H2O)4(Ala)2]2(ClO4)6 crystals were measured with 488, 532, 633, and 1064 nm laser lines, and ROA of complexes in water were collected using 532 nm excitation. As in IR and VCD, ν(CO) stretching and β(OCO) bending vibration bands showed a tendency typical to the lanthanide contraction effect. However, in Raman, the effect is less pronounced than the IR spectrum because it is strongly perturbed by lanthanide ion luminescence, which comes from the 4f → 4f transitions. The lower the energy of the excitation line, the less the bands are perturbed by the luminescence. On the other hand, some ROA spectra taken in water revealed strong circularly polarized luminescence signals (Eu, Sm, and Er complexes). Yet, for the non-luminescing systems, it was impossible to see lanthanide ions' influence as the signals were too slight and hidden in noise.

A novel type of heteroleptic Cu(I) complexes featuring nitrogen-rich tetrazine ligands: syntheses, crystal structures, spectral properties, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical calculations

Heteroleptic copper(I) complexes with the general formula [Cu(N^N)(P^P)]X constitute one of the most studied categories of 3d metal photosensitizers. Here, we examine using 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-based ligands to synthesize photoactive Cu(I) complexes. The newly prepared complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis, which revealed the formation of dinuclear complexes [Cu2(μ-L1)(xantphos)2](ClO4)2 (1) and [Cu2(μ-L2)(xantphos)2](ClO4)2 (2), and mononuclear complexes [Cu(L3)(xantphos)]ClO4 (3) and [Cu(L4)(xantphos)]ClO4 (4), where L1 = 3,6-di(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz), L2 = 3,6-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, L3 = 3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, L4 = 3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine and xantphos = 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene. Solution stability assays were addressed by NMR spectroscopy showing that complexes are stable in dichloromethane over several days. The electronic excited states were investigated by UV-Vis and luminiscence spectroscopy and interpreted with the help of TD-DFT calculations. In the case of all the newly prepared complexes 1-4, the absorptions in the visible region were assigned to non-emissive MLCT transitions between the Cu(I) and the respective tetrazine ligand. Redox properties were probed by cyclic voltammetry and also supplemented by DFT calculations. Interestingly, tetrazine ligands L1-L4 show a shift of reduction potential to less negative values upon the formation of Cu(I) complexes 1-4. Moreover, the two complexes 3-4 represent the first reported case of mononuclear heteroleptic Cu(I)-tetrazine complexes.

Push-pull effect - how to effectively control photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer processes in rhenium(I) chromophores with ligands of D-A or D-π-A structure

Over the last five decades, diimine rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes have been extensively investigated due to their remarkable and widely tuned photophysical properties. These systems are regarded as attractive targets for design functional luminescent materials and performing fundamental studies of photoinduced processes in transition metal complexes. This review summarizes the latest developments concerning Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes bearing donor-acceptor (D-A) and donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) ligands. Such compounds can be treated as bichromophoric systems with two close-lying excited states, metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and intraligand-charge-transfer (ILCT). A role of ILCT transitions in controlling photobehaviour was discussed for Re(I) tricarbonyls with six different diimine cores decorated by various electron-rich amine, sulphur-based and π-conjugated aryl groups. It was evidenced that this approach is an effective tool for enhancement of the visible absorptivity, bathochromic emission shift and significant prolongation of the excited-state, opening up new possibilities in the development of more efficient materials and expand the range of their applications.

The Emissive and Electrochemical Properties of Hypervalent Pyridine-Dipyrrolide Bismuth Complexes

We present a series of six hypervalent bismuth complexes Bi(R1PDPR2)X bearing ligands characterized by the pyridine-2,6-bis(pyrrolide) (PDP) structural motif. While bismuth holds considerable potential for facilitating efficient intersystem crossing (ISC), reports on phosphorescent molecular bismuth complexes are still scarce and mostly based on systems that exhibit inter- or intraligand charge transfer character of their optical excitations. Herein, the UV/vis absorptive, luminescent, and electrochemical properties of complexes Bi(R1PDPR2)X are explored, where the substituents R1 and R2, as well as the halide ligand X are varied. These compounds are characterized by an intense HOMO→LUMO transition of mixed ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) and interligand charge transfer (LL'CT) character, as shown by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. At 77 K in a 2-MeTHF matrix, these compounds exhibit red, long-lived phosphorescence with lifetimes ranging from 479 to 14 μs. Cyclic voltammetry measurements and TD-DFT calculations show that the substituents influence HOMO and LUMO energies to almost equal extent, resulting in nearly constant emission wavelengths throughout this series. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of four of the six complexes exemplify the inherent Lewis acidity of the coordinated Bi3+ ion, in spite of its hypervalency.

Photodissociation of Cr(CO) 4 bpy $$ \mathrm{Cr}{\left(\mathrm{CO}\right)}_4\mathrm{bpy} $$ : A Non-Adiabatic Dynamics Investigation

Carbonyl complexes ofd 6 $$ {d}^6 $$ metals with an α-diimine ligand exhibit both emission and ligand-selective photodissociation from MLCT states. Studying this photodissociative mechanism is challenging for experimental approaches due to an ultrafast femtosecond timescale and spectral overlap of multiple photoproducts. The photochemistry of a prototypical systemCr(CO) 4 bpy $$ \mathrm{Cr}{\left(\mathrm{CO}\right)}_4\mathrm{bpy} $$ is investigated with non-adiabatic dynamic simulations. Obtained 86 fs lifetime of the brightS 3 $$ {S}_3 $$ state and 13% quantum yield are in good agreement with experimental data. The present simulations suggest a ballistic mechanism of photodissociation, which is irrespective of the occupied electronic state. This is in contrast to the previously established mechanism of competitive intersystem crossing and dissociation. Selectivity of axial photodissociation is shown to be caused by the absence of an avoided crossing in the equatorial direction.

Ag(i) emitters with ultrafast spin-flip dynamics for high-efficiency electroluminescence

Carbene-metal-amide (CMA) complexes are appealing emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, little is known about silver(i)-CMA complexes, particularly electroluminescent ones. Here we report a series of Ag(i)-CMA complexes prepared using benzothiophene-fused carbazole derivatives as amide ligands. These complexes emit via thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), together with high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 72% in thin films. By strengthening the π-donating ability of the amide ligands, ultrashort emission lifetimes of down to 144 ns in thin films and 11 ns in solution (with a radiative rate constant of ∼107 s-1) are realized, among the shortest lifetimes for TADF emitters. Key to this unique feature is the ultrafast spin-flip dynamics consisting of forward and reverse intersystem crossing rates of up to ∼109 s-1 and ∼108 s-1, respectively, verified by the transient absorption spectroscopic study. The resulting solution-processed OLEDs based on the optimal complex afford record external quantum efficiencies of 16.2% at maximum and 13.4% at 1000 nits, representing the state-of-the-art performance for Ag(i) emitters. This work presents an effective approach for the development of short-lived TADF materials for high-efficiency OLEDs.

Synthesis, Luminescence, and Electrochemistry of Tris-Chelate Platinum(IV) Complexes with Cyclometalated N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Aromatic Diimines

Dicationic, C2-symmetrical, tris-chelate Pt(IV) complexes of general formula [Pt(trz)2(N∧N)](OTf)2, bearing two cyclometalated 4-butyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene (trz) ligands and one aromatic diimine [N∧N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy, 2), 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dbbpy, 3), 4,4'-dimethoxi-2,2'-bipyridine (dMeO-bpy, 4), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 5), 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (bphen, 6), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 7), or 2,3-diphenylpyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline (dpprzphen, 8)] are obtained through chloride abstraction from [PtCl2(trz)2] (1) using AgOTf in the presence of the corresponding diimine. Complexes 2-4 show long-lived phosphorescence from 3LC excited states involving the diimine ligand, with quantum yields that reach 0.18 in solution and 0.58 in the solid matrix at room temperature for 3. Derivatives with more extended aromatic systems show dual phosphorescent/fluorescent emissions (5, 6) or mainly fluorescence (7, 8) in solution. Comparisons with similar complexes bearing cyclometalated 2-arylpyridines instead of aryl-N-heterocyclic carbenes indicate that the {Pt(trz)2} subunit is crucial to enable efficient emissions from diimine-centered excited states. It is also shown that the introduction of protective bulky substituents on the diimine, such as the tert-butyl groups in 3, is a key strategy to reach higher emission efficiencies. The new compounds represent rare examples of luminescent Pt(IV) complexes that show quasi-reversible one-electron reductions, indicating an unusually high redox stability.

Low-Dimensional Metal-Alkynyls: On-Surface Synthesis and Properties

Metal-alkynyls, an emerging class of functional metal-organic materials, have attracted widespread attention due to their fascinating properties and multifaceted potential applications, such as luminescence, nonlinear optics, liquid crystals, and catalysis. Despite considerable effort toward their synthesis, precise construction of complex metal-alkynyl structures with a high selectivity remains a great challenge. The rise of on-surface chemistry not only offers a route to realizing controlled synthesis of low-dimensional (LD) metal-alkynyls but also provides an opportunity for their in-depth investigations with advanced surface characterization techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy. This Perspective presents an overview of some recent progress in precise on-surface synthesis of LD metal-alkynyls. Atomic-level explorations of chemical reactivities and electronic properties of surface-confined metal-alkynyls are then summarized to highlight their conjugated electronic states and rich chemistry.

Hybrid Local and Charge-Transfer Material with Ultralong Room Temperature Phosphorescence for Efficient Organic Afterglow Light-Emitting Diodes

Organic ultralong room temperature phosphorescence (OURTP) materials capable of combining various emission behaviors for diversified optoelectronic properties and applications have recently gained a vigorous development, but it remains a forbidden challenge in designing OURTP molecules with hybrid local and charge-transfer (HLCT) feature, possibly due to the elevated difficulties in simultaneously meeting the stringent requirements of both HLCT and OURTP emitters. Here, through introducing multiple heteroatoms into one-dimensional fused ring of coumarin with moderate charge transfer perturbation in donor-π-acceptor architecture, we demonstrate a HLCT-featured OURTP molecule showing both promoted fluorescence with a quantum yield of 77 % in solution and long-lived OURTP with a lifetime of 251 ms in conventional host material used in electroluminescent device. Thus, efficient OURTP organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated, exhibiting bright electroluminescence with an exciton utilization efficiency of 85 % and yellow OURTP lasting over 2 s for afterglow. Impressively, the HLCT OURTP-OLEDs can be further optimized to reach an unprecedented total external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ~12 % and OURTP EQE up to 3.11 %, representing the highest performance among the reported OURTP-OLEDs. These impressive results highlight the significance to fuse HLCT and OURTP together in enriching OURTP materials and improving the afterglow OLED performances.

Anthropogenic gadolinium contaminations in the marine environment and its ecological implications

Due to the widespread application in medicine and industry of anthropogenic gadolinium (Gdanth), the widespread of Gd anomaly in surface water has leading to disruption of the natural Gd geochemical cycle. However, challenges related to the identification and quantification of Gdanth, assessment of its impacts on marine ecosystems, and exploration of strategies for mitigating its adverse effects still exist. Meanwhile, as the major source of the Gdanth, the environmental geochemical behavior of Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs), which are used in medical diagnostics in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are still poorly understood. In this review, we 1) analyzed Gd anomalies in samples from published literature worldwide, confirmed their prevalence (81.25% for sea and lake water, 72.73% for river water), 2) demonstrated that the third-order polynomial method is the preferred approach for the detection of Gdanth in surface seawater, 3) outlined the species and applications of Gdanth and its impacts on marine environment, 4) explored the process of GBCAs influx into the ocean and demonstrated the concentration of Gdanth in coral samples was mainly affected by terrestrial input GBCAs (63.75%) through Pearson correlation analysis and principle component analysis, 5) proposed effective management strategies for GBCAs at all stages from production to release into the ocean, 6) formulated an expectation for future research on marine Gdanth.

Dual Fluorescence and Phosphorescence Emissions from Dye-Modified (NCN)-Bismuth Pincer Thiolate Complexes

We report the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of four new dye-modified (NCN)Bi pincer complexes with two mercaptocoumarin or mercaptopyrene ligands. Their photophysical properties were probed by UV/vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) studies, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Absorption spectra of the complexes are dominated by mixed pyrene or coumarin π → π*/n(pS) → pyrene or coumarin π* transitions. While unstable toward reductive elimination of the corresponding disulfide under irradiation at room temperature, the complexes provide stable emissions at 77 K. Under these conditions, coumarin complexes 2 and 4 exhibit exclusively green phosphorescence at 508 nm. In contrast, the emissive properties of pyrene complexes 1 and 3 depend on the excitation wavelength and on sample concentration. Irradiation into the lowest-energy absorption band exclusively triggers red phosphorescence from the pyrenyl residues at 640 nm. At concentrations c < 1 μM, excitation into higher excited electronic states results in blue pyrene fluorescence. With increasing c (1-100 μM), the emission profile changes to dual fluorescence and phosphorescence emission, with a steady increase of the phosphorescence intensity, until at c ≥ 1 mM only red phosphorescence ensues. Progressive red-shifts and broadening of steady-state excitation spectra with increasing sample concentration suggest the presence of static excimers, as we observe it for concentrated solutions of pyrene. Crystalline and powdered samples of 1 indeed show intermolecular association through π-stacking. TD-DFT calculations on model dimers and a tetramer of 1 support the idea of aggregation-induced intersystem crossing (AI-ISC) as the underlying reason for this behavior.

Efficient narrowband yellow organic light-emitting diodes based on iridium(III) complexes with the rigid indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole unit

Phosphorescent material with narrowband emission is crucial for advancing wide-color-gamut organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this work, two iridium(III) complexes, (PhthzICz)2Ir(tmd) and (thzICz)2Ir(tmd), using rigid 2-(benzothiazole-2-yl)indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole (PhthzICz) and 2-(thiazole-2-yl)indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole (thzICz) as cyclometalated ligands and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione (tmd) as ancillary ligands, were synthesized. When these complexes were doped into the host material 3,3'-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl, the doped films exhibited yellow photoluminescence (PL) peaking at 537 and 531 nm, full width at half maximum (FWHM) bands of 35 and 60 nm, and PL quantum yields of 89.9% and 85.9%, respectively. OLEDs based on these two emitters display moderate performance characteristics with maximum external quantum efficiencies of 25.2% and 22.7%. Notably, the device based on (PhthzICz)2Ir(tmd) exhibits a narrow FWHM of 31 nm. Overall, the study highlights the practicality of incorporating rigid groups into the cyclometalated ligands of Ir(III) complexes as a viable strategy for achieving efficient Ir(III) complexes for OLEDs with narrow emission and high efficiency.

B-O-O-B Impurity Induces Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Boric Acid

Organic materials that can emit ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) have attracted a great deal of interest. Whether the pure boric acid (BA) solid can emit RTP and the origin of the RTP in BA caused a debate recently. Herein, our first-principles calculations and experimental measurements suggest that RTP of BA originates from the B-O-O-B group in a (H2BO3)2 species, which can be formed by polymerization of two dehydrogenated BA molecules under light irradiation. The calculated absorption, fluorescence, and phosphorescence spectra of B-O-O-B match well with the experiments. Experimental X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption spectra evidence the existence of B-O-O-B in BA. The O-O bond in B-O-O-B can break upon optical excitation, creating two B-O radicals. Radiative transition from localized dangling orbitals of the B-O radicals to the delocalized orbitals of the crystal bulk leads to the observed RTP. Our calculated phosphorescence lifetime is ∼1 s, which agrees well with the experiment.

Room-temperature phosphorescence from organic materials in aqueous media

In recent years, organic materials with room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) features have gained significant attention due to their wide applications in the fields of bioimaging, light-harvesting materials, encryption technology, etc. Although several examples of organic RTP materials in the crystalline state and polymer-based systems have been reported in the last decade or so, achieving organic RTP in the solution phase, particularly in the aqueous phase has remained a challenging task. Herein in this review, we summarize the progress in this direction by highlighting design strategies based on supramolecular scaffolding and host-guest complexation and the applications of such aqueous organic RTP materials in bioimaging, sensing, etc.

Enhancing the charge transport and luminescence properties of ethyl 4-[(E)-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)methyleneamino]benzoate through complexation: a DFT and TD-DFT study

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) and organic solar cell (OSC) properties of ethyl 4-[(E)-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)methyleneamino]benzoate (EMAB) and its Pt2+, Pd2+, Ni2+, Ir3+, Rh3+, and Zn2+ complexes have been theoretically studied herein. Geometry optimizations have been performed via the r2SCAN-3c composite method while single-point calculations have been carried out at the PBE0-D3(BJ)/def2-TZVP level of theory. Results have shown that complexation with selected metal ions improves hole and electron transfer rates in Pt[EMAB]2 and Rh[EMAB]2 +. Specifically, the hole transport rate of Pt[EMAB]2, (k ct(h) = 6.15 × 1014 s-1), is found to be 44 times greater than that of [EMAB], (k ct(h) = 1.42 × 1013 s-1), whereas electron transport rate of Pt[EMAB]2, (k ct(e) = 4.6 × 1013 s-1) is 4 times that of EMAB (k ct(e) = 1.1 × 1013 s-1). Charge mobility for holes and electrons are equal to 19.182 cm2 V-1 s-1 and 1.431 cm2 V-1 s-1 respectively for Pt[EMAB]2, and equal to 4.11 × 10-1 cm2 V-1 s-1 and 3.43 × 10-1 cm2 V-1 s-1 for EMAB respectively. These results show that, charge transport in EMAB can be tuned for better performance through complexation with transition metals such as Pt2+. OSC properties of the complexes were also studied by comparing their HOMO/LUMO energies with those of (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). It turned out that the energy gap of EMAB reduced significantly upon complexation from 2.904 eV to 0.56 eV in [Rh(EMAB)2]+ and to a lesser extent in the other complexes. The energy values of the HOMOs remained higher than those of PCBM while those of the LUMOs were found to be greater than that of P3HT with the exception of [Rh(EMAB)2]+. These findings show that the aforementioned species are good electron donors to PCBM. The open circuit voltage, V OC, of the compounds ranged between 0.705 × 10-19 V and 6.617 × 10-19 V, values that are good enough for practical usage in OSC applications. The UV-visible absorption spectra revealed absorption maxima well below 900 nm in all compounds, vital in the efficient functioning of solar cells. In general, this study has shown that platinoid complexation of EMAB can successfully modify both its OLED and OSC properties, making them better precursors in the electronic industry.

Imidazopyridine Family: Versatile and Promising Heterocyclic Skeletons for Different Applications

In recent years, there has been increasing attention focused on various products belonging to the imidazopyridine family; this class of heterocyclic compounds shows unique chemical structure, versatile optical properties, and diverse biological attributes. The broad family of imidazopyridines encompasses different heterocycles, each with its own specific properties and distinct characteristics, making all of them promising for various application fields. In general, this useful category of aromatic heterocycles holds significant promise across various research domains, spanning from material science to pharmaceuticals. The various cores belonging to the imidazopyridine family exhibit unique properties, such as serving as emitters in imaging, ligands for transition metals, showing reversible electrochemical properties, and demonstrating biological activity. Recently, numerous noteworthy advancements have emerged in different technological fields, including optoelectronic devices, sensors, energy conversion, medical applications, and shining emitters for imaging and microscopy. This review intends to provide a state-of-the-art overview of this framework from 1955 to the present day, unveiling different aspects of various applications. This extensive literature survey may guide chemists and researchers in the quest for novel imidazopyridine compounds with enhanced properties and efficiency in different uses.

Control of Photoisomerization Kinetics via Multistage Switching in Bimetallic Ru(II)-Terpyridine Complexes

In this study, we carried out detailed experimental and theoretical investigation on photophysical, electrochemical, and photoisomerization behaviors of a new array of luminescent binuclear Ru(II) complexes derived from a phenylene-vinylene-substituted terpyridyl ligand possessing RT lifetimes within 60.3-410.5 ns. The complexes experienced trans-to-cis isomerization in MeCN on irradiation with visible light, accompanied by significant changes in their absorption and emission spectral profiles. The reverse cis-to-trans process is also possible with the use of ultraviolet (UV) light. On conversion from trans to cis isomers, the emission intensity increases substantially, while for the reverse process, luminescence quenching occurs. Thus, "off-on" and "on-off" emission switching is facilitated upon treatment with visible and UV light alternatively. By the use of chemical oxidants (ceric ammonium nitrate and potassium permanganate) and reductants (metallic sodium) as well as light of appropriate wavelengths, multistate switching phenomena involving reversible oxidation-reduction and trans-cis isomerization have been achieved. Interestingly, the rate of this multistate photoswitching process becomes much faster compared to only two-state trans-cis isomerization of these complexes. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) calculations are also performed to obtain a clear picture of the electronic environment of the complexes and also for the appropriate assignment of absorption and emission spectral bands.

Application of a distinctly bent, trinuclear, end-to-end azide bridged, mixed valence cobalt(iii/ii/iii) complex in the fabrication of photosensitive Schottky barrier diodes

A mixed-valence trinuclear cobalt(iii)-cobalt(ii)-cobalt(iii) complex, [(μ-1,3-N3)Co3L(N3)3]·MeOH has been synthesized using a tetradentate N2O2 donor 'reduced Schiff base' ligand, H2L {1,3-bis(2-hydroxybenzylamino)2,2-dimethylpropane} and azide as anionic co-ligand. The complex has been characterised by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies etc. The cobalt(iii)-cobalt(ii)-cobalt(iii) skeleton in the complex is non-linear and non-centrosymmetric. The redox behavior of the complex was studied by using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). The complex is found to be a semiconductor material as confirmed by determining the band gap of this complex by experimental as well as theoretical studies. The band gap in the solid state has been determined experimentally. The conductivity of the synthesized complex based device improves considerably in illumination conditions from the non-illuminated conditions. The complex has also been used to fabricate Schottky barrier diodes.

How Rigidity and Conjugation of Bidentate Ligands Affect the Geometry and Photophysics of Iron N-Heterocyclic Complexes: A Comparative Study

Two iron complexes featuring the bidentate, nonconjugated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) 1,1'-methylenebis(3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene) (mbmi) ligand, where the two NHC moieties are separated by a methylene bridge, have been synthesized to exploit the combined influence of geometric and electronic effects on the ground- and excited-state properties of homoleptic FeIII-hexa-NHC [Fe(mbmi)3](PF6)3 and heteroleptic FeII-tetra-NHC [Fe(mbmi)2(bpy)](PF6)2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) complexes. They are compared to the reported FeIII-hexa-NHC [Fe(btz)3](PF6)3 and FeII-tetra-NHC [Fe(btz)2(bpy)](PF6)2 complexes containing the conjugated, bidentate mesoionic NHC ligand 3,3'-dimethyl-1,1'-bis(p-tolyl)-4,4'-bis(1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene) (btz). The observed geometries of [Fe(mbmi)3](PF6)3 and [Fe(mbmi)2(bpy)](PF6)2 are evaluated through L-Fe-L bond angles and ligand planarity and compared to those of [Fe(btz)3](PF6)3 and [Fe(btz)2(bpy)](PF6)2. The FeII/FeIII redox couples of [Fe(mbmi)3](PF6)3 (-0.38 V) and [Fe(mbmi)2(bpy)](PF6)2 (-0.057 V, both vs Fc+/0) are less reducing than [Fe(btz)3](PF6)3 and [Fe(btz)2(bpy)](PF6)2. The two complexes show intense absorption bands in the visible region: [Fe(mbmi)3](PF6)3 at 502 nm (ligand-to-metal charge transfer, 2LMCT) and [Fe(mbmi)2(bpy)](PF6)2 at 410 and 616 nm (metal-to-ligand charge transfer, 3MLCT). Lifetimes of 57.3 ps (2LMCT) for [Fe(mbmi)3](PF6)3 and 7.6 ps (3MLCT) for [Fe(mbmi)2(bpy)](PF6)2 were probed and are somewhat shorter than those for [Fe(btz)3](PF6)3 and [Fe(btz)2(bpy)](PF6)2. [Fe(mbmi)3](PF6)3 exhibits photoluminescence at 686 nm (2LMCT) in acetonitrile at room temperature with a quantum yield of (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10-4, compared to (3 ± 0.5) × 10-4 for [Fe(btz)3](PF6)3.

Luminescent Radicals

Organic radicals are attracting increasing interest as a new class of molecular emitters. They demonstrate electronic excitation and relaxation dynamics based on their doublet or higher multiplet spin states, which are different from those based on singlet-triplet manifolds of conventional closed-shell molecules. Recent studies have disclosed luminescence properties and excited state dynamics unique to radicals, such as highly efficient electron-photon conversion in OLEDs, NIR emission, magnetoluminescence, an absence of heavy atom effect, and spin-dependent and spin-selective dynamics. These are difficult or sometimes impossible to achieve with closed-shell luminophores. This review focuses on luminescent organic radicals as an emerging photofunctional molecular system, and introduces the material developments, fundamental properties including luminescence, and photofunctions. Materials covered in this review range from monoradicals, radical oligomers, and radical polymers to metal complexes with radical ligands demonstrating radical-involved emission. In addition to stable radicals, transiently formed radicals generated in situ by external stimuli are introduced. This review shows that luminescent organic radicals have great potential to expand the chemical and spin spaces of luminescent molecular materials and thus broaden their applicability to photofunctional systems.

Tetracopper σ-Bound μ-Acetylide and -Diyne Units Stabilized by a Naphthyridine-based Dinucleating Ligand

Reactions of a dicopper(I) tert-butoxide complex with alkynes possessing boryl or silyl capping groups resulted in formation of unprecedented tetracopper(I) μ-acetylide/diyne complexes that were characterized by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds possess an unusual μ4 -η1 :η1 :η1 :η1 coordination mode for the bridging organic fragment, enforced by the rigid and dinucleating nature of the ligand utilized. Thus, the central π system remains unperturbed and accessible for subsequent reactivity and modification. This has been corroborated by addition of a fifth copper atom, giving rise to a pentacopper acetylide complex. This work may provide a new approach by which metal-metal cooperativity can be exploited in the transformation of acetylide and diyne groups to a variety of substrates, or as a starting point for the controlled synthesis of copper(I) alkyne-containing clusters.

Room-temperature phosphorescent materials derived from natural resources

Room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials have enormous potential in many different areas. Additionally, the conversion of natural resources to RTP materials has attracted considerable attention. Owing to their inherent luminescent properties, natural materials can be efficiently converted into sustainable RTP materials. However, to date, only a few reviews have focused on this area of endeavour. Motivated by this lack of coverage, in this Review, we address this shortcoming and introduce the types of natural resource available for the preparation of RTP materials. We mainly focus on the inherent advantages of natural resources for RTP materials, strategies for activating and enhancing the RTP properties of the natural resources as well as the potential applications of these RTP materials. In addition, we discuss future challenges and opportunities in this area of research.

A Rising Star: Luminescent Carbene-Metal-Amide Complexes

Coinage metal (gold, silver, and copper) complexes are attractive candidates to substitute the widely studied noble metal complexes, such as, iridium(III) and platinum(II), as luminescent materials in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, the development of coinage metal complexes exhibiting high emission quantum yields and short exciton lifetimes is still a formidable challenge. In the past few years, coinage metal complexes featuring a carbene-metal-amide (CMA) motif have emerged as a new class of luminescent materials in OLEDs. Thanks to the coinage metal-bridged linear geometry, coplanar conformation, and the formation of excited states with dominant ligand-to-ligand charge transfer character and reduced metal d-orbital participation, most CMA complexes have high radiative rates via thermally activated delayed fluorescence. Currently, the family of CMA complexes have rapidly evolved and remarkable progresses in CMA-based OLEDs have been made. Here, a Concept article on CMA complexes is presented, with a focus on molecular design principles, the correlation between molecular structure/conformation and optoelectronic properties, as well as OLED performance. The future prospects of CMA complexes are also discussed.

Fluorescent and Catalytic Properties of a 2D Lamellar Zn Metal-Organic Framework with sql Network Structure

A two-dimensional (2D) lamellar Zn metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF, 1) with a fluorescent 1,6-di(pyridin-3-yl)pyrene (3-DPPy) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (BDC2-) bridging linkers was prepared and structurally characterized. The chemical formula of 1 is [Zn(μ-3-DPPy)(μ-BDC)]n. The mononuclear Zn(II) ion, acting as a node, is tetrahedrally coordinated with two 3-DPPy and two BDC linkers. The coordination environment of Zn(II) is a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The Zn-MOF is the sql network structure based on topology analysis. The undulated 2D sheets of 1 tightly pack together to form a lamellar structure. The pyrene moieties are parallelly oriented to each other. The Zn-MOF is not porous, possibly because the mononuclear Zn(II) node did not form cluster-based secondary building units due to the less symmetric 3-DPPy. The steady-state fluorescence measurements indicate that the fluorescence signal of the 1 is slightly blue-shifted compared to the free 3-DPPy in the solid state. The excimer emission band at 463 nm for crystalline 3-DPPy is shifted to 447 nm for 1. The value of 447 nm is also a blue-shift value compared to nonsubstituted pyrene crystals (470 nm). Despite its nonporosity, the surface Lewis acidic sites of 1 could catalyze the transesterification of esters. Surface defect sites are responsible for this catalytic activity.

pH-tunable phosphorescence and light harvesting in cucurbit[8]uril host-guest assemblies

Host-guest assemblies of halo-phenyl pyridine derivatives and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) exhibited pH-responsive room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in aqueous media. Moreover, they acted as efficient light-harvesting systems demonstrating triplet-singlet energy transfer to various acceptor dyes.

Color-Tunable Ultralong Organic Phosphorescence: Commercially Available Triphenylmethylamine for UV-Light Response and Anticounterfeiting

Due to the unclear mechanism and lack of effective design for color-tunable ultralong organic phosphorescence (UOP) in a single-component molecule, the development of new types of single-component UOP materials with color-tunable property remains challenging. Herein, commercially available triphenylmethylamine-based single-component phosphors featuring color-tunablity and ultralong lifetime (0.56 s) are reported. The changed afterglow colors from cyan to orange were observed after different wavelengths of UV excitation. Crystal structure and calculation studies show that multiple emission centers in the aggregated states may be responsible for the color-tunablity. In addition, visual probing of UV light (from 260 to 370 nm) and colorful anti-counterfeiting were conducted. More importantly, UV light ranging from 350 to 370 nm could be detected with the minimal interval of 2 nm. The findings provide a new type of single-component color-tunable UOP materials and shed new light on mechanism and design for such materials.

Highly efficient and stable thermally activated delayed fluorescent palladium(II) complexes for organic light-emitting diodes

Transition metal complexes exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) remain underdeveloped for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Here, we describe a design of TADF Pd(II) complexes featuring metal-perturbed intraligand charge-transfer excited states. Two orange- and red-emitting complexes with efficiencies of 82 and 89% and lifetimes of 2.19 and 0.97 μs have been developed. Combined transient spectroscopic and theoretical studies on one complex reveal a metal-perturbed fast intersystem crossing process. OLEDs using the Pd(II) complexes show maximum external quantum efficiencies of 27.5 to 31.4% and small roll-offs down to 1% at 1000 cd m^-2. Moreover, the Pd(II) complexes show exceptional operational stability with LT₉₅ values over 220 hours at 1000 cd m^-2, benefiting from the use of strong σ-donating ligands and the presence of multiple intramolecular noncovalent interactions beside their short emission lifetimes. This study demonstrates a promising approach for developing efficient and robust luminescent complexes without using the third-row transition metals.

Substrate-Responsive Pillar[5]arene-Based Organic Room-Temperature Phosphorescence

Room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) is a photophysical phenomenon typically associated with a long-lived emission that can be detected by the unaided eye. Several natural proteins display RTP, as do certain artificial polymers. In both cases, the RTP is ascribed to effective intramolecular through-space electronic communication. However, small molecules with internal electronic communication that enable RTP are relatively rare. Herein, we describe an alkyl halide-responsive RTP system consisting of a meta-formylphenyl-bearing pillar[5]arene derivative that supports effective through-space charge transfer (TSCT) within the pillararene cavity. Treatment with bromoethane, a heavy atom-containing guest for the pillar[5]arene host, serves to enhance the emission. An isomeric para-formylphenyl-bearing pillar[5]arene system proved ineffective in producing an RTP effect. Quantum chemical calculations based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses provided insights into the structural determinants governing TSCT between the 1,4-dimethoxybenzene donor units and the formylphenyl groups of the pillar[5]arene, as well as the associated energy gaps and intersystem crossing channels. We believe that the present system and the associated mechanistic analysis provide the foundation for design of new small molecule with tunable RTP features.

Electronic Structure of Neodymium(III) and Europium(III) Resolved in Solution Using High-Resolution Optical Spectroscopy and Population Analysis

Solution chemistry of the lanthanide(III) ions is unexplored and relevant: extraction and recycling processes exclusively operate in solution, MRI is a solution-phase method, and bioassays are done in solution. However, the molecular structure of the lanthanide(III) ions in solution is poorly described, especially for the near-IR (NIR)-emitting lanthanides, as these are difficult to investigate using optical tools, which has limited the availability of experimental data. Here we report a custom-built spectrometer dedicated to investigation of lanthanide(III) luminescence in the NIR region. Absorption, luminescence excitation, and luminescence spectra of five complexes of europium(III) and neodymium(III) were acquired. The obtained spectra display high spectral resolution and high signal-to-noise ratios. Using the high-quality data, a method for determining the electronic structure for the thermal ground states and emitting states is proposed. It combines Boltzmann distributions with population analysis and uses the experimentally determined relative transition probabilities from both excitation and emission data. The method was tested on the five europium(III) complexes and was used to resolve the electronic structures of the ground state and the emitting state of neodymium(III) in five different solution complexes. This is the first step toward correlating optical spectra with chemical structure in solution for NIR-emitting lanthanide complexes.

Reactions of noble-metal oxides in ionic liquids near room temperature

The reaction of Ag₂O, Au₂O₃, and HgO with CuCl, CuI, AgCl, AgI, AuCl, and AuI in ionic liquids ([EMIm]Cl, [BMIm]Cl) near room temperature (20-80 °C) is evaluated and results in the new compounds (C₈H₁₄N₂)CuCl, (C₈H₁₄N₂)AgI, (C₆H₁₀N₂)AuCl, [(C₈H₁₄N₂)₂Hg][CuCl₃], [(C₈H₁₄N₂)₂Hg][AgCl₃], and [EMIm][Ag₂I₂Cl]. Thereof, (C₈H₁₄N₂)CuCl, (C₈H₁₄N₂)AgI, (C₆H₁₀N₂)AuCl, [(C₈H₁₄N₂)₂Hg][CuCl₃], and [(C₈H₁₄N₂)₂Hg][AgCl₃] are NHC complexes (NHC: N-heterocyclic carbene) with M-C bonds (M: Cu, Ag, Au, Hg). Whereas (C₈H₁₄N₂)CuCl and (C₈H₁₄N₂)AgI crystallize as single molecules, (C₆H₁₀N₂)AuCl is dimerized via aurophilic interactions. [(C₈H₁₄N₂)₂Hg][CuCl₃] and [(C₈H₁₄N₂)₂Hg][AgCl₃] exhibit Hg atoms with two Hg-C bonds. Moreover, (C₈H₁₄N₂)AgI shows intense green fluorescence at room temperature with a quantum yield of 44%, whereas all other compounds do not show any emission at room temperature. Finally, [EMIm][Ag₂I₂Cl] is not an NHC compound but contains _∞ ¹[AgI_1/2I_2/4Cl_1/2]^- chains with infinite d¹⁰-d¹⁰ interaction of the silver atoms. The title compounds are characterized by single-crystal structure analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Excited state processes of dinuclear Pt(II) complexes bridged by 8-hydroxyquinoline

Dinuclear d⁸ Pt(II) complexes, where two mononuclear square planar Pt(II) units are bridged in an "A-frame" geometry, possess photophysical properties characterised by either metal-to-ligand-(MLCT) or metal-metal-ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) transitions determined by the distance between the two Pt(II) centres. When using 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQH) as the bridging ligand to construct novel dinuclear complexes with general formula [C^NPt(μ-8HQ)]₂, where C^N is either 2-phenylpyridine (1) or 7,8-benzoquinoline (2), triplet ligand-centered (³LC) photophysics results echoing that in a mononuclear model chromophore, [Pt(8HQ)₂] (3). The lengthened Pt-Pt distances of 3.255 Å (1) and 3.243 Å (2) results in a lowest energy absorption centred around 480 nm assigned as having mixed LC/MLCT character by TD-DFT, mirroring the visible absorption spectrum of 3. Additionally, 1 and 2 exhibit ³LC photoluminescence with limited quantum yields (0.008) from broad transitions centred near 680 nm. Photoexcitation of 1-3 leads to an initially prepared excited state that relaxes within 15 ps to a ³LC excited state centred on the 8HQ bridge, which then persists for several microseconds. All the experimental results correspond well with DFT electronic structure calculations.

Elastic and bright assembly-induced luminescent crystals of platinum(II) complexes with near-unity emission quantum yield

Molecular crystals of Pt(II) complexes with metallophilic interactions can provide bright assembly-induced luminescence with colour tunability. However, the brittleness of many of these crystals makes their application in flexible optical materials difficult. Herein, we have achieved the elastic deformation of crystals of polyhalogenated Pt(II) complexes exhibiting bright assembly-induced luminescence. A crystal of [Pt(bpic)(dFppy)] (Hbpic = 5-bromopicolinic acid, HdFppy = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine) and a co-crystal of [Pt(bpic)(dFppy)] and [Pt(bpic)(ppy)] (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine) were found to exhibit significant elastic deformation due to their highly anisotropic interaction topologies. While the crystal of [Pt(bpic)(dFppy)] exhibited monomer-based ligand-centred ³ππ* emission with an emission quantum yield of 0.40, the co-crystal exhibited bright, triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MMLCT) emission owing to Pt⋯Pt interactions, thereby achieving a significantly higher emission quantum yield of 0.94.

Room Temperature Phosphorescence in Solution from Thiophene-Bridged Triply Donor-Substituted Tristriazolotriazines

Most organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emitters do not show their RTP in solution. Here, we incorporated sulfur-containing thiophene bridges between the donor and acceptor moieties in D₃ A-type tristriazolotriazines (TTTs). The thiophene inclusion increased the spin-orbit coupling associated with the radiative T₁ →S₀ pathway, allowing RTP to be observed in solution for all compounds, likely assisted by protection of the emissive TTT-thiophene core from the environment by the bulky peripheral donors.

Influence of Tartrate Ligand Coordination over Luminescence Properties of Chiral Lanthanide-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

The present work reports on a detailed discussion about the synthesis, characterization, and luminescence properties of three pairs of enantiopure 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with general formula {[Ln₂(L/D-tart)₃(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O}_n (3D_Ln-L/D, where Ln = Sm(III), Eu(III) or Gd(III), and L/D-tart = L- or D-tartrate), and ten pairs of enantiopure 2D coordination polymers (CPs) with general formula [Ln(L/D-Htart)₂(OH)(H₂O)₂]_n (2D_Ln-L/D, where Ln = Y(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III) or Yb(III), and L/D-Htart = hydrogen L- or D-tartrate) based on single-crystal X-ray structures. Enantiopure nature of the samples has been further corroborated by Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) as well as by circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Solid-state emission spectra of Eu(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III)-based compounds confirm the occurrence of ligand-to-metal charge transfers in view of the characteristic emissions for these lanthanide ions, and emission decay curves were also recorded to estimate the emission lifetimes for the reported compounds. A complete theoretical study was accomplished to better understand the energy transfers occurring in the Eu-based counterparts, which allows for explaining the different performances of 3D-MOFs and 2D-layered compounds. As inferred from the colorimetric diagrams, emission characteristics of Eu-based 2D CPs depend on the temperature, so their luminescent thermometry has been determined on the basis of a ratiometric analysis between the ligand-centered and Eu-centered emission. Finally, a detailed study of the polarized luminescence intensity emitted by the samples is also accomplished to support the occurrence of chiro-optical activity.

A Theoretical Investigation into the Homo- and Hetero-leptic Cu(I) Phosphorescent Complexes Bearing 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and bis [2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether Ligand

Cu(I) complexes have received widespread attention as a promising alternative to traditional noble-metal complexes. Herein, we systematically study the properties of Cu(I) complexes from homo- to hetero-ligands, and found the following: (1) hetero-ligands are beneficial to regulate phosphorescent efficiency; (2) when the hetero-ligands in a tetracoordinated Cu(I) complex are 1:1, the ligands coordinate along the d_x2-y2 direction of Cu(I) ion, which can observably suppress structural deformation; (3) unlike the P^P ligand, the N^N ligand can enhance the participation of Cu(I) during the transition process; (4) the addition of an appropriate amount of P^P ligand can effectively raise the energy level of HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital), enhance the proportion of LLCT (ligand-ligand charge transfer), and thereby increase the available singlet emission transition moments which can be borrowed, thus promoting the radiative decay process. As a result, this work provides a detailed understanding of the effects of different ligands in Cu(I) complexes, and provides a valuable reference and theoretical basis for regulating and designing the phosphorescent properties of Cu(I) complexes in the future.

Molecular design of DBA-type five-membered heterocyclic rings to achieve 200% exciton utilization for electroluminescence

Achieving high exciton utilization is a long-cherished goal in the development of organic light-emitting diode materials. Herein, a three-step mechanism is proposed to achieve 200% exciton utilization: (i) hot triplet exciton (T₂) conversion to singlet S₁; (ii) singlet fission from S₁ into two T₁; (iii) and then a Dexter energy transfer to phosphors. The requirement is that S₁ should lie slightly lower than or close to T₂ and twice as high as T₁ in energy. For this, a scenario is put forward to design a series of donor-bridge-acceptor (DBA) type molecules with 2E(T₁) ≤ E(S₁) < E(T₂), in which the Baird-type aromatic pyrazoline ring is used as a bridge owing to its stabilized T₁ (1.30-1.74 eV) and different kinds of donors and acceptors are linked to the bridge for regulating S₁ (2.35-3.87 eV) and T₂ (2.44-3.96 eV). The ultrafast spectroscopy and sensitization measurements for one compound (TPA-DBPrz) fully confirm the theoretical predictions.

H-Bonding Room Temperature Phosphorescence Materials via Facile Preparation for Water-Stimulated Photoluminescent Ink

Pure organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials built upon noncovalent interactions have attracted much attention because of their high efficiency, long lifetime, and stimulus-responsive behavior. However, there are limited reports of noncovalent RTP materials because of the lack of specific design principles and clear mechanisms. Here, we report on a noncovalent material prepared via facile grinding that can emit fluorescence and RTP emission differing from their components’ photoluminescent behavior. Exciplex can be formed during the preparation process to act as the minimum emission unit. We found that H-bonds in the RTP system provide restriction to nonradiative transition but also enhance energy transformation and energy level degeneracy in the system. Moreover, water-stimulated photoluminescent ink is produced from the materials to achieve double-encryption application with good resolution.

Impact of the Anthryl Linking Mode on the Photophysics and Excited-State Dynamics of Re(I) Complexes [ReCl(CO)3(4′-An-terpy-κ2N)]

Rhenium(I) complexes with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines (terpy) substituted with 9-anthryl (1) and 2-anthryl (2) were synthesized, and the impact of the anthryl linking mode on the ground- and excited-state properties of resulting complexes [ReCl(CO)₃(4′-An-terpy-κ²N)] (An—anthryl) was investigated using a combination of steady-state and time-resolved optical techniques accompanied by theoretical calculations. Different attachment positions of anthracene modify the overlap between the molecular orbitals and thus the electronic coupling of the anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(terpy-κ²N)} chromophores. Following the femtosecond transient absorption, the lowest triplet excited state of both complexes was found to be localized on the anthracene chromophore. The striking difference between 1 and 2 concerns the triplet-state formation dynamics. A more planar geometry of 2-anthryl-terpy (2), and thus better electronic communication between the anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(terpy-κ²N)} chromophores, facilitates the formation of the ³An triplet state. In steady-state photoluminescence spectra, the population ratio of ³MLCT and ³An was found to be dependent not only on the anthryl linking mode but also on solvent polarity and excitation wavelengths. In dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), compounds 1 and 2 excited with λ_exc > 410 nm show both ³MLCT and ³An emissions, which are rarely observed. Additionally, the abilities of the designed complexes for ¹O₂ generation and light emission under the external voltage were preliminary examined.

The impact of the anthryl linking mode on the ground- and excited-state properties of [ReCl(CO)₃(4′-An-terpy-κ²N)] with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines (terpy) substituted with 9-anthryl (1) and 2-anthryl (2) was thoroughly investigated. Different attachment positions of anthracene were evidenced to modify the overlap between the molecular orbitals and electronic coupling of the anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(terpy-κ²N)} chromophores and thus the optical properties of the resulting complexes. The striking difference between 1 and 2 was demonstrated in the triplet-state formation dynamics.

A first principles examination of phosphorescence

This paper explores phosphorescence from a first principles standpoint, and examines the intricacies involved in calculating the spin-forbidden T 1 → S 0 transition dipole moment, to highlight that the mechanism is not as complicated to compute as it seems. Using gas phase acridine as a case study, we break down the formalism required to compute the phosphorescent spectra within both the Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller regimes by coupling the first triplet excited state up to the S 4 and T 4 states. Despite the first singlet excited state appearing as an L b state and not of nπ* character, the second order corrected rate constant was found to be 0.402 s-1, comparing well with experimental phosphorescent lifetimes of acridine derivatives. In showing only certain states are required to accurately describe the matrix elements as well as how to find these states, our calculations suggest that the nπ* state only weakly couples to the T 1 state. This suggest its importance hinges on its ability to quench fluorescence and exalt non-radiative mechanisms rather than its contribution to the transition dipole moment. A followup investigation into the T 1 → S 0 transition dipole moment's growth as a function of its coupling to other electronic states highlights that terms dominating the matrix element arise entirely from the inclusion of states with strong spin-orbit coupling terms. This means that while the expansion of the transition dipole moment can extend to include an infinite number of electronic states, only certain states need to be included.