The Blue Problem: OLED Stability and Degradation Mechanisms

Carbazolylphenyl ethynyl anthracenes as TTA emitters with improved horizontal alignment for the applications in OLEDs and for optical detection of the nitroaromatic explosive compounds

Synthesis and properties of the carbazolylphenyl ethynyl anthracenes with tert-butyl, methoxy, and methoxyethoxy groups are reported. The compounds exhibit remarkably high thermal stability with the temperatures of the onsets of thermal degradation exceeding 407 °C. The ionization potentials of the compounds range from 5.38 to 5.65 eV. Hole mobilities of the derivatives exceed 1 × 10-4 cm2 × V-1s-1 at high electric fields. The photoluminescence quantum yields of the toluene solutions of the compounds are in the range of 86-97 %. The low-lying triplet excited states with the energy of 1.98 eV are detected experimentally and confirmed by the theoretical calculations utilizing density-functional theory for all the studied compounds. The long-lived photoluminescence with a lifetime of up to 0.19 ms is detected for the film of tert-butylcarbazole-based emitter. Triplet-triplet annihilation as an emissive mechanism of the emitters was discussed. The solid samples of dimethoxycarbazolyl-containing derivative shows photoluminescence quantum yield of 36 %. The triplet-triplet fusion is manifested by the long-lived electroluminescence of organic light emitting diode (OLED) with this compound as the emitter and the slope of 2 of the linear plot of brightness versus current density in log-log scale. The considerable quenching of emission of the dispersions of the compounds in THF/water mixtures with a volume fraction of water of 99 % is observed after the addition of picric acid. The respective Stern-Volmer constants are in the range of 6.3 × 104-1.1 × 105 M-1.

Solvation Effects on the Sustainability of Lanthanum Complexes

In this article, we performed a detailed computational study of the interaction La3+ ion with eight perfluorinated β-diketones bearing heterocyclic rings and trifluoromethyl groups. The chelation process between trivalent lanthanum and furoyl-trifluoroacetone, thenoyl-trifluoroacetone, selenoyl-trifluoroacetone, tellurophen-trifluoroacetone, benzoyl-trifluoroacetone, pyridine-trifluoroacetone, N-methyl-pyrrol-trifluoroacetone, and N-methyl-pyrazole-trifluoroacetone has been simulated by means of DFT using three scalar relativistic effective core potentials (CRENBL ECP, Def2-ECP, and LANZL2DZ ECP) and three solvation models (C-PCM, SMD, and COSMO). Coordination models with different numbers of water molecules in the solvation shells have been tested for the calculation of stability constants and to estimate the influence of the coordination environment on the thermodynamic stability of complexes. Formation constants were evaluated using a thermodynamic cycle involving complex species with two, four, five, six, seven, eight, and ten coordination numbers. The performed calculations demonstrate that the number of water molecules in the solvation shell is a key factor for the sustainability of dicarbonyl chelates. Theoretical values of stability constants lie in the range of -10 to 23 logarithmic units and are in agreement with the experiment for low-coordinated models. TD-DFT simulation also indicates six-coordination as the most acceptable at the cc-pVDZ/CAM-B3LYP level of theory.

Highly Emissive Hexa-peri-benzocoronene-fluoranthene Hybrid as Easily Processable and Stable OLED Material

We report the synthesis of a fluorescent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dye with a "symmetry-broken" core, derived from the related hexa-peri-benzocoronene (HBC) core with a fluoranthene subunit. The fluorophore is composed of a pure carbon skeleton without heteroatoms and exhibits remarkable photoluminescence properties with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 67% in toluene, exceeding that of the parent HBC by a factor of 30. The single crystal X-ray structure reveals the distorted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon structure, which is responsible for the optoelectronic properties, as supported by density functional theory calculations. We show that the new fluorescent dye can be readily used for the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) without extensive optimization, whereby solubility in a variety of solvents and successful film formation are decisive.

Phosphor-Assisted TADF-Sensitized Fluorescence (pTSF) OLEDs: Faster Excitons, Brighter Futures

The impressive efficiency and lifetime under ultrahigh luminance remain a long-standing challenge for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), as conventional fluorescent, phosphorescent, and thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) systems universally suffer from accelerated bimolecular annihilation at elevated exciton densities. Recently, phosphor-assisted TADF-sensitized fluorescence (pTSF) has emerged as a groundbreaking architecture that synergistically integrates exciton utilization enhancement and radiative decay acceleration through breaking the singlet-triplet spin-flip cycles in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) hosts via multiple sensitizations. The OLEDs based on pTSF achieve not only a nearly roll-off-free on external quantum efficiency but also a remarkable power efficiency, even when operating at ultrahigh luminance levels exceeding 100,000 cd m-2. In this review, we delve into the intricacies of pTSF technology, examining its material design principles, energy transfer dynamics, and exciton management processes. Eventually, we critically assess the challenges in implementing pTSF for blue-emitting OLEDs and propose strategic research directions to harness the full potential of this transformative technology.

Linear Annulation Engineering of Indolocarbazole Multiple Resonance Emitter to Overcome Efficiency-Stability-Color Purity Trilemma in Deep-Blue OLEDs

Deep-blue emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) still confront the critical challenge of balancing high efficiency, operational stability, and color purity, particularly for the ones with peak wavelengths (λmax) ≤ 460 nm. Here, the study demonstrates deep-blue devices featuring ultrapure emission (λmax = 458 nm, full-width at half-maximum = 19 nm), high maximum external quantum efficiency of 34.3% with small roll-off (26.9% at 1 000 cd m- 2; 20.9% at 5 000 cd m- 2), and long operational LT80 (time to 80% of the initial luminance) of 101 hours at 1,000 cd m- 2, being one of the longest lifetime among OLEDs with λmax ≤ 460 nm and EQE >20%. This breakthrough stems from an indolocarbazole narrowband emitter employing a linear annulation strategy, which not only narrows spectral bandwidth while red-shifting emission peak through multiple resonance framework extension, but also energetically and dynamically enhances device longevity via triplet energy reduction. Furthermore, strategic integration of steric hindrance on the emitting backbone suppresses intermolecular interactions and directs reactivity pathways. This emitter concurrently achieves a λmax of 456 nm, FWHM of 15 nm and photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 98% in dilute toluene. The work highlights linear annulation engineering as a potential approach to resolve the efficiency-stability-color purity trilemma in deep-blue OLEDs.

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.

Dimerization effects on the electronic properties of candidate OLED materials for optimized performance: a quantum DFT study

In recent years, there has been growing interest in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials, highlighting the importance of a thorough understanding of the key factors that influence their electronic and non-linear optical (NLO) properties. To achieve this objective, we considered five candidate OLED compounds: dibenzothio-phen-sulfone-3-yl-9-phenyl-9H-carbazole (DBTS-CzP), 9H-thioxanthene-9-one-dibenzothiophene-sulfone (TXO-CzP), spiro[fluorene-9,9-thioxanthene]-10,10-dioxide (SpDBTS-CzP), 9-[4-(diphenylphosphoryl)-2,2-dimethyl-4-biphenylyl]-9H-carbazole (mCBPPO), and N,N-bis[2-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-di(n-butyl)phenylamine (DPA-2Py). We employed density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods to investigate how dimerization can affect their electronic and NLO characteristics. The results of electronic structure analysis, including HOMO-LUMO gaps and NLO characteristics, reveal that dimerization enhances dipole moments and polarizabilities, facilitating improved charge transfer and electronic transitions. Among the studied compounds, TXO-CzP demonstrates stable electronic properties and exhibits enhanced NLO characteristics post-dimerization-such as efficient charge mobility and superior color purity-positioning it as a promising candidate for advanced OLED applications. These findings underscore dimerized structures' potential to enhance optoelectronic device performance.

Deep-blue phosphorescence from platinum(ii) bis(acetylide) complexes with sulfur-bridged dipyridyl ligands

New approaches to prepare rarer emitters such as those that are deep-blue are needed to advance OLED technologies. Here, we demonstrate that a series of new platinum(ii) bis(acetylide) complexes [Pt(N-N)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh)2] containing sulfur-bridged dipyridyl ligands (N-N) with various sulfur oxidation states: sulfide (S), sulfoxide (SO) and sulfone (SO2) give access to variable emission colors from green to deep-blue. Spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational studies show that mixed character excited states have energies which are significantly influenced by the oxidation state of sulfur and the presence of substituents. The sulfide and sulfoxide complexes are non-emissive in the solution state, while the sulfone complexes display 3MLCT/3LLCT excited-state yellow phosphorescence. In PMMA films the sulfide and sulfoxide complexes show intense deep-blue phosphorescence and green phosphorescence for the sulfone complexes, with photoluminescence quantum yields ranging from 0.35-0.91. Here we demonstrate the capability of changing the photophysical properties of these metal emitters by varying the oxidation state of sulfur to achieve intense deep-blue and green emitters.

Regulation of aggregation-enhanced thermally activated delayed fluorescence in butterfly-shaped donor-acceptor conjugates

We studied how ether-linked benzophenone and dibenzofuran/dibenzothiophene-functionalized benzophenone as auxiliary groups in carbazole-phthalonitrile conjugates influence aggregation-enhanced thermally activated delayed fluorescence (AE-TADF). CDBFPN and CDBTPN exhibited AE-TADF due to their unique butterfly-shaped geometries. In contrast, CBPN faces aggregation-caused quenching, underscoring the critical role of these functionalized groups in boosting the blue TADF properties.

Iridium(III) Blue Phosphors with Heteroleptic Carbene Cyclometalates: Isomerization, Emission Tuning, and OLED Fabrications

Ir(III) complexes are particularly noted for their excellent photophysical properties in giving blue OLED phosphors. In this study, two distinctive carbene pro-chelates LAH2 + and LBH2 + (or LCH2 +) were employed in preparation of heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes, to which LAH2 + bears a cyano substituted benzoimidazolium along with N-mesityl appendage, while LBH2 + (or LCH2 +) carries the symmetrical benzoimidazolium entity. Notably, the reversible equilibration at high temperature was observed for m, f-ct14 and m, f-ct15 with a single LA chelate. In contrast, only the mer-substituted m-ct16 was obtained upon employing two LA chelates. All Ir(III) complexes exhibited blue photoluminescence (ΦPL ≥ ${\ge }$ 78 %) with short radiative lifetimes (τrad ≤ ${\le }$ 1.05 μs) in solution. The Ph OLED device with m-ct16 afforded an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 22.8 % at 5000 cd ⋅ m-2. Moreover, the hyper-OLED based on m-ct16 and v-DABNA exhibited EQE1000 of 32.1 % (EQE recorded at 1000 cd ⋅ m-2) and J90 of 15.0 mA cm-2 (current density at 90 % of max. EQE). Its suppressed efficiency roll-off (EQE of 32.1 % and 27.7 % at 1000 cd ⋅ m-2 and 10000 cd ⋅ m-2) demonstrated a milestone in fabrication of blue OLED devices.

High-power-efficiency and ultra-long-lifetime white OLEDs empowered by robust blue multi-resonance TADF emitters

White organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) show very promising as next-generation light-sources, but achieving high power efficiency (PE) and long operational lifetime remains challenging because of the lack of stable blue emitters that can harvest all triplet (T1) excitons for light emission. Herein, we propose integrating stable azure multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescent (MR-TADF) emitters into tri-color hybrid WOLEDs to tackle these issues. By meticulously selecting MR-TADF emitters and precisely tuning the exciton recombination zone, the optimized tri-color devices based on BCzBN-3B achieve color-stable white light emission with maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) and maximum PE (PEmax) of 34.4% and 101.8 lm W-1, respectively. Furthermore, the LT90, defined as the time for the luminance to drop to 90% of its initial value at 1000 cd m-2, reaches 761 h. In addition, a hybrid WOLED with deep blue emitter developed using our strategy achieves a high color rendering index of 88 and an EQEmax of 30.6%, further demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of our approach. The record-breaking efficiency and ultra-long lifetime underscore the success of hybrid white-light devices by incorporating robust blue MR-TADF emitters. These advancements open new avenues for commercialization of hybrid WOLEDs, presenting promising solutions for energy-efficient lighting and display technologies.

Advancing efficiency in deep-blue OLEDs: Exploring a machine learning-driven multiresonance TADF molecular design

The pursuit of boron-based organic compounds with multiresonance (MR)-induced thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is propelled by their potential as narrowband blue emitters for wide-gamut displays. Although boron-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in MR compounds share common structural features, their molecular design traditionally involves iterative approaches with repeated attempts until success. To address this, we implemented machine learning algorithms to establish quantitative structure-property relationship models, predicting key optoelectronic characteristics, such as full width at half maximum (FWHM) and main peak wavelength, for deep-blue MR candidates. Using these methodologies, we crafted ν-DABNA-O-xy and developed deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes featuring a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage y of 0.07 and an FWHM of 19 nm. The maximum external quantum efficiency reached ca. 27.5% with a binary emission layer, which increased to 41.3% with the hyperfluorescent architecture, effectively mitigating efficiency roll-off. These findings are expected to guide the systematic design of MR-type TADF clusters, unlocking their full potential.

High Mobility Emissive Organic Semiconductors for Optoelectronic Devices

High mobility emissive organic semiconductors (HMEOSCs) are a kind of unique semiconducting material that simultaneously integrates high charge carrier mobility and strong emission features, which are not only crucial for overcoming the performance bottlenecks of current organic optoelectronic devices but also important for constructing high-density integrated devices/circuits for potential smart display technologies and electrically pumped organic lasers. However, the development of HMEOSCs is facing great challenges due to the mutually exclusive requirements of molecular structures and packing modes between high charge carrier mobility and strong solid-state emission. Encouragingly, considerable advances on HMEOSCs have been made with continuous efforts, and the successful integration of these two properties within individual organic semiconductors currently presents a promising research direction in organic electronics. Representative progress, including the molecular design of HMEOSCs, and the exploration of their applications in photoelectric conversion devices and electroluminescent devices, especially organic photovoltaic cells, organic light-emitting diodes, and organic light-emitting transistors, are summarized in a timely manner. The current challenges of developing HMEOSCs and their potential applications in other related devices including electrically pumped organic lasers, spin organic light-emitting transistors are also discussed. We hope that this perspective will boost the rapid development of HMEOSCs with a new mechanism understanding and their wide applications in different fields entering a new stage.

Synthesis and photoluminescent spectroscopic analysis of lanthanum (III) coordinated with 1,10-Phenanthroline: A study of its thermally stable behavior

A blue-emitting phosphor designed by lanthanum (III) coordinated with two 1,10-Phenanthroline and three nitrate ligands, [La(Phen)2(NO3)3], was obtained by an effective and simple precipitation method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) revealed the coordination modes in the compound and the chemical structure, crystallizing in a monoclinic system in the C2/c space group. The luminescence properties, absolute quantum yield (ϕ), and luminescence lifetime decay (τ) were determined by photoluminescence spectroscopy. Under a 350 nm excitation, the sample presents three emission bands corresponding to the π* → π transitions belonging to the organic ligand. The luminescence lifetime (τ) was determined through a monoexponentially fit, obtaining a value of 5616 ns. The [La(Phen)2(NO3)3] complex exhibits an absolute quantum yield of 3 % with the same excitation conditions. In addition, the photometric analysis shows that the luminescent response to a 350 nm excitation is that of a blue-emitting high-purity phosphor with 96 % and chromatic coordinates of 0.15, 0.05. The temperature-dependent luminescence properties revealed considerable thermal stability in the 20-150 °C range with a signal loss of 47 % and an activation energy of thermal quenching (ΔE) of 0.13 eV, the first value reported for a lanthanum complex based on 1,10-Phenanthroline.

Fluorescence Properties of Novel Multiresonant Indolocarbazole Derivatives for Deep-Blue OLEDs from Multiscale Computer Modelling

Multiresonant fluorophores are a novel class of organic luminophores with a narrow emission spectrum. They can yield organic light-emitting devices, e.g., OLEDs, with high colour purity. In this study, we applied DFT and multiscale modelling to predict the electronic and optical properties of several novel derivatives of indolocarbazole pSFIAc, which had recently shown a high potential in deep-blue OLEDs. We found that the addition of phenyls to a certain position of the pSFIAc core can considerably increase the fluorescent rate, leaving other properties (HOMO, LUMO, lowest excited singlet and lowest triplet states' energies) virtually unaffected. This can improve the efficiency and stability of deep-blue organic light-emitting devices; the suggested phenyl-substituted indolocarbazoles have been shown to be compatible with two popular anthracene-based hosts. On the contrary, the addition of phenyls to another positions of the core is detrimental for optoelectronic properties. QM/MM and QM/EFP calculations yielded negligible inhomogeneous broadening of the emission spectrum of the studied luminophores when embedded as dopants in anthracene-based hosts, predicting high colour purity of the corresponding devices. On the basis of the obtained results, we selected one novel multiresonant indolocarbazole derivative that is most promising for organic light-emitting devices. We anticipate the revealed structure-property relationships will facilitate the rational design of efficient materials for organic (opto)electronics.

"Impossible Trinity" between Efficiency, Stability, and Color Purity for Blue OLEDs: Challenges and Opportunities

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have become the cutting-edge technology in the display market. However, compared with green and red stacks, blue stacks still remain an obstacle for OLED technology. There seems to be an "impossible trinity" between efficiency, stability, and color-purity for blue OLEDs. In this trilemma, advances in device stability have lagged far behind. In this Perspective, focusing on the critical role of bond-dissociation energy (BDE), we first summarize recent advances in the chemical degradation mechanism of high-efficiency blue OLED materials and then highlight strategies to improve the intrinsic stability and device lifetime from the material point-of-view. Finally, future challenges and opportunities for developing robust blue OLED materials and devices are envisioned, including the rational design of robust blue materials with high BDEs, two-pronged approaches from both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects, the great need for robust host materials, deep insights into host-guest interactions, collaborative efforts from the aspect of devices, and data-driven screening and iteration development.

Analysis of polaron pair lifetime dynamics and secondary processes in exciplex driven TADF OLEDs using organic magnetic field effects

Magnetic field effects (MFEs) in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have been shown to influence the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) and to impact on electroluminescence (EL) and conductivity. Here, we present a novel model combining Cole-Cole and Lorentzian functions to describe low and high magnetic field effects originating from hyperfine coupling, the Δg mechanism, and triplet processes. We applied this approach to organic light-emitting devices of third generation based on tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA) and 2,2',2″-(1,3,5-benzinetriyl)-tris(1-phenyl-1-H-benzimidazole) (TPBi), exhibiting blue emission, to unravel their loss mechanisms. The quality of the regression function was evaluated using k-fold cross-validation. The scoring was compared to various alternative fitting functions, which were previously proposed in literature. Density functional theory calculations, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence studies validated the formation of a TADF exciplex system. Furthermore, we propose successful encapsulation using a semi-permeable polymer, showing promising results for magnetic field sensing applications on arbitrary geometry. This study provides insights into the origin of magnetic field effects in exciplex-TADF materials, with potential applications in optoelectronic devices and sensing technologies.

Deep Blue Emitter with a Combination of Hybridized Local and Charge Transfer Excited State and Aggregation-Induced Emission Features for Efficient Non-Doped OLED

Herein, a deep blue emitter (PI-TPB-CN) with a synergistic effect of hybridized local and charge transfer excited state (HLCT) and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties is successfully designed and synthesized to improve the performance of deep blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). It is constructed using a 1,2,4,5-tetraphenylbenzene (TPB) as an π-conjugated AIE core being asymmetrically functionalized with a phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole (PI) as a weak donor (D) and a benzonitrile (CN) as an acceptor (A), thereby formulating D-π-A type fluorophore. Its HLCT and AIE properties verified by theoretical calculations, solvatochromic effects, and transient photoluminescence decay experiments, bring about a strong blue emission (452 nm) with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 74 % in the thin film. PI-TPB-CN is successfully employed as a blue emitter in OLEDs. Non-doped OLED with the structure of ITO/HAT-CN (6 nm)/NPB (30 nm)/TCTA (10 nm)/PI-TPB-CN (30 nm)/TPBi (40 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) demonstrates excellent electroluminescence (EL) performance with blue emission (451 nm) and maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 7.38 %. The device with a thinner layer of PI-TPB-CN (20 nm) and TPBi (30 nm) exhibits a deeper blue emission (444 nm) with CIE coordinates of (0.156, 0.096), a low turn-on voltage of 3.0 V, and EQEmax of 6.45 %.

Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Obtained by Introducing Gadolinium (Gd) Complexes Based on Pyrazolone Derivative Ligands as Hole Trappers

The utilization of lanthanide (Ln) complexes in the realm of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has garnered extensive interest, particularly in their role as luminescent materials or electron trappers. A series of gadolinium (Gd) complexes with energy levels of high HOMO/LUMO and different triplet state energies were designed and synthesized by introducing substituents with different electronic effects onto the pyrazolone derivative ligands. Subsequently, these complexes were precisely purified by vacuum sublimation and codoped into the light-emitting layer (EML) of the OLEDs. This process was facilitated through the well-matched HOMO/LUMO levels and triplet energies among various functional materials. Consequently, the maximum external quantum efficiencies of blue, red, and green OLEDs were simultaneously enhanced with the ratios of 119%, 28%, and 71%, respectively. This improvement can be credited to the introduction of Gd(III) complex molecules within EMLs, which helps to capture excess holes and improve carriers' balance.

Origins of Narrowband Emission in Nitrogen/Carbonyl Multiresonance Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Steric Locks and Vibrational Coupling Effects

The incorporation of tert-butyl groups and spiro-functionalization into C═O/N-embedded multiresonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) systems has yielded materials with superior narrowband emission and excellent color purity. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the enhanced properties, we present a theoretical study of a series of fused nitrogen/carbonyl derivatives with narrower emission profiles. The key steric factors that contribute to narrowband emission were identified through energy decomposition analysis, induced by structural relaxation in states S0 and S1. Additionally, we achieved potential narrower-band and deep-blue emission by targeting the suppression of vibrational coupling effects. This work provides compelling evidence that a 1-tert-butyl substitution, acting as an end lock, offers minimal reorganization energy and optimal structural stability when combined with a fused lock. Furthermore, new compounds such as 1tBuCZQ and 1tBuDQAO have been identified as promising MR-TADF emitters, delivering ultranarrowband emission as high-quality organic light-emitting diodes.

Effects of donor substituents on the conformational heterogeneity, photophysical, mechanochromic and electroluminescent properties of the donor-substituted fluorine-containing triphenylpyrimidines

Three derivatives of fluorinated triphenylpyrimidine with the attached carbazole, phenothiazine, or acridan donor moieties are synthesized by Buchwald-Hartwig reactions. The impact of the donor units on emissive and other properties of the compounds is reported. The compounds exhibit excellent thermal stability, competitive photophysical phenomena such as room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) appearing when compounds are molecularly dispersed in the rigid polymer matrix and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The compounds with carbazole and phenothiazine donor moieties show the manifestation of triplet-triplet annihilation in the electroluminescence when used as emitters in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The phenothiazine-containing compound exhibit dual photoluminescence with the blue-shifted peak corresponding to the quasi-axial conformer and a red-shifted peak to the quasi-equatorial conformer. This derivative shows reversible shifts of emission spectra exceeding 100 nm due to the stable (at least 4 cycles) mechanochromic luminescence under the application of external stimuli. After grinding the emission intensity maximum is observed at 555 nm, after fuming at. ca 448 nm and after melting at 555 nm. The photoluminescence shifts and ON/OFF delayed fluorescence of the phenothiazine-based emitter occur due to the alteration between the crystalline and amorphous states. Optimization of the device structure allows to control the charge balance resulting in external quantum efficiency of up to 5.7 % observed for the OLED based on the phenothiazine-based emitter. This compound also shows the biggest response to the presence of oxygen acting as the quencher of triplet excited energy. The film of the compound doped in rigid Zeonex shows an 8.4-fold increase in emission intensity after evacuation. The optical sensor fabricated using the derivative of fluorinated triphenylpyrimidine and phenothiazine is characterized by the Stern-Volmer constant 1.37 × 10-4 ppm-1.

Degradation Analysis of Exciplex-Based Organic Light-Emitting Devices Using Carbazole-Based Materials

A spectral shift and new emission bands in the green and red regions have been observed in deep blue exciplex-based organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using carbazole-based materials, namely, tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA). To deeply understand the origin of these new bands, single-layer and bilayer TCTA-based OLEDs subjected to electrical and optical (ultraviolet (UV)) stresses were investigated by using various optical, electrical, morphological, and chemical measurements. The results showed that the stress-induced emission bands primarily originate from morphological changes rather than chemical changes. The accumulation of excitons in the TCTA layer induces molecular aggregation, leading to the formation of electrically active electronic states, namely, electroplexes and electromers, which lead to the appearance of additional emission bands in green and red regions. Impedance spectroscopy measurements on single-layer OLEDs complemented this study. The results showed that TCTA degradation affects charge injection and transport. It was concluded that the stress-induced emission bands are caused by aggregate domain formation and are closely linked to the formation of electrically active defects, which act as trap states for charge carriers in the TCTA band gap.

Host Engineering of Deep-Blue-Fluorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with High Operational Stability and Narrowband Emission

The realization of highly operationally stable blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is a challenge in both academia and industry. This paper describes the development of anthracene-dibenzofuran host materials, 2-(10-(naphthalen-1-yl)anthracen-9-yl)naphtho[2,3-b]benzofuran (Host 1) and 2-(10-([1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)anthracen-9-yl)naphtho[2,3-b]benzofuran (Host 2), namely for use in the emissive layer of an OLED stack. A multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed serves as the blue fluorescence emitter and exhibits an initial luminance of 1000 cd m-2 and long operational stability (i.e., time to decay to 90% of initial luminance) of 249 h. Furthermore, a deep-blue OLED with an optimized top-emitting architecture with a high current efficiency of 154.3 cd A-1, is fabricated and calibrated to a Commission International de l'Éclairage y chromaticity coordinate of 0.048. Moreover, the emission spectrum of this OLED has a narrowband peak at 476 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 16 nm. This work provides valuable insights into the design of anthracene-based host materials and highlights the importance of host optimization in improving the operational stability of OLEDs.

A wearable and stretchable dual-wavelength LED device for home care of chronic infected wounds

Phototherapy can offer a safe and non-invasive solution against infections, while promoting wound healing. Conventional phototherapeutic devices are bulky and limited to hospital use. To overcome these challenges, we developed a wearable, flexible red and blue LED (r&bLED) patch controlled by a mobile-connected system, enabling safe self-application at home. The patch exhibits excellent skin compatibility, flexibility, and comfort, with high safety under system supervision. Additionally, we synthesized a sprayable fibrin gel (F-gel) containing blue light-sensitive thymoquinone and red light-synergistic NADH. Combined with bLED, thymoquinone eradicated microbes and biofilms within minutes, regardless of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, NADH and rLED synergistically improved macrophage and endothelial cell mitochondrial function, promoting wound healing, reducing inflammation, and enhancing angiogenesis, as validated in infected diabetic wounds in mice and minipigs. This innovative technology holds great promise for revolutionizing at-home phototherapy for chronic infected wounds.

Optical, Photophysical, and Electroemission Characterization of Blue Emissive Polymers as Active Layer for OLEDs

Polymers containing π-conjugated segments are a diverse group of large molecules with semiconducting and emissive properties, with strong potential for use as active layers in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). Stable blue-emitting materials, which are utilized as emissive layers in solution-processed OLED devices, are essential for their commercialization. Achieving balanced charge injection is challenging due to the wide bandgap between the HOMO and LUMO energy levels. This study examines the optical and photophysical characteristics of blue-emitting polymers to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of color purity and its stability during the operation of OLED devices. The investigated materials are a novel synthesized lab scale polymer, namely poly[(2,7-di(p-acetoxystyryl)-9-(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-carbazole-4,4'-diphenylsulfone)-co-poly(2,6-diphenylpyrydine-4,4'-diphenylsulfone] (CzCop), as well as three commercially supplied materials, namely Poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO), poly[9,9-bis(2'-ethylhexyl) fluorene-2,7-diyl] (PBEHF), and poly (9,9-n-dihexyl-2,7-fluorene-alt-9-phenyl-3,6-carbazole) (F6PC). The materials were compared to evaluate their properties using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, Photoluminescence, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Additionally, the electrical characteristics of the OLED devices were investigated, as well as the stability of the electroluminescence emission spectrum during the device's operation. Finally, the determined optical properties, combined with their photo- and electro-emission characteristics, provided significant insights into the color stability and selectivity of each material.

High-Performance NIR-II Fluorescent Type I/II Photosensitizer Enabling Augmented Mild Photothermal Therapy of Tumors by Disrupting Heat Shock Proteins

NIR-II fluorescent photosensitizers as phototheranostic agents hold considerable promise in the application of mild photothermal therapy (MPTT) for tumors, as the reactive oxygen species generated during photodynamic therapy can effectively disrupt heat shock proteins. Nevertheless, the exclusive utilization of these photosensitizers to significantly augment the MPTT efficacy has rarely been substantiated, primarily due to their insufficient photodynamic performance. Herein, the utilization of high-performance NIR-II fluorescent type I/II photosensitizer (AS21:4) is presented as a simple but effective nanoplatform derived from molecule AS2 to enhance the MPTT efficacy of tumors without any additional therapeutic components. By taking advantage of heavy atom effect, AS21:4 as a type I/II photosensitizer demonstrates superior efficacy in producing 1O2 (1O2 quantum yield = 12.4%) and O2 •- among currently available NIR-II fluorescent photosensitizers with absorption exceeding 800 nm. In vitro and in vivo findings demonstrate that the 1O2 and O2 •- generated from AS21:4 induce a substantial reduction in the expression of HSP90, thereby improving the MPTT efficacy. The remarkable phototheranostic performance, substantial tumor accumulation, and prolonged tumor retention of AS21:4, establish it as a simple but superior phototheranostic agent for NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided MPTT of tumors.

Advances in Host-Free White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Utilizing Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence: A Comprehensive Review

The ever-growing prominence and widespread acceptance of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), particularly those employing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), have firmly established them as formidable contenders in the field of lighting technology. TADF enables achieving a 100% utilization rate and efficient luminescence through reverse intersystem crossing (RISC). However, the effectiveness of TADF-OLEDs is influenced by their high current density and limited device lifetime, which result in a significant reduction in efficiency. This comprehensive review introduces the TADF mechanism and provides a detailed overview of recent advancements in the development of host-free white OLEDs (WOLEDs) utilizing TADF. This review specifically scrutinizes advancements from three distinct perspectives: TADF fluorescence, TADF phosphorescence and all-TADF materials in host-free WOLEDs. By presenting the latest research findings, this review contributes to the understanding of the current state of host-free WOLEDs, employing TADF and underscoring promising avenues for future investigations. It aims to serve as a valuable resource for newcomers seeking an entry point into the field as well as for established members of the WOLEDs community, offering them insightful perspectives on imminent advancements.