Aligning π-Extended π-Deficient Ligands to Afford Submicrosecond Phosphorescence Radiative Decay Time of Mononuclear Ir(III) Complexes

Herein, we report a profound investigation of the photophysical properties of three mononuclear Ir(III) complexes fac-Ir(dppm)₃ (Hdppm-4,6-bis(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)pyrimidine), Ir(dppm)₂(acac) (acac-acetylacetonate), and Ir(ppy)₂(acac) (Hppy-phenylpyridine). The heteroleptic Ir(dppm)₂(acac) is found to emit with efficiency above 80% and feature a remarkably high rate of emission. As measured under ambient temperature, Ir(dppm)₂(acac) emits with the unusually short (sub-μs) radiative decay time of τ_r = τ_em/Φ_PL = 1/k_r = 0.91 μs in degassed toluene and τ_r = 0.73 μs in a doped polystyrene film under nitrogen. Investigations at cryogenic temperatures in glassy toluene showed that the emission stems from the T₁ state and thus represents T₁ → S₀ phosphorescence with individual decay times of the T₁ substates of T_1,I = 66 μs, T_1,II = 7.3 μs, T_1,III = 0.19 μs, and energy gaps between the substates of ΔE(T_1,II-T_1,I) = 14 cm^-1 and ΔE(T_1,III-T_1,I) = 210 cm^-1. Analysis of the electronic structure of Ir(dppm)₂(acac) showed that such a high rate of phosphorescence may stem from the two dppm ligands, with extended π-conjugation system and π-deficient character due to the pyrimidine ring, being serially aligned along one axis. Such alignment, along with the quasi-symmetric character of Jahn-Teller distortions in the T₁ state, affords a large chromophore, comprising four (het)aryl rings of the two dppm ligands. This affords an exceptionally large oscillator strength of the MLCT-character singlet state spin-orbit coupled with the T₁ state and thus brings about enhancement of the phosphorescence rate. These findings reveal molecular design principles paving the way to new phosphors of enhanced emission rates.

Developing Efficient Dinuclear Pt(II) Complexes Based on the Triphenylamine Core for High-Efficiency Solution-Processed OLEDs

The various applications of dinuclear complexes have attracted increasing attention. However, the electroluminescence efficiencies of dinuclear Pt(II) complexes are far from satisfactory. Herein, based on the triphenylamine core, we develop four dinuclear Pt(II) complexes that cover the emission colors from yellow to red with high photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of up to 0.79 in doped films. The solid-state structure of PyDPt is revealed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction investigation. Besides, solution-processed OLEDs have been fabricated with different electron transport materials. With higher electron mobility and excellent hole-blocking ability, 1,3,5-tri(m-pyridin-3-ylphenyl)benzene (TmPyPB) can help to realize good charge balance in related OLEDs. In addition, angle-dependent PL spectra reveal the preferentially horizontal orientation of these dinuclear Pt(II) complexes in doped CBP films, which benefits the outcoupling efficiencies. Therefore, the yellow OLED based on PyDPt shows unexpected high performance with a peak current efficiency of up to 78.7 cd/A and an external quantum efficiency of up to 22.4%, which is the highest EQE reported for OLEDs based on dinuclear Pt(II) complexes so far. This study demonstrates the great potential of developing dinuclear Pt(II) complexes for achieving excellent electroluminescence efficiencies.

Phosphorescent multinuclear complexes for optoelectronics: tuning of the excited-state dynamics

Luminescent transition metal complexes have attracted a great deal of attention in the last two decades from both fundamental and application points of view. The majority of the investigated and most efficient systems consist of monometallic compounds with judiciously selected ligand sphere, providing excellent triplet emitters for both lab-scale and real-market light-emitting devices for display technologies. More recently, chemical architectures comprising multimetallic compounds have appeared as an emerging and valuable alternative. Herein, the most recent trends in the field are showcased in a systematic approach, where the different examples are classified by metal center and ligand(s) scaffold. Their optical and electroluminescence properties are presented and compared as well. Indeed, the multimetallic strategy has proven to be highly suitable for compounds emitting efficiently in the challenging red to near-infrared region, yielding metal-based emitters with improved optical properties in terms of enhanced emission efficiency, shortened excited-state lifetime, and faster radiative rate constant. Finally, the advantages and drawbacks of the multimetallic approach will be discussed.

A Carbazole-Bridged Biscyclometalated Diplatinum Complex: Synthesis, Characterization, and Dual-Mode Aggregation-Enhanced Phosphorescence

A cationic carbazole-bridged biscyclometalated diplatinum complex 4 has been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray analysis demonstrates that complex 4 displays a dimeric structure with noncovalent π-π stacking and unique double Pt-Pt interactions. In aerated dilute CH₃CN, complex 4 is characterized by a very weak monomeric yellow emission (λ_emi = 547 nm; Φ = 0.51%), which is attributed to the triplet intraligand (³LC) excited state mixing with some charge transfer characters. In contrast, under aerated conditions, the dispersion of 4 in a mixed solvent of CH₃CN/Et₂O (1/9, v/v) or CH₃CN/H₂O (1/9, v/v) displays intense yellow (λ_emi = 550 nm; Φ = 35.5%; τ = 11.10 μs) and red emission (λ_emi = 635 nm; Φ = 14.1%; τ = 7.00 μs), respectively. These aggregation-induced phosphorescent emission enhancements are considered being caused by the oxygen-shielding effect and the molecular rigidification-induced decrease of nonradiative decays in the aggregate state. The morphology and size of the aggregates under these two conditions are examined by scanning electron microscope and dynamic light scattering analysis. The absorption and emission properties of 4 are further rationalized by time-dependent density functional theory calculations on a model compound.

A flexible topo-optical sensing technology with ultra-high contrast

Elastic folding, a phenomenon widely existing in nature, has attracted great interests to understand the math and physical science behind the topological transition on surface, thus can be used to create frontier engineering solutions. Here, we propose a topo-optical sensing strategy with ultra-high contrast by programming surface folds on targeted area with a thin optical indicator layer. A robust and precise signal generation can be achieved under mechanical compressive strains (>0.4). This approach bridges the gap in current mechano-responsive luminescence mechanism, by utilizing the unwanted oxygen quenching effect of Iridium-III (Ir-III) fluorophores to enable an ultra-high contrast signal. Moreover, this technology hosts a rich set of attractive features such as high strain sensing, encoded logic function, direct visualisation and good adaptivity to the local curvature, from which we hope it will enable new opportunities for designing next generation flexible/wearable devices.

Rotaxane PtII-complexes: mechanical bonding for chemically robust luminophores and stimuli responsive behaviour

We report an approach to rotaxanes in which the metal ion of a cyclometallated Pt^II luminophore is embedded in the space created by the mechanical bond. Our results show that the interlocked ligand environment stabilises a normally labile Pt^II–triazole bond against displacement by competing ligands and that the crowded environment of the mechanical bond retards oxidation of the Pt^II centre, without perturbing the photophysical properties of the complex. When an additional pyridyl binding site is included in the axle, the luminescence of the Pt^II centre is quenched, an effect that can be selectively reversed by the binding of Ag^I. Our results suggest that readily available interlocked metal-based phosphors can be designed to be stimuli responsive and have advantages as stabilised triplet harvesting dopants for device applications.

We report an approach to interlocked Pt^II luminophores in which the mechanical bond stabilises the coordination environment of the embedded metal ion.

Mono and dinuclear iridium(iii) complexes featuring bis-tridentate coordination and Schiff-base bridging ligands: the beneficial effect of a second metal ion on luminescence

Ditopic bis-N^N^O-coordinating ligands, prepared by Schiff base chemistry, lead to dinuclear iridium complexes that emit much more brightly than their mononuclear counterparts.

Dinuclear metal complexes: multifunctional properties and applications

Dinuclear metal complexes have enabled breakthroughs in OLEDs, photocatalytic water splitting and CO₂reduction, DSPEC, chemosensors, biosensors, PDT and smart materials.

Dinuclear Design of a Pt(II) Complex Affording Highly Efficient Red Emission: Photophysical Properties and Application in Solution-Processible OLEDs

The light-emitting efficiency of luminescent materials is invariably compromised on moving to the red and near-infrared regions of the spectrum due to the transfer of electronic excited-state energy into vibrations. We describe how this undesirable "energy gap law" can be sidestepped for phosphorescent organometallic emitters through the design of a molecular emitter that incorporates two platinum(II) centers. The dinuclear cyclometallated complex of a substituted 4,6-bis(2-thienyl)pyrimidine emits very brightly in the red region of the spectrum (λ_max = 610 nm, Φ = 0.85 in deoxygenated CH₂Cl₂ at 300 K). The lowest-energy absorption band is extraordinarily intense for a cyclometallated metal complex: at λ = 500 nm, ε = 53 800 M^-1 cm^-1. The very high efficiency of emission achieved can be traced to an unusually high rate constant for the T₁ → S₀ phosphorescence process, allowing it to compete effectively with nonradiative vibrational decay. The high radiative rate constant correlates with an unusually large zero-field splitting of the triplet state, which is estimated to be 40 cm^-1 by means of variable-temperature time-resolved spectroscopy over the range 1.7 < T < 120 K. The compound has been successfully tested as a red phosphor in an organic light-emitting diode prepared by solution processing. The results highlight a potentially attractive way to develop highly efficient red and NIR-emitting devices through the use of multinuclear complexes.

Accurate computations to simulate the phosphorescence spectra of large transition complexes: simulated colors match experiment

Herein, an ab initio investigation on the luminescence properties of three iridium(iii) complexes is reported.

Highly efficient bluish green organic light-emitting diodes of iridium(iii) complexes with low efficiency roll-off

Two novel iridium(iii) complexes Ir(BTBP)2mepzpy and Ir(BTBP)2phpzpy were successfully synthesized, in which 2',6'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,4'-bipyridine (BTBP) was used as the main ligand, and 2-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridine (mepzpy) and 2-(3-2-(3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl))pyridine (phpzpy) were introduced as the ancillary ligands, respectively. Both Ir(iii) complexes displayed bluish green emission peaks at 486 and 487 nm with high quantum efficiencies of 0.73 and 0.69, respectively. The organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with the structure of ITO/HATCN (hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile, 5 nm)/TAPC (bis[4-(N,N-ditolylamino)-phenyl]cyclohexane, 40 nm)/Ir(BTBP)2mepzpy or Ir(BTBP)2phpzpy (10 wt%): 2,6-DCzPPy (2,6-bis(3-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)pyridine, 10 nm)/TmPyPB (1,3,5-tri[(3-pyridyl)-phen-3-yl]benzene, 30 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) exhibited high efficiencies with low efficiency roll-off. Especially, the device based on the Ir(BTBP)2mepzpy complex achieved a maximum current efficiency of 58.17 cd A-1 and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 25.33% with Commission Internationale de 1'Eclairage coordinates of (0.19, 0.43). These results indicate that novel cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes for high efficiency OLEDs with low efficiency roll-off were obtained by our rational design.

Achieving High-Performance Solution-Processed Orange OLEDs with the Phosphorescent Cyclometalated Trinuclear Pt(II) Complex

Cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes can show intense phosphorescence at room temperature. Their emission properties are determined by both the organic ligand and the metal center. Whereas most of the related studies focus on tuning the properties by designing different types of organic ligands, only several reports investigate the key role played by the metal center. To address this issue, phosphorescent Pt(II) complexes with one, two, and three Pt(II) centers are designed and synthesized. With more Pt(II) centers, the cyclometalated multinuclear Pt(II) complexes display red-shifted emissions with increased photoluminescence quantum yields. Most importantly, solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with the conventional device structure using the multinuclear Pt(II) complexes as emitters show excellent performance. The controlled device based on the conventional mononuclear Pt(II) complex shows a peak external quantum efficiency, current efficiency, and power efficiency of 6.4%, 14.4 cd A^-1, and 12.1 lm W^-1, respectively. The efficiencies are dramatically improved to 10.5%, 21.4 cd A^-1, and 12.9 lm W^-1 for the OLED based on the dinuclear Pt(II) complex and to 17.0%, 35.4 cd A^-1, and 27.2 lm W^-1 for the OLED based on the trinuclear Pt(II) complex, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, these efficiencies are among the highest ever reported for the multinuclear Pt(II) complex-based OLEDs.

Pyridazine-bridged cationic diiridium complexes as potential dual-mode bioimaging probes

A novel diiridium complex [(N^C^N)2Ir(bis-N^C)Ir(N^C^N)2Cl]PF6 (N^C^N = 2-[3-tert-butyl-5-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridine; bis-N^C = 3,6-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)pyridazine) was designed, synthesised and characterised. The key feature of the complex is the bridging pyridazine ligand which brings two cyclometallated Ir(iii) metal centres close together so that Cl also acts as a bridging ligand leading to a cationic complex. The ionic nature of the complex offers a possibility of improving solubility in water. The complex displays broad emission in the red region (λ em = 520-720 nm, τ = 1.89 μs, Φ em = 62% in degassed acetonitrile). Cellular assays by multiphoton (λ ex = 800 nm) and confocal (λ ex = 405 nm) microscopy demonstrate that the complex enters cells and localises to the mitochondria, demonstrating cell permeability. Further, an appreciable yield of singlet oxygen generation (Φ Δ = 0.45, direct method, by 1O2 NIR emission in air equilibrated acetonitrile) suggests a possible future use in photodynamic therapy. However, the complex has relatively high dark toxicity (LD50 = 4.46 μM), which will likely hinder its clinical application. Despite this toxicity, the broad emission spectrum of the complex and high emission yield observed suggest a possible future use of this class of compound in emission bioimaging. The presence of two heavy atoms also increases the scattering of electrons, supporting potential future applications as a dual fluorescence and electron microscopy probe.