Multiple Enol-Keto Isomerization and Excited-State Unidirectional Intramolecular Proton Transfer Generate Intense, Narrowband Red OLEDs.

A novel series of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) emitters, namely, DPNA, DPNA-F, and DPNA-tBu, endowed with dual intramolecular hydrogen bonds, were designed and synthesized. In the condensed phase, DPNAs exhibit unmatched absorption and emission spectral features, where the minor 0-0 absorption peak becomes a major one in the emission. Detailed spectroscopic and dynamic approaches conclude fast ground-state equilibrium among enol-enol (EE), enol-keto (EK), and keto-keto (KK) isomers. The equilibrium ratio can be fine-tuned by varying the substitutions in DPNAs. Independent of isomers and excitation wavelength, ultrafast ESIPT takes place for all DPNAs, giving solely KK tautomer emission maximized at >650 nm. The spectral temporal evolution of ESIPT was resolved by a state-of-the-art technique, namely, the transient grating photoluminescence (TGPL), where the rate of EK* → KK* is measured to be (157 fs)-1 for DPNA-tBu, while a stepwise process is resolved for EE* → EK* → KK*, with a rate of EE* → EK* of (72 fs)-1. For all DPNAs, the KK tautomer emission shows a narrowband emission with high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY, ∼62% for DPNA in toluene) in the red, offering advantages to fabricate deep-red organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). The resulting OLEDs give high external quantum efficiency with a spectral full width at half-maximum (FWHM) as narrow as ∼40 nm centered at 666-670 nm for DPNAs, fully satisfying the BT. 2020 standard. The unique ESIPT properties and highly intense tautomer emission with a small fwhm thus establish a benchmark for reaching red narrowband organic electroluminescence.

Modulation of Intermolecular Interactions in Organic Emitters for Highly Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

The adverse aggregated-caused quenching (ACQ) problem of most electroluminescent materials existing in highly doped thin films is one of the key factors impeding the commercialization of high-efficiency organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) panel. Whereas, by delicately constructing and modulating moderate intermolecular interactions, some aggregates have been demonstrated to present distinct luminescent properties such as tunable emission spectra, improved photoluminescence quantum yields, different emission mechanism and enhanced horizontal transition dipole ratio (Θ) of emitting layer, providing feasible solution for ACQ problem. The luminescence from newly generated emissive state in aggregates is different from the traditional "isolated" molecules in organic electronics and will possess novel properties and applications. Herein, we summarize the different types of intermolecular interactions within emitter aggregates exhibiting distinct luminescent mechanisms, as well as their effects on photoluminescent and electroluminescent properties, offering reliable reference for the advancement of highly efficient OLEDs utilizing aggregated emitters.

Synergetic Modulation of Steric Hindrance and Excited State for Anti-Quenching and Fast Spin-Flip Multi-Resonance Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorophore.

Multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) materials hold great promise for advanced high-resolution organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. However, persistent challenges, such as severe aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) and slow spin-flip, hinder their optimal performance. We propose a synergetic steric-hindrance and excited-state modulation strategy for MR-TADF emitters, which is demonstrated by two blue MR-TADF emitters, IDAD-BNCz and TIDAD-BNCz, bearing sterically demanding 8,8-diphenyl-8H-indolo[3,2,1-de]acridine (IDAD) and 3,6-di-tert-butyl-8,8-diphenyl-8H-indolo[3,2,1-de]acridine (TIDAD), respectively. These rigid and bulky IDAD/TIDAD moieties, with appropriate electron-donating capabilities, not only effectively mitigate ACQ, ensuring efficient luminescence across a broad range of dopant concentrations, but also induce high-lying charge-transfer excited states that facilitate triplet-to-singlet spin-flip without causing undesired emission redshift or spectral broadening. Consequently, implementation of a high doping level of IDAD-BNCz resulted in highly efficient narrowband electroluminescence, featuring a remarkable full-width at half-maximum of 34 nm and record-setting external quantum efficiencies of 34.3 % and 31.8 % at maximum and 100 cd m-2, respectively. The combined steric and electronic effects arising from the steric-hindered donor introduction offer a compelling molecular design strategy to overcome critical challenges in MR-TADF emitters.

Regional Functionalization Molecular Design Strategy: A Key to Enhancing the Efficiency of Multi-Resonance OLEDs.

Herein, we propose a regional functionalization molecular design strategy that enables independent control of distinct pivotal parameters through different molecule segments. Three novel multiple resonances thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters A-BN, DA-BN, and A-DBN, have been successfully synthesized by integrating highly rigid and three-dimensional adamantane-containing spirofluorene units into the MR framework. These molecules form two distinctive functional parts: part 1 comprises a boron-nitrogen (BN)-MR framework with adjacent benzene and fluorene units forming a central luminescent core characterized by an exceptionally rigid planar geometry, allowing for narrow FWHM values; part 2 includes peripheral mesitylene, benzene, and adamantyl groups, creating a unique three-dimensional "umbrella-like" conformation to mitigate intermolecular interactions and suppress exciton annihilation. The resulting A-BN, DA-BN, and A-DBN exhibit remarkably narrow FWHM values ranging from 18 to 14 nm and near-unity photoluminescence quantum yields. Particularly, OLEDs based on DA-BN and A-DBN demonstrate outstanding efficiencies of 35.0 % and 34.3 %, with FWHM values as low as 22 nm and 25 nm, respectively, effectively accomplishing the integration of high color purity and high device performance.

Highly Horizontal Oriented Tricomponent Exciplex Host with Multiple Reverse Intersystem Crossing Channels for High-Performance Narrowband Electroluminescence and Eye-Protection White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Despite multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters with small full-width at half maximum are attractive for wide color-gamut display and eye-protection lighting applications, their inefficient reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) process and long exciton lifetime induce serious efficiency roll-off, which significantly limits their development. Herein, a novel device concept of building highly efficient tricomponent exciplex with multiple RISC channels is proposed to realize reduced exciton quenching and enhanced upconversion of nonradiative triplet excitons, and subsequently used as a host for high-performance MR-TADF organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Compared with traditional binary exciplex, the tricomponent exciplex exhibits obviously improved photoluminescence quantum yield, emitting dipole orientation and RISC rate constant, and a record-breaking external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 30.4% is achieved for tricomponent exciplex p-PhBCzPh: PO-T2T: DspiroAc-TRZ (50: 20: 30) based OLED. Remarkably, maximum EQEs of 36.2% and 40.3% and ultralow efficiency roll-off with EQEs of 26.1% and 30.0% at 1000 cd m-2 are respectively achieved for its sky-blue and pure-green MR-TADF doped OLEDs. Additionally, the blue emission unit hosted by tricomponent exciplex is combined with an orange-red TADF emission unit to achieve a double-emission-layer blue-hazard-free warm white OLED with an EQEmax of 30.3% and stable electroluminescence spectra over a wide brightness range.