Direct Photo-Patterning of Efficient and Stable Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes via Light-Triggered, Carbocation-Enabled Ligand Stripping.

Next generation displays based on quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) require robust patterning methods for quantum dot layers. However, existing patterning methods mostly yield QLEDs with performance far inferior to the state-of-the-art individual devices. Here, we report a light-triggered, carbocation-enabled ligand stripping (CELS) approach to pattern QLEDs with high efficiency and stability. During CELS, photogenerated carbocations from triphenylmethyl chlorides remove native ligands of quantum dots, thereby producing patterns at microscale precision. Chloride anions passivate surface defects and endow patterned quantum dots with preserved photoluminescent quantum yields. It works for both cadmium-based and heavy-metal-free quantum dots. CELS-patterned QLEDs show remarkable external quantum efficiencies (19.1%, 17.5%, 12.0% for red, green, blue, respectively) and a long operation lifetime (T95 at 1000 nits up to 8700 h). Both are among the highest for patterned QLEDs and approach the records for nonpatterned devices, which makes CELS promising for building high-performance QLED displays and related integrated devices.

Blue light-emitting diodes based on colloidal quantum dots with reduced surface-bulk coupling.

To industrialize printed full-color displays based on quantum-dot light-emitting diodes, one must explore the degradation mechanism and improve the operational stability of blue electroluminescence. Here, we report that although state-of-the-art blue quantum dots, with monotonically-graded core/shell/shell structures, feature near-unity photoluminescence quantum efficiency and efficient charge injection, the significant surface-bulk coupling at the quantum-dot level, revealed by the abnormal dipolar excited state, magnifies the impact of surface localized charges and limits operational lifetimes. Inspired by this, we propose blue quantum dots with a large core and an intermediate shell featuring nonmonotonically-graded energy levels. This strategy significantly reduces surface-bulk coupling and tunes emission wavelength without compromising charge injection. Using these quantum dots, we fabricate bottom-emitting devices with emission colors varying from near-Rec.2020-standard blue to sky blue. At an initial luminance of 1000 cd m-2, these devices exhibit T95 operational lifetimes ranging from 75 to 227 h, significantly surpassing the existing records.

Beyond a Linker: The Role of Photochemistry of Crosslinkers in the Direct Optical Patterning of Colloidal Nanocrystals.

Surface chemistry mediated direct optical patterning represents an emerging strategy for incorporating colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) in integrated optoelectronic platforms including displays and image sensors. However, the role of photochemistry of crosslinkers and other photoactive species in patterning remains elusive. Here we show the design of nitrene- and carbene-based photocrosslinkers can strongly affect the patterning capabilities and photophysical properties of NCs, especially quantum dots (QDs). Their role beyond physical linkers stems from structure-dictated electronic configuration, energy alignment and associated reaction kinetics and thermodynamics. Patterned QD layers with designed carbene-based crosslinkers fully preserve their photoluminescent and electroluminescent properties. Patterned light emitting diodes (QLEDs) show a maximum external quantum efficiency of ≈12 % and lifetime over 4800 h, among the highest for reported patterned QLEDs. These results would guide the rational design of photoactive species in NC patterning and create new possibilities in the monolithic integration of NCs in high-performance device platforms.

Six [Tp*WS3Cu2]-based clusters derived from [Et4N][Tp*WS3], Cu(I) salts and phosphine ligands: syntheses, structures and enhanced third-order NLO properties.

Treatment of [Et4N][Tp*WS3] (Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) (1) with CuX (X = Br, SCN) and PPh3 or 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) produced two neutral trinuclear clusters [Tp*W(µ3-S)(µ-S)2Cu2Br(PPh3)] (2) and [Tp*W(µ3-S)(µ-S)2Cu2(SCN)(dppm)]2·MeCN·Et2O (3·MeCN·Et2O). Reactions of 1 with [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6, NH4PF6 and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), N,N-bi(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)-2-aminopyridine (bdppmapy), N,N,N',N'-tetra(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)ethylenediamine (dppeda), or 1,4-N,N,N',N'-tetra(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)benzenediamine (dpppda) afforded four clusters containing butterfly-shaped [Tp*WS3Cu2] cores, [Tp*W(µ3-S)(µ-S)2Cu2(dpppds)](PF6)·1.25MeCN (dpppds = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane disulfide) (4·1.25MeCN), [Tp*W(µ3-S)(µ-S)2Cu2(bdppmapy)](PF6)·3MeCN (5·3MeCN) and {[Tp*W(µ3-S)(µ-S)2Cu2]2(L)]}(PF6)2·Sol (6·Et2O: L = dppeda, Sol = Et2O; 7·1.25MeCN: L = dpppda, Sol = 1.25MeCN). Compounds 2-7 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, (1)H and (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectra, electrospray ion mass spectra (ESI-MS) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 or 3 has a butterfly-shaped [Tp*WS3Cu2] core in which one [Tp*WS3] unit binds two Cu(I) centers via one µ3-S and two µ-S atoms. In the cationic structure of 4 or 5, one in situ-formed dpppds or bdppmapy combines with the [Tp*WS3Cu2] core via each of its two S atoms or two P atoms coordinated at each Cu(I) center. In the bicationic structure of 6 or 7, two [Tp*WS3Cu2] cores are linked by one dppeda or dpppda bridge to form a bicyclic structure. The isolation of 2-7 with unstable [Tp*WS3Cu2] cores may be ascribed to the coordination of P- or S-donor ligands at Cu(i) centers of these cores. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2-7 in DMF were also investigated by using the femtosecond degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) technique at 800 nm.

Assembly of new Mo/Cu/S clusters from [Et4N][Tp*MoS(S4)] and Cu(I) salts: syntheses, structures and third-order nonlinear optical properties.

Reactions of [Et4N][Tp*MoS(S)4] (Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) (1) with 3 equiv. of CuX (X = Cl, Br, I, CN) or [Cu(MeCN)4]ClO4 in CH2Cl2-MeCN or CH2Cl2-DMF afforded [Et4N]2[Tp*Mo(µ3-S)3(CuCl)3(µ3-Cl)] (2), [Et4N][Tp*Mo(µ3-S)3(CuX)3] (3: X = Br; 4: X = I), [Et4N][Tp*MoO(µ-S)2(CuX)] (5: X = I; 6: X = CN) and [Tp*Mo(µ3-S)3Cu3(µ3-S')]4 (7). Compounds 2-7 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, UV-vis spectra, (1)H NMR, electrospray ion mass spectra (ESI-MS) and X-ray crystallography. The cluster dianion of 2 has a complete cubane-like [Tp*Mo(µ3-S)3(CuCl)3(µ3-Cl)] structure while the anion of 3 or 4 consists of an incomplete cubane-like [Tp*Mo(µ3-S)3(CuX)3] structure. The anion of 5 or 6 has a binuclear structure, in which one [Tp*MoO(µ-S)2] moiety and one CuX unit are linked by a pair of µ-S atoms. The structure of 7 may be considered as a supercube whose eight corners are occupied by four incomplete cubane-like [Tp*Mo(µ3-S)3Cu3] fragments and four µ3-S' atoms. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2-6 in DMF were investigated by femtosecond degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) technique with a 80 fs pulse width at 800 nm. Compounds 2-6 exhibited good NLO performances and their NLO responses were enhanced relative to that of 1.