Modified distributed Bragg reflector for protecting organic light-emitting diode displays against ultraviolet light.

Sunlight/UV (ultraviolet)-induced degradation is still a critical issue for outdoor applications of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. Therefore, effective UV-blocking structures that can prevent OLED displays from sunlight/UV degradation and still keep the OLED panels' display performance is necessary. In this report, modified distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structures having UV-absorbing dielectric materials and adjusted layer/pair thicknesses were developed to realize effective UV blocking properties (nearly 0% transmittance below 400 nm), constantly high transmittance like glass in the visible range (∼92%) required for display applications, and sharp transition in transmission between the UV and the visible ranges. Furthermore, under the rigorous IEC 60068-2-5 solar test condition, it was verified that the developed modified, UV-blocking DBR can effectively enhance the OLED panel's resistance against UV/solar-induced degradation, effectively reducing voltage shifts of OLED devices after repeated solar test cycles.

Phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes with nonconjugated cyclometalated ligands.

A series of blue phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes 1-4 with nonconjugated N-benzylpyrazole ligands were synthesized and their structural, electrochemical, and photophysical properties were investigated. Complexes 1-4 exhibit phosphorescence with yields of 5-45 % in degassed CH2Cl2. Of the compounds, 1 showed emission that was nearly true blue at 460 nm with a lack of vibronic progression. These photophysical data clearly demonstrate that the methylene spacer of the cyclometalated N-benzylpyrazole chelate effectively interrupts the pi conjugation upon reacting with a third L X chelating chromophore. This gives a feasible synthesis for the blue phosphorescent complexes with a sufficiently large energy gap. In another approach, these complexes were investigated for their suitability for the host material in phosphorescent OLEDs. The device was synthesized by using 1 as the host for the green-emitting [Ir(ppy)3] dopant, which exhibits an external quantum conversion efficiency (EQE) of up to 11.4 % photons per electron (and 36.6 cdA(-1)), with 1931 Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.30, 0.59), a peak power efficiency of 21.7 lmW(-1), and a maximum brightness of 32000 cdm(-2) at 14.5 V. At the practical brightness of 100 cdm(-2), the efficiency remains above 11 % and 18 lmW(-1), demonstrating its great potential as the host material for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes.

Strategic design and synthesis of osmium(II) complexes bearing a single pyridyl azolate pi-chromophore: achieving high-efficiency blue phosphorescence by localized excitation.

We present the strategic design and synthesis of Os(II) complexes bearing a single pyridyl azolate pi-chromophore with an aim to attain high efficiency blue phosphorescence by way of localized transition. It turns out that our proposal of localized excitation seems to work well upon anchoring a single pi-chromophore on the Os(II) complexes such that the control of MLCT versus pipi* (or even LLCT) transitions is more straightforward. Among the titled complexes, [Os(CO)3(tfa)(fppz)] (1) and [Os(CO)3(tfa)(fbtz)] (5) (tfa=trifluoroacetate, (fppz)H=3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole, and (fbtz)H=3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(4-tert-butyl-2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole) give the anticipated blue phosphorescence with efficiencies of 0.26 (lambdamax=460 nm) and 0.27 (lambdamax=450 nm), respectively. For their halide analogues [Os(CO)3(X)(fppz)] (2, X=Cl; 3, X=Br; 4, X=I) and phosphine-substituted isomeric derivatives [Os(tfa)(fppz)(PPh2Me)2(CO)] (6-8), the localization of the excitation energy seems to populate at certain vibrational modes with weak bonding strength and hence an associated shallow potential energy surface to induce a facile radiationless transition. Furthermore, their ancillary ligands play an important role in fine-tuning not only the energy gap but also the emission intensity, i.e., in manifesting the radiationless transition pathways. Our results clearly show that there is always a tradeoff upon varying the parameters in an aim to optimize the hue and efficiency of phosphorescence toward blue.

New CVD precursors capable of depositing copper metal under mixed O2/Ar atmosphere.

Volatile low-melting CuII metal complexes Cu[OC(CF3)2CH2C(Me)=NMe]2 (4) and Cu[OC(CF3)2CH2CHMeNHMe]2 (5) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study on complex 4 shows the anticipated N2O2 square-planar geometry with the imino alcoholate ligand arranged in the all-trans orientation. In contrast, a highly distorted N2O2 geometry with a dihedral angle of 33 degrees was observed for complex 5, suggesting that the fully saturated amino alcoholate ligand produces a much greater steric congestion around the metal ion. Metal CVD experiments were conducted, showing that both complexes, 4 and 5, are capable of depositing copper metal at temperatures of 275-300 degrees C using an inert argon carrier gas mixed with low concentrations (2-8%) of O2. The best copper thin film showed a purity of approximately 96 at. % and a resistivity of 2.11 microOmega cm versus that of the bulk standard (1.7 microOmega cm), as revealed by XPS and four-point probe analyses, respectively. We speculate that the low concentration of O2 promotes partial ligand oxidation, thus releasing the reduced copper on the substrate and affording the high-purity copper deposit.

Syntheses and remarkable photophysical properties of 5-(2-pyridyl) pyrazolate boron complexes; photoinduced electron transfer.

A new series of pyridyl pyrazolate boron complexes 2a-e have been synthesized, in which 2a-c exhibit remarkable dual fluorescence properties due to the photoinduced electron transfer reaction.

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in five-membered hydrogen-bonding systems: 2-pyridyl pyrazoles.

The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction in five-membered N-H...N hydrogen-bonding systems has been explored through design and syntheses of a series of 5-(2-pyridyl) 1-H-pyrazoles 1a-d. The ESIPT mechanism was confirmed through spectroscopy, relaxation dynamics, and corresponding methylated analogues. The results demonstrate for the first time a unique system among ESIPT molecules, in which ESIPT incorporates an appreciably large energy barrier fine-tuned by the skeletal reorganization. This makes 1a-d systems ideal models for probing the reaction potential energy surface.