Arylvinylene phenanthroline derivatives for electron transport in blue organic light emitting diodes

A series of novel arylvinylene substituted phenanthroline derivatives has been synthesised and their application as electron transporting materials in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) has been investigated. One particular derivative, namely, 2,9-bis-(2-thiophen-2-yl-vinyl)-[1,10]phenanthroline (C-4) shows significantly lower operating voltage (36% reduction) and increase of power efficiency of up to 83% compared to tris (8-quinolinolato)aluminium (III) (Alq3). C4 also shows substantially longer (nearly 6-fold) life-time than bathophenanthroline (BPhen) in blue devices. Doping of C4 with electron donors such as m-MTDATA, α-NPB and lithium quinolinolate (Liq) further reduces the turn-on voltage and operating voltage.

A series of novel arylvinylene substituted phenanthroline derivatives has been synthesised and their application as electron transporting materials in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) has been investigated. One particular derivative, namely, 2,9-bis-(2-thiophen-2-yl-vinyl)-[1,10]phenanthroline (C-4) shows significantly lower operating voltage (36% reduction) and increase of power efficiency of up to 83% compared to tris (8-quinolinolato)aluminium (III) (Alq3). C4 also shows substantially longer (nearly 6-fold) life-time than bathophenanthroline (BPhen) in blue devices. Doping of C4 with electron donors such as m-MTDATA, α-NPB and lithium quinolinolate (Liq) further reduces the turn-on voltage and operating voltage.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► Derivatives of phenanthroline(s) with higher Tg.
► 2, 9-Bis-(2-thiophen-2-yl-vinyl)-[1,10]phenanthroline) reduces operating voltage without sacrificing efficiency or life-time as electron transporters.
► Doping of these electron transporter with electron donors further reduces the turn-on voltage and operating voltage.