Nanofibers doped with a phosphorescent iridium complex: Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical property study

In this article, we report a novel Ir(III) complex of Ir(acac)(F-BT)2 (acac = pentane-2,4-dione, and F-BT = 2-(2-fluorophenyl)benzo[d]thiazole), including its synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and electronic nature. Data suggest that Ir(acac)(F-BT)2 molecules crystallize in monoclinic system with double molecules per unit cell, and the onset electronic transition is assigned as a character of metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer. By doping Ir(acac)(F-BT)2 into a polymer matrix of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), we investigate the morphology, emissive character, excited state lifetime, and photostability of the resulting composite nanofibers, as well as those of pure sample. Data comparison suggests that the emission of the composite nanofibers shows a blue shift tendency, the excited state lifetime and photostability of the composite nanofibers become longer and better than those of pure Ir(acac)(F-BT)2. The rigid framework provided by PVP matrix is responsible for above improvements.

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► An Ir(III) complex is synthesized and doped into polymer matrix.
► The crystal structure and electronic nature are studied.
► Photophysical properties of composite fiber are better than those of pure complex.
► Polymer matrix provides a rigid framework for the emitter.