Quinolinate aluminum and zinc complexes with multi-methyl methacrylate end groups: synthesis, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence characterization

Two novel compounds based on aluminum and zinc metallo-8-hydroxyquinolates were prepared as electroluminescent (EL) materials and their absorbance, photoluminescence (PL), and EL properties were investigated. The structures of the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and element analysis techniques. The luminescence centers of the two compounds, evidenced by absorbance and PL spectra, were from Alq3 and Znq2 units, respectively. The electron-donating substituents increased the solubility of the corresponding metal quinolate complexes in nonpolar solvents and caused a red-shift in the emission wavelength. The end groups of two compounds facilitated polymerization to form the metalloquinolate-containing polymers. The polymerization temperature was conformed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). EL data showed the two-layer devices fabricated using the two compounds exhibit diode-like electrical behavior. EL spectra mimic the PL spectra for the two compounds.