Synthesis and characterization of phenylpyridine derivative containing an imide functional group on an iridium (III) complex for solution-processable orange-phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes

•Solution-processable orange-phosphorescent.•Organic light-emitting diodes.•Phenylpyridine derivative containing an imide group on an iridium (III) complex.•Color coordinate of (0.53, 0.47) with FWHM of 73 nm.•Maximum current efficiency of 16.3 cd A−1 with maximum quantum efficiency of 6.1%.

We report the synthesis and characterization of an orange-emitting iridium(III) complex, based on a phenylpyridine iridium derivative, bis[2-isopropyl-5-(pyridin-2-yl)isoindoline-1,3-dione]iridium(III) 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione ([(impy)2Ir(tmd)]), for orange-phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes. The phenylpyridine derivative contained an imide functional group as the main ligand and a bulky 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione (tmd) as an ancillary ligand. The (impy)2Ir(tmd) dopant, easily processed by spin-coating, provided a maximum quantum efficiency of 6.1% and maximum current efficiency of 16.3 cd A−1. The FWHM of the orange OLED was 73 nm, and the color coordinate was (0.53, 0.47).