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Stabilized Blue Emission from Polyfluorene-Based Light-Emitting Diodes: Elimination of Fluorenone Defects

01 Jan 2003-Vol. 13
TL;DR: In this paper, the photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescent (EL) of polyfluorene (PF)-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were studied and it was shown that the low-energy emission band originates from fluorenone defects which are introduced by photo-oxidization, thermal oxidation, or during device fabrication.
Abstract: Polyfluorene (PF)-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) typically exhibit device degradation under operation with the emergence of a strong low-energy emission band (at ∼ 2.2–2.4 eV). This longer wavelength band converts the desired blue emission to blue–green or even yellow. We have studied both the photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) of PFs with different molecular structures and found that the low-energy emission band originates from fluorenone defects which are introduced by photo-oxidization, thermal oxidation, or during device fabrication. X-ray photo-emission spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the oxidation of PF is strongly catalyzed by the presence of calcium. The fluorenone defects generate a stronger contribution to the EL than to the PL. By utilization of a novel electron-transporting material as a buffer layer between the emissive PF and the Ca/Ag (Ba/Ag) cathode, the blue EL emission from the PF was stabilized.
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These structures are monodisperse, well-defined, discrete molecules with 100% synthetic reproducibility, and possess high purity and excellent solubility in common organic solvents and are therefore extremely attractive alternatives to conjugated polymers.
Abstract: Strategies for the design and construction of non-linear, 2D and 3D conjugated macromolecules are presented in this critical review. The materials, termed here as star-shaped structures, feature a core unit which may or may not provide conjugated links between arms that radiate like spokes from a central axle. The arms of the macromolecules consist of linear oligomers or irregular conjugated chains lacking a formal repeat unit. The cores range from simple atoms to single or fused aromatic units and can provide a high level of symmetry to the overall structure. The physical properties of the star-shaped materials can be markedly different to their simple, linear conjugated analogues. These differences are highlighted and we report on anomalies in absorption/emission characteristics, electronic energy levels, thermal properties and morphology of thin films. We provide numerous examples for the application of star-shaped conjugated macromolecules in organic semiconductor devices; a comparison of their device performance with those comprising analogous linear systems provides clear evidence that the star-shaped compounds are an important class of material in organic electronics. Moreover, these structures are monodisperse, well-defined, discrete molecules with 100% synthetic reproducibility, and possess high purity and excellent solubility in common organic solvents. They feature many of the attributes of plastic materials (good film-forming properties, thermal stability, flexibility) and are therefore extremely attractive alternatives to conjugated polymers (210 references).

321 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review draws a rather comprehensive picture of how Suzuki polycondensation was discovered in 1989 and how it was subsequently developed into the most powerful polymerization method for polyarylenes during the last 20 years.
Abstract: This review draws a rather comprehensive picture of how Suzuki polycondensation was discovered in 1989 and how it was subsequently developed into the most powerful polymerization method for polyarylenes during the last 20 years. It combines insights into synthetic issues with classes of polymers prepared and touches upon aspects of this method's technological importance. Because a significant part of the developmental work was carried out in industry, the present review makes reference to an unusually large number of patents.

270 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis, photophysics, cyclic voltammetry, and highly efficient blue electroluminescence of a series of n-type conjugated oligomers are reported.
Abstract: The synthesis, photophysics, cyclic voltammetry, and highly efficient blue electroluminescence of a series of four new n-type conjugated oligomers, 6,6′-bis(2,4-diphenylquinoline) (B1PPQ), 6,6′-bis(2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4-phenylquinoline) (BtBPQ), 6,6′-bis(2-p-biphenyl)-4-phenylquinoline) (B2PPQ), and 6,6′-bis((3,5-diphenylbenzene)-4-phenylquinoline) (BDBPQ) is reported. The oligoquinolines have high glass-transition temperatures (Tg ≥ 133 °C), reversible electrochemical reduction, and high electron affinities (2.68–2.81 eV). They emit blue photoluminescence with 0.73–0.94 quantum yields and 1.06–1.42 ns lifetimes in chloroform solutions. High-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with excellent blue chromaticity coordinates are achieved from all the oligoquinolines. OLEDs based on B2PPQ as the blue emitter give the best performance with a high brightness (19 740 cd m–2 at 8.0 V), high efficiency (7.12 cd A–1 and 6.56 % external quantum efficiency at 1175 cd m–2), and excellent blue color purity as judged by the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates (x = 0.15,y = 0.16). These results represent the best efficiency of blue OLEDs from neat fluorescent organic emitters reported to date. These results demonstrate the potential of oligoquinolines as emitters and electron-transport materials for developing high-performance blue OLEDs.

231 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a series of new blue-emitting silafluorene-fluorene copolymers is described, which are synthesized using kinetically controlled hydrosilylation copolymerization of 1,1-dihydridosilafluoresne with a series 9-substituted 2,7-diethynylfluorenes.
Abstract: The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a series of new blue-emitting silafluorene–fluorene copolymers is described. The polymers are synthesized using kinetically controlled hydrosilylation copolymerization of 1,1-dihydridosilafluorene with a series of 9-substituted 2,7-diethynylfluorenes. The polymers contain a trans-only framework with molecular weights in the range of 13 000–20 000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using polystyrene standards, and by 1H NMR spectroscopy using dimethylphenylsilane as an end-capping marker group. The three stereoregular polymers synthesized include a 9,9-dihydridofluorene (PSF1), a 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene (PSF2), and a 9,9′-spirobifluorene (PSF3) comonomer with the frameworks. These fluorenyl units are conjugated through the silicon center of the silafluorene moiety by bridging vinylene groups. Quantum yields of fluorescence range from 20 to 100% with PSF3 having the highest quantum efficiency. Polymers PSF1-3 emit in the blue region of the spectrum (∼475 nm), showing good color purity with little change in luminescence properties between the solution and solid-state phases. The polymers were tested for explosives detection properties by a fluorescence-quenching mechanism. Targeted explosives include laboratory prepared TNT, DNT, picric acid, RDX, HMX, PETN, TNG, and Tetryl, as well as production line PETN and C-4. All three polymers exhibit detection of explosive particulates with limits as low as 1 pg cm−2 for Tetryl. Polymer PSF1 simultaneously acts as a selective fluorescence “turn-on” sensor for nitrate ester explosives when irradiated with UV light. In the presence of nitrate ester-based explosives such as PETN, PSF1 initially exhibits fluorescence quenching, but continued exposure to UV-light (302 nm), promotes a photochemical reaction forming a luminescent green fluorenone copolymer. This is the first example of a single material acting as both a turn-off and turn-on selective fluorescent sensor for an explosive material.

211 citations

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These structures are monodisperse, well-defined, discrete molecules with 100% synthetic reproducibility, and possess high purity and excellent solubility in common organic solvents and are therefore extremely attractive alternatives to conjugated polymers.
Abstract: Strategies for the design and construction of non-linear, 2D and 3D conjugated macromolecules are presented in this critical review. The materials, termed here as star-shaped structures, feature a core unit which may or may not provide conjugated links between arms that radiate like spokes from a central axle. The arms of the macromolecules consist of linear oligomers or irregular conjugated chains lacking a formal repeat unit. The cores range from simple atoms to single or fused aromatic units and can provide a high level of symmetry to the overall structure. The physical properties of the star-shaped materials can be markedly different to their simple, linear conjugated analogues. These differences are highlighted and we report on anomalies in absorption/emission characteristics, electronic energy levels, thermal properties and morphology of thin films. We provide numerous examples for the application of star-shaped conjugated macromolecules in organic semiconductor devices; a comparison of their device performance with those comprising analogous linear systems provides clear evidence that the star-shaped compounds are an important class of material in organic electronics. Moreover, these structures are monodisperse, well-defined, discrete molecules with 100% synthetic reproducibility, and possess high purity and excellent solubility in common organic solvents. They feature many of the attributes of plastic materials (good film-forming properties, thermal stability, flexibility) and are therefore extremely attractive alternatives to conjugated polymers (210 references).

321 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review draws a rather comprehensive picture of how Suzuki polycondensation was discovered in 1989 and how it was subsequently developed into the most powerful polymerization method for polyarylenes during the last 20 years.
Abstract: This review draws a rather comprehensive picture of how Suzuki polycondensation was discovered in 1989 and how it was subsequently developed into the most powerful polymerization method for polyarylenes during the last 20 years. It combines insights into synthetic issues with classes of polymers prepared and touches upon aspects of this method's technological importance. Because a significant part of the developmental work was carried out in industry, the present review makes reference to an unusually large number of patents.

270 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis, photophysics, cyclic voltammetry, and highly efficient blue electroluminescence of a series of n-type conjugated oligomers are reported.
Abstract: The synthesis, photophysics, cyclic voltammetry, and highly efficient blue electroluminescence of a series of four new n-type conjugated oligomers, 6,6′-bis(2,4-diphenylquinoline) (B1PPQ), 6,6′-bis(2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4-phenylquinoline) (BtBPQ), 6,6′-bis(2-p-biphenyl)-4-phenylquinoline) (B2PPQ), and 6,6′-bis((3,5-diphenylbenzene)-4-phenylquinoline) (BDBPQ) is reported. The oligoquinolines have high glass-transition temperatures (Tg ≥ 133 °C), reversible electrochemical reduction, and high electron affinities (2.68–2.81 eV). They emit blue photoluminescence with 0.73–0.94 quantum yields and 1.06–1.42 ns lifetimes in chloroform solutions. High-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with excellent blue chromaticity coordinates are achieved from all the oligoquinolines. OLEDs based on B2PPQ as the blue emitter give the best performance with a high brightness (19 740 cd m–2 at 8.0 V), high efficiency (7.12 cd A–1 and 6.56 % external quantum efficiency at 1175 cd m–2), and excellent blue color purity as judged by the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates (x = 0.15,y = 0.16). These results represent the best efficiency of blue OLEDs from neat fluorescent organic emitters reported to date. These results demonstrate the potential of oligoquinolines as emitters and electron-transport materials for developing high-performance blue OLEDs.

231 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a series of new blue-emitting silafluorene-fluorene copolymers is described, which are synthesized using kinetically controlled hydrosilylation copolymerization of 1,1-dihydridosilafluoresne with a series 9-substituted 2,7-diethynylfluorenes.
Abstract: The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a series of new blue-emitting silafluorene–fluorene copolymers is described. The polymers are synthesized using kinetically controlled hydrosilylation copolymerization of 1,1-dihydridosilafluorene with a series of 9-substituted 2,7-diethynylfluorenes. The polymers contain a trans-only framework with molecular weights in the range of 13 000–20 000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using polystyrene standards, and by 1H NMR spectroscopy using dimethylphenylsilane as an end-capping marker group. The three stereoregular polymers synthesized include a 9,9-dihydridofluorene (PSF1), a 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene (PSF2), and a 9,9′-spirobifluorene (PSF3) comonomer with the frameworks. These fluorenyl units are conjugated through the silicon center of the silafluorene moiety by bridging vinylene groups. Quantum yields of fluorescence range from 20 to 100% with PSF3 having the highest quantum efficiency. Polymers PSF1-3 emit in the blue region of the spectrum (∼475 nm), showing good color purity with little change in luminescence properties between the solution and solid-state phases. The polymers were tested for explosives detection properties by a fluorescence-quenching mechanism. Targeted explosives include laboratory prepared TNT, DNT, picric acid, RDX, HMX, PETN, TNG, and Tetryl, as well as production line PETN and C-4. All three polymers exhibit detection of explosive particulates with limits as low as 1 pg cm−2 for Tetryl. Polymer PSF1 simultaneously acts as a selective fluorescence “turn-on” sensor for nitrate ester explosives when irradiated with UV light. In the presence of nitrate ester-based explosives such as PETN, PSF1 initially exhibits fluorescence quenching, but continued exposure to UV-light (302 nm), promotes a photochemical reaction forming a luminescent green fluorenone copolymer. This is the first example of a single material acting as both a turn-off and turn-on selective fluorescent sensor for an explosive material.

211 citations