Synthesis, characterization and high-efficiency blue electroluminescence based on coumarin derivatives of 7-diethylamino-coumarin-3-carboxamide

A novel tripodal compound, tris[2-(7-diethylamino-coumarin-3-carboxamide)ethyl]amine (tren-C), and a model compound, N-butyl-7-(diethylamino)-coumarin-3-carboxamide, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and H-1 NMR spectra. The structure of the model compound was characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The electroluminescence devices of ITO/2-TNATA (5 nm)/NPB (40 nm)/CBP: tren-C or model compound (wt%, 30 nm)/Bu-PBD (30 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) were fabricated and characterized. The EL spectra of the devices comprising vacuum vapour-deposited films using tren-C as a dopant are similar to the PL spectrum of tren-C in chloroform solutions. At the concentration of 0.5 wt% tren-C, a blue-emitting OLED with an emission peak at 464 nm, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 1.39% and a maximum luminous efficiency of 2 cd/A at the current density of 20 mA/cm(2), and a maximum luminance of 1450 cd/m(2) at 12 V are achieved. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.