Arylene Diimide Phosphors: Aggregation Modulated Twin Room Temperature Phosphorescence from Pyromellitic Diimides

Arylene diimide derived ambient organic phosphors are seldom reported despite their potential structural characteristics to facilitate the triplet harvesting. In this context, highly efficient room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) from simple, heavy-atom substituted pyromellitic diimide derivatives in amorphous matrix and crystalline state is reported here. Multiple intermolecular halogen bonding interactions among these phosphors, such as halogen-carbonyl and halogen-pi resulted in the modulation of phosphorescence, cyan emission from monomeric state and orange-red emission from its aggregated state, to yield twin RTP emission. Remarkably, the air-stable phosphorescence presented here own one of the highest quantum yield (approximate to 48 %) among various organics in orange-red emissive region.

Automated summary

This study reports highly efficient room temperature phosphorescence from simple, heavy-atom substituted pyromellitic diimide derivatives in amorphous matrix and crystalline state. The phosphorescence is modulated by multiple intermolecular halogen bonding interactions, resulting in twin RTP emission from monomeric and aggregated states. Notably, the air-stable phosphorescence shows one of the highest quantum yields among various organics in the orange-red emissive region.