Highly phosphorescent organic mixed films: The effect of aggregation on triplet-triplet annihilation

The efficiency roll-off at high brightness levels is a key factor limiting the application of organic light emitting diodes. We investigate triplet-triplet annihilation in an archetype phosphorescent host-guest system. We show that the currently used host-guest systems are not at the physical limit set by intrinsic annihilation, but have an increased roll-off due to aggregate formation. The existence of these aggregates is directly proven by transmission electron microscopy.