Polymer-based blue electrophosphorescent light-emitting diodes using a bisorthometalated Ir(III) complex as the triplet emitter

Polymer-based blue electrophosphorescent light-emitting diodes are reported by doping bisorthometalated (phosphine)cyanoiridium(III) complex Ir(ppy)(2)P(n-Bu)(3)CN (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, P(n-Bu)(3) = tri-n-butylphosphine) in poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVK) as the source of emission. The (phosphine)cyanoiridium(III) complex shows sky blue emission with two peaks at 467 and 496 nm originating from an admixture of triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer and ligand-centered states. The PL and EL spectra of an Ir(ppy)(2)P(n-Bu)(3)CN-doped PVK film and device exhibited no emission from PVK, indicating that the energy transfer from PVK to Ir(ppy)(2)P(n-Bu)(3)CN is efficient. A maximum external quantum efficiency (eta(ex)) of 1.45% and power efficiency (eta(p)) of 0.99 lm/W were achieved at 13 and 6 mA/cm(2) at a 10 wt % doping concentration, respectively.