Origin of electrophosphorescence from a doped polymer light emitting diode

The origin of electrophosphorescence from a doped polymer light emitting diode (LED) has been investigated. A luminescent polymer host, poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO), was doped with a red phosphorescent dye, 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H-porphyrin platinum(II) (PtOEP). The maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.5% was obtained at a concentration of 4% PtOEP by weight. Energy transfer mechanisms between PFO and PtOEP were studied by absorption, photoluminescence, and photoinduced absorption spectroscopy. Even though electroluminescence spectra were dominated by PtOEP at a concentration of only 0.2 wt % PtOEP, Forster transfer of singlet excitons was weak and there was no evidence for Dexter transfer of tripler excitons. We conclude that the dominant emission mechanism in doped LED's is charge trapping followed by recombination on PtOEP molecules.