Novel host materials for single-component white organic light-emitting diodes based on 9-naphthylanthracene derivatives

A series of 9-naphthylanthracene based dimers and trimers were synthesized and characterized. TGA studies reveal that they are all thermally stable with decomposition temperatures well above 500 degrees C. Upon optical excitation, all of these dimers and trimers show intense blue emission in common organic solvents, accompanied by a new peak at long wavelength in the solid state. They exhibit nanosecond transient lifetimes consisting of two decay components, suggesting the formation of excimers. Single-component light-emitting electroluminescent devices based on these robust materials have been fabricated. The device based on 4,4'-bis(9-(1-naphthyl)anthracen-10-yl)biphenyl exhibits a maximum luminance efficiency of 7.0 cd A(-1) with CIE coordinates of (0.31, 0.36) and luminance of 1396 cd m(-2) at 6.9 V. The device based on 1,3,5-tris(9-(1-naphthyl)anthracen-10-yl)benzene exhibits a maximum luminance efficiency of 5.78 cd A(-1) with CIE coordinates of (0.33, 0.43) and luminance of 1156 cd m(-2) at 7.8 V.