Polylactide-perylenederivative for blue biodegradable organic light-emitting diodes

In this work we demonstrate, for the first time, the use of polylactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable host matrix for the construction of the active emissive layer of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices for potential use in bioelectronics. In this preliminary study, we report a robust synthesis of two fluorescent PLA derivatives, pyrene-PLA (AH10) and perylene-PLA (AH11). These materials were prepared by the ring opening polymerisation ofl-lactide with hydroxyalkyl-pyrene and hydroxyalkyl-perylene derivatives using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene as catalyst. OLEDs were fabricated from these materials using a simple device architecture involving a solution-processed single-emitting layer in the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK:OXD-7 (35%):AH10orAH11(20%)/TPBi/LiF/Al (ITO, indium tin oxide; PEDOT:PSS, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonic acid); PVK, poly(vinylcarbazole); OXD-7, (1,3-phenylene)-bis-[5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole]; TPBi, 2,2 ',2 ''-(1,3,5-benzenetriyl)tris(1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole)). The turn-on voltage for the perylene OLED at 10 cd m(-2)was around 6 V with a maximum brightness of 1200 cd m(-2)at 13 V. The corresponding external quantum efficiency and device current efficiency were 1.5% and 2.8 cd A(-1)respectively. In summary, this study provides proof of principle that OLEDs can be constructed from PLA, a readily available and renewable bio-source. (c) 2020 The Authors.Polymer Internationalpublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the use of polylactic acid (PLA) as a host matrix for the active emissive layer in OLED devices. Two fluorescent PLA derivatives were synthesized and used to fabricate OLEDs with promising properties. The research provides evidence that OLEDs can be constructed from PLA, a readily available and renewable bio-source.