Blue Emissive fac/mer-Iridium (III) NHC Carbene Complexes and their Application in OLEDs

The photophysical and electrochemical properties of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Iridium (III) (Ir((CC)-C-<^>:)(3), where (CC)-C-<^>: = N-phenyl,N-methyl-pyrazinoimidazol-2-yl (pmpz), N,N-di-p-tolyl-pyrazinoimidazol-2-yl (tpz)) are reported. Facial and meridional isomers of Ir(pmpz)(3) are prepared, but only the facial isomer can be isolated for Ir(tpz)(3). The fac-Ir(pmpz)(3) and fac-Ir(tpz)(3) complexes have emission maxima at 465 nm in polystyrene, whereas the emission maximum of mer-Ir(pmpz)(3) is redshifted to 495 nm. The emission energies and photoluminescent quantum yield (phi(PL)) in solution decrease on going from nonpolar to polar solvents; however, all the complexes are efficient emitters in polystyrene at room temperature (phi(PL) = 88-96%) and 77 K. Blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes employing fac-Ir(tpz)(3) as an emissive dopant achieves a high external electroluminescence efficiency (approximate to 18 +/- 1%) and brightness (29 000 cd m(-2)) at low current density.

Automated summary

The photophysical and electrochemical properties of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Iridium (III) were studied, showing differences in emission maxima and quantum yield in different solvents. The complexes exhibited efficient emission in polystyrene at room temperature and low temperatures. Notably, fac-Ir(tpz)(3) showed high external electroluminescence efficiency and brightness in blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes.