Ultra-Deep-Blue Aggregation-Induced Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Achieving Nearly 16% EQE in Solution-Processed Nondoped and Doped OLEDs with CIEy < 0.1

Ultra-deep-blue aggregation-induced delayed fluorescence (AIDF) emitters (TB-tCz and TB-tPCz) bearing organoboron-based cores as acceptors and 3,6-substituted carbazoles as donors are presented. The thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties of the two emitters are confirmed by theoretical calculations and time-resolved photoluminescence experiments. TB-tCz and TB-tPCz exhibit fast reverse intersystem crossing rate constants owing to efficient spin-orbit coupling between the singlet and triplet states. When applied in solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), the TB-tCz- and TB-tPCz-based nondoped devices exhibit ultra-deep-blue emissions of 416-428 nm and high color purity owing to their narrow bandwidths of 42.2-44.4 nm, corresponding to the Commission International de l ' Eclairage color coordinates of (x = 0.16-0.17, y = 0.05-0.06). They show a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE(max)) of 8.21% and 15.8%, respectively, exhibiting an unprecedented high performance in solution-processed deep-blue TADF-OLEDs. Furthermore, both emitters exhibit excellent device performances (EQE(max) = 14.1-15.9%) and color purity in solution-processed doped OLEDs. The current study provides an AIDF emitter design strategy to implement high-efficiency deep-blue OLEDs in the future.

Automated summary

The novel emitters TB-tCz and TB-tPCz exhibit unique TADF and AIDF characteristics, delivering ultra-deep-blue emissions with high color purity and efficiencies of 8.21%-15.8% in OLEDs. This study provides a new strategy for designing high-efficiency deep-blue OLEDs in the future.