Synthesis and properties of highly efficient electroluminescent green phosphorescent iridium cored dendrimers

A simple convergent procedure has been developed for the preparation of solution processable phosphorescent dendrimers with biphenyl-based dendrons and fac-tris(2-phenylpyridyl)iridium(III) cores. We found that the attachment point and branching of the dendrons are important for controlling the color of the light emission. Photolumineseence excitation measurements showed that energy could be transferred efficiently from the dendrons to the core. Solution photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) measurements of the dendrimers were of order 70%, showing that the attachment of the dendron did not decrease the luminescence efficiency of the core iridium complex. The PLQYs of the neat dendrimer films increased with generation with the second-generation dendrimer having a neat film PLQY of 31%, 1(1)/(2) times higher than the first-generation dendrimers and almost 3 times that of the nondendritic iridium complex, demonstrating the power of the dendrimer architecture to control intermolecular interactions. Electrochemical experiments showed that charge was injected directly into the core of the dendrimers.