Achieving a high-efficiency dual-core chromophore for emission of blue light by testing different side groups and substitution positions

Abstract

Hetero dual-core derivatives that combine anthracene and pyrene were systematically studied for the purpose of producing highly efficient blue light-emitting materials applicable to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lighting. Five compounds were designed in order to (1) determine which one of the two core chromophores in a hetero dual-core moiety, if any, acts as the main contributor to the optical and electronic properties of the final compounds, (2) control the electron-donating ability of the side group, and (3) change the substitution position. 1-[1,1′;3′,1′′]terphenyl-5′-yl-6-(10-[1,1′;3′,1′′]terphenyl-5′-yl-anthracen-9-yl)-pyrene (TP-AP-TP) was used as the reference material, and four other materials, including diphenyl-[10-(6-[1,1′;3′,1′′]terphenyl-5′-yl-pyren-1-yl)-anthracen-9-yl]-amine (DPA-AP-TP), diphenyl-[6-(10-[1,1′;3′,1′′]terphenyl-5′-yl-anthracen-9-yl)-pyren-1-yl]-amine (TP-AP-DPA), diphenyl-{4-[10-(6-[1,1′;3′,1′′]-terphenyl-5′-yl-pyren-1-yl)-anthracen-9-yl]-phenyl}-amine (TPA-AP-TP) and diphenyl-{4-[6-(10-[1,1′;3′,1′′]terphenyl-5′-yl-anthracen-9-yl)-pyren-1-yl]-phenyl}-amine (TP-AP-TPA), were synthesized as model compounds. The synthesized materials showed absorption wavelength peaks at 403–410 nm in the film state and exhibited PL emissions of 458–505 nm. Also, anthracene was shown to be the main core contributing to the optical and electronic properties. Among the synthesized molecules, the TPA-AP-TP molecule, in which triphenylamine, with its optimum electron-donating ability, was substituted into anthracene, showed excellent electroluminescence (EL) performance for OLED lighting with a current efficiency of 8.05 cd A⁻¹, external quantum efficiency of 6.75%, and narrow EL FWHM of 53 nm.