Towards rainbow photo/electro-luminescence in copper(i) complexes with the versatile bridged bis-pyridyl ancillary ligand

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of a family of copper(I) complexes bearing a bridged bis-pyridyl ancillary ligand is reported, highlighting how the bridge nature impacts the photo- and electro-luminescent behaviours within the family. In particular, the phosphonium bridge led to copper(I) complexes featuring good electrochemical stability and high ionic conductivity, as well as a stark blue-to-orange luminescence shift compared to the others. This resulted in high performance light-emitting electrochemical cells reaching stabilities of 10 mJ at ca. 40 cd m⁻² that are one order of magnitude higher than those of the other complexes. Overall, this work sheds light onto the crucial role of the bridge nature of the bis-pyridyl ancillary ligand on the photophysical features, film forming and, in turn, on the final device performances.