Photophysical properties and OLED performance of light-emitting platinum(II) complexes

The synthesis, photophysical properties and application as emitters in solution-processed multi-layer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) of a series of blue-green to red light-emitting phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes are reported. These complexes consist of phenylisoquinoline, substituted phenylpyridines or tetrahydroquinolines as C^N cyclometalating ligands and dipivaloylmethane as an ancillary ligand. Depending on both the structure of the C^N cyclometalating ligands and the dopant concentration in the matrix, these platinum(II) complexes exhibit different aggregation tendencies. This property affects the photoluminescence spectra of the investigated compounds and colour-stability of the fabricated OLEDs. Using the blue-green to yellow-green emitting complexes, the best results were obtained with the 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline based platinum(II) complex. A maximum luminous efficiency of 4.88 cd A(-1) and a power efficiency of 4.65 lm W(-1), respectively, were achieved. Employing the red emitting phenylisoquinoline based complex as an emitter, colour-stable and efficient (4.71 cd A(-1), 5.12 lm W(-1)) devices were obtained.