Integration of Through-Space Conjugation of an Adjacent Arene with a Nitrogen/Carbonyl Framework for Narrowband Emission

Organic luminescent materials featuring noncovalent through-space conjugation (TSC) have attracted considerable attention. However, the presence of multiple vibrational energy levels and weak spatial electron delocalization typically results in broad emission peaks for TSC-based emitters, significantly impeding their extensive application in optoelectronic technologies. Herein, two TSC emitters, TSFQ-TRZ and TSFQ-Ph, were synthesized by integrating a fused nitrogen/carbonyl skeleton with various adjacent arene 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine (TPTRZ) and phenyl group segments through a rigid spiro spacer. These emitters exhibited narrow emissions, with full widths at half-maximum of 19 nm and 25 nm, respectively. Experimental and theoretical investigations unveiled that the TPTRZ segment introduces steric hindrance, while simultaneously suppressing molecular vibrations through intramolecular interactions-a key factor in achieving narrow emissions. Leveraging this narrow blue emission, electroluminescent devices employing TSFQ-TRZ as the emitter achieved an impressive maximum external quantum efficiency of 26.7 %, which further increased to 28.3 % when sensitized by phosphorescent emitter. This work demonstrates highly efficient, narrowband emissions from TSC-based emitters, thereby expanding their potential applications in the electroluminescence field.