Regional Functionalization Molecular Design Strategy: A Key to Enhancing the Efficiency of Multi-Resonance OLEDs

Affiliations
  • 1Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Energy Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China.
  • 2Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049>, P. R. China.
  • 3Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China.
  • 4State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices and Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Wushan Road 381, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong Province, P. R. China.
  • 5Institute for Smart Materials & Engineering, University of Jinan, No. 336 Nanxinzhuang West Road, Jinan, 250100, Shandong Province, P. R. China.

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Abstract

Herein, we propose a regional functionalization molecular design strategy that enables independent control of distinct pivotal parameters through different molecule segments. Three novel multiple resonances thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters A-BN, DA-BN, and A-DBN, have been successfully synthesized by integrating highly rigid and three-dimensional adamantane-containing spirofluorene units into the MR framework. These molecules form two distinctive functional parts: part 1 comprises a boron-nitrogen (BN)-MR framework with adjacent benzene and fluorene units forming a central luminescent core characterized by an exceptionally rigid planar geometry, allowing for narrow FWHM values; part 2 includes peripheral mesitylene, benzene, and adamantyl groups, creating a unique three-dimensional “umbrella-like” conformation to mitigate intermolecular interactions and suppress exciton annihilation. The resulting A-BN, DA-BN, and A-DBN exhibit remarkably narrow FWHM values ranging from 18 to 14 nm and near-unity photoluminescence quantum yields. Particularly, OLEDs based on DA-BN and A-DBN demonstrate outstanding efficiencies of 35.0 % and 34.3 %, with FWHM values as low as 22 nm and 25 nm, respectively, effectively accomplishing the integration of high color purity and high device performance.