Coumarin-based, electron-trapping iridium complexes as highly efficient and stable phosphorescent emitters for organic light-emitting diodes

Abstract

A new class of coumarin-based iridium tris-cyclometalated complexes has been developed. These complexes are highly emissive, with emission colors ranging from green to orange-red. Besides modification of ligand structures, color tuning was realized by incorporation of ligands with different electrochemical properties in a heteroleptic structure. The organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using these compounds as emissive dopants are highly efficient and stable. Unlike other Ir(III) phosphorescent dopants, these coumarin-based Ir(III) dopants can effectively trap and transport electrons in the emissive layer.