The invention relates to an ionic
iridium metal complex, which can be used as a material of a luminous layer in an
electrochemical cell luminescent device. The complex has a general formula shown in the specifications, wherein a first ligand C-N is an aromatic
heterocyclic compound obtained by coordinating sp2
hybrid C atoms and sp2
hybrid N atoms; a second ligand is 2-(1H-
imidazole-2-radical)
pyridine and a derivative thereof; R, R' and R'' are
substituent groups on the second ligand; R'' is a group with high steric hindrance; R and R' are respectively and independently one of
hydrogen atoms,
fluorine atoms,
trifluoromethyl, C1 to C30
alkyl, C1 to C30 alkoxy, C2 to C 30
alkyl amino, C6 to C20
aryl, C6 to C20 fused ring
aryl, C4 to C20 heterocyclic ring
aryl, and C6 to C30 arylamine groups; and A is a counter anion with one
negative charge. The complex of the invention has the advantages of
high heat stability, high luminous efficiency in solution and a high-concentration doped
solid thin film, easy adjustment of emitting colors of the material, simple synthetic process, easy purification and the like.