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.