Cuprate Compounds for OLEDs Using Steric Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) faces challenges in using materials that are free from rare and expensive precious metals, requiring high stability against air and water to ensure effective manufacturing, particularly during coating and printing processes.

Innovation Solution

The use of novel cuprate compounds with specific formulas, featuring a central Cu4 cluster and steric shielding by large organic ligands, which provide intense luminescence, accessibility from inexpensive starting materials, high solubility, and stability against oxidation and hydrolysis, making them suitable for OLEDs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If cuprate compounds with Cu-C bonds are used, then intense luminescence is achieved, but the compounds are labile and sensitive to oxidation and hydrolysis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminescence intensityVSAvoidstability to oxidation and hydrolysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Large organic ligands (phosphines, carbenes, isocyanides) are introduced as intermediary protective groups that surround and shield the labile Cu-C bonds. These ligands act as steric barriers that prevent oxidation and hydrolysis while allowing the cuprate core to maintain its luminescent properties. The ligands mediate between the reactive Cu-C bond and the external environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The organic ligands form a flexible protective shell around the copper cluster core. This shell is not rigid but dynamically adapts while providing continuous steric protection. The shell structure allows the compound to maintain stability in solution and during processing while preserving the optical properties of the core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Illumination intensity

If precise structural control of cuprate compounds is implemented, then luminescent properties are optimized, but synthesis complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminescent propertiesVSAvoidsynthesis complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ligands are pre-designed with specific steric and electronic properties before being introduced to the copper cluster. By selecting ligands with predetermined characteristics (bulkiness, donor ability), the synthesis pathway is simplified while ensuring the desired structural outcome and luminescent properties are achieved without complex in-situ modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Systematic variation of ligand parameters (steric bulk, electronic donor strength, molecular geometry) allows optimization of luminescent properties while maintaining manageable synthesis complexity. By changing ligand parameters rather than core structure, the invention achieves structural control with relatively simple synthetic modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These cuprate compounds exhibit robust and efficient luminescent properties, maintaining stability in solution and facilitating industrial processing, thus serving as cost-effective and reliable materials for OLEDs.

Implementation Method 1

The cuprate compounds exhibit robust and efficient luminescent properties, maintaining stability in solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3621969B1Cuprate compounds, and method for the production thereof and possible uses
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 UNIV OF BREMEN
  • EP3621969B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3621969B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3621969B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to novel cuprate compounds which are suitable as luminous substances in an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The invention further relates to methods for producing said novel cuprate compounds, and to organic light emitting diodes containing said cuprate compounds.