Cyano-Substituted Host Material for Organic EL Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current organic electroluminescence (EL) devices face limitations in achieving high emission efficiency due to differences in emission mechanisms between fluorescent and phosphorescent devices, requiring distinct material selections and device designs, and existing materials do not adequately balance charge transport and emission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A material represented by formula (I) is introduced, featuring a central skeleton with cyano-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon or heterocyclic groups, which balances hole and electron injecting/transporting abilities, enhancing emission efficiency in organic EL devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a compound with larger energy gap is used in the light emitting layer to confine triplet energy, then phosphorescent emission efficiency is improved, but driving voltage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephosphorescent emission efficiencyVSAvoiddriving voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the energy gap parameter of the host material to a specific range (2.1-3.5 eV) that is lower than conventional materials, while simultaneously adjusting the triplet energy parameter to match the phosphorescent dopant. This parameter optimization allows efficient triplet energy confinement at lower operating voltages, resolving the contradiction between emission efficiency and driving voltage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a porous or multifunctional host material structure that can simultaneously perform multiple functions: charge transport, triplet energy confinement, and voltage reduction. The specific molecular structure with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups creates a material with optimized energy levels that achieves high phosphorescent efficiency without requiring high driving voltage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Productivity

If an organic compound having a heteroatom is used in the light emitting layer to achieve phosphorescence, then phosphorescent emission is enabled, but device lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephosphorescent emissionVSAvoiddevice lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite molecular structure combining electron-donating groups (such as carbazole) and electron-withdrawing groups (such as cyano-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons). This composite structure creates a host material with balanced properties: the electron-donating portion provides stability and long lifetime, while the electron-withdrawing portion enables efficient phosphorescent emission through appropriate energy level matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by placing electron-donating groups at specific positions (such as the carbazole core) and electron-withdrawing groups at other positions (such as cyano-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon groups). This spatial arrangement allows different regions of the molecule to perform different functions: the carbazole core provides structural stability and long lifetime, while the cyano-substituted groups provide the necessary energy levels for phosphorescent emission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If a hydrocarbon compound with small energy gap is used, then charge transport is improved, but triplet energy confinement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge transport abilityVSAvoidtriplet energy confinement
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the energy gap parameter to a specific range (2.1-3.5 eV) that is neither too large nor too small. This intermediate energy gap value allows the material to simultaneously achieve good charge transport properties (unlike wide bandgap materials) and sufficient triplet energy confinement capability (unlike narrow bandgap materials). The balanced parameter selection resolves the contradiction between charge transport and energy confinement.

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

The material improves emission efficiency and extends the lifetime of organic EL devices by effectively confining triplet energy and balancing carrier distribution, leading to improved performance compared to previous compounds.

Implementation Method 1

a host material having triplet energy larger than that of the phosphorescent dopant material should be used in the light emitting layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy level matching:

Implementation Method 2

balances hole and electron injecting/transporting abilities

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharge transport: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

the diffusion of excitons into adjacent layers occurs easily and the thermal energy deactivation occurs in most compounds other than the specific phosphorescent compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy deactivation:

Data Source

PatentEP2790239B1Material for organic electroluminescent element and organic electroluminescent element
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 IDEMITSU KOSAN CO LTD
  • EP2790239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2790239B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2790239B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A material for organic electroluminescence device having a specific central skeleton to which a cyano-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or a cyano-substituted heterocyclic group is bonded at its specific position is described. Further described is an organic electroluminescence device including an organic thin film layer between an anode and a cathode. The organic thin film layer include an light emitting layer and at least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the material for organic electroluminescence device. The material for organic electroluminescence device realizes an organic electroluminescence device with good emission efficiency.