Heteroleptic Phosphorescent Emitters for OLED Color Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) face challenges in achieving saturated colors and efficient emission spectra, particularly in green phosphorescent devices, due to high sublimation temperatures and vibronic emission spectra of existing materials, which affect manufacturing and device performance.

Innovation Solution

Development of heteroleptic complexes containing phenylpyridine and phenylbenzimidazole ligands, which offer lower sublimation temperatures and narrower emission spectra, enabling improved color tunability and stability in OLEDs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If homoleptic compounds are used in OLEDs, then the emission spectrum is broader, but the color saturation and manufacturing precision are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission spectrum breadthVSAvoidcolor saturation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular structure parameters by transitioning from homoleptic to heteroleptic complexes, specifically incorporating phenylpyridine and phenylbenzimidazole ligands. This structural parameter change results in narrower emission spectra with FWHM values of 40-60 nm, thereby achieving both adequate emission breadth and improved color saturation for manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite ligand structures combining phenylpyridine and phenylbenzimidazole moieties in heteroleptic complexes. This composite approach at the molecular level creates materials with optimized photophysical properties, achieving narrow emission spectra while maintaining stability and tunability for precise color control in OLED applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If existing phosphorescent materials are used, then the device can operate, but the sublimation temperature is high, reducing ease of manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice operationVSAvoidsublimation temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the thermal parameters of phosphorescent materials by designing heteroleptic complexes with specific ligand combinations. These structural changes result in lowered sublimation temperatures compared to conventional homoleptic compounds, facilitating easier vacuum deposition and solution processing while maintaining device operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional organic materials are used, then the device structure is simple, but the operational lifetime is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial structure complexityVSAvoidoperational lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite heteroleptic complexes combining phenylpyridine and phenylbenzimidazole ligands coordinated to metal centers. This composite molecular architecture enhances photostability and resistance to degradation mechanisms, thereby extending operational lifetime while maintaining manageable device structure complexity through well-defined molecular compositions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If homoleptic compounds are used, then the synthesis is simpler, but the color tunability and emission efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynthesis complexityVSAvoidcolor tunability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies ligand parameters in heteroleptic complexes, including substituent positions and types on phenylpyridine and phenylbenzimidazole moieties. This parameter optimization enables precise tuning of emission wavelengths and efficiencies while maintaining reasonable synthesis complexity through established coordination chemistry methodologies.

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 heteroleptic complexes provide OLEDs with enhanced operational lifetimes, high stability, and improved manufacturing processes, along with more saturated colors and efficient emission, surpassing the limitations of homoleptic compounds.

Implementation Method 1

Phosphorescent emitters... One application for phosphorescent emissive molecules is a full color display... The heteroleptic compounds may have a narrower full width at half maximum (FWHM) of emission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Data Source

PatentEP2362889B1Phosphorescent emitters
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORP
  • EP2362889B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2362889B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2362889B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Heteroleptic compounds containing phenylpyridine and phenylbenzimidazole are provided. The compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices, particularly as emissive dopants in the emissive layer of such devices.