Palladium Tetradentate Complexes for OLED Emission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of iridium- and platinum-based materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and the questionable efficiency and stability of zinc-based materials pose challenges in developing cost-effective and efficient emitting materials for OLED applications.

Innovation Solution

The use of palladium-based tetradentate complexes with specific molecular structures, which include a palladium(II) metal center and di-anionic ligands, to create stable and efficient phosphorescent materials for OLEDs, reducing production costs while maintaining performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If iridium- or platinum-based materials are used for OLED emitting layers, then device performance and efficiency are improved, but material cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice performanceVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive iridium and platinum-based phosphorescent materials with cheaper palladium-based materials. While palladium is still a precious metal, it is significantly less expensive than iridium and platinum, thereby reducing material costs while maintaining acceptable device performance for commercial OLED applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the molecular structure of the emitting material by changing the central metal atom from iridium/platinum to palladium, and by designing specific tetradentate ligand structures (combinations of C^N and N^N ligands) to optimize the photophysical properties and device performance of the palladium complex

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If zinc-based materials are used to reduce cost, then material cost decreases, but device efficiency and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial costVSAvoiddevice efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the central metal atom from zinc to palladium, which has different electronic properties that enable phosphorescent emission. The specific coordination geometry and ligand field strength of palladium with tetradentate ligands create favorable photophysical properties including high quantum efficiency and appropriate emission wavelengths for OLED applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite ligand structures combining different donor types (C^N and N^N ligands) coordinated to the palladium center. This composite approach allows optimization of both photophysical properties for high efficiency and chemical stability for long device lifetime, overcoming the limitations of simpler zinc-based systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Duration of action of stationary object

If palladium-based complexes with tetradentate ligands are used, then device stability and lifetime are improved, but molecular structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice lifetimeVSAvoidmolecular structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ligand system into separate functional components (C^N ligand and N^N ligand) that coordinate to the palladium center in a tetradentate fashion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each ligand's properties while achieving overall stability through their cooperative binding to the metal center

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tetradentate ligand system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the palladium complex, controls the photophysical properties for efficient emission, ensures chemical stability for long device lifetime, and maintains appropriate solubility for device fabrication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional auxiliary components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 palladium-based complexes demonstrate high stability and long lifetime in OLEDs, with improved efficiency and reduced production costs, offering a viable alternative to expensive heavy metal-based materials.

Implementation Method 1

phosphorescent materials, which can be used for OLED applications, comprise palladium as a metal center

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Data Source

PatentEP2788368B1Palladium complexes for organic light-emitting diodes
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
  • EP2788368B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2788368B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2788368B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a class of tetradentate palladium(II) based complexes, their preparation method and their applications in organic light-emitting diodes (OLED).