Tetradentate Platinum Complexes for OLED Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current OLED technologies face challenges in achieving high efficiency and long lifetime while maintaining low turn-on voltage, particularly in achieving saturated colors for full-color displays, due to limitations in emissive materials and device configurations.

Innovation Solution

The development of tetradentate platinum complexes with specific structural features, such as the formula , which are incorporated into OLED devices as emissive dopants or hosts, enhancing the efficiency and stability of organic light-emitting devices by optimizing the emission properties and layer configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional emissive materials are used in OLEDs, then device structure and materials are simpler, but efficiency and lifetime are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemissive efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of emissive materials
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the emissive material by introducing platinum complexes with specific ligand structures (Formula I). This includes varying the carbene ligand (G), the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings (B, C, D), and the linkers (L1, L2, L3) to optimize photophysical properties. These parameter changes enable high efficiency and long lifetime while maintaining solution processability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material design by creating tetradentate platinum complexes that combine multiple functional ligands. The complex integrates a carbene ligand (G), three nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings (B, C, D), and various linkers (L1, L2, L3) into a single molecular entity. This composite structure synergistically enhances emissive efficiency, stability, and solution processability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional emissive materials are used in OLEDs, then material synthesis is simpler, but device lifetime is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice lifetimeVSAvoidease of material synthesis
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the chemical parameters of the platinum complex to enhance photostability and chemical stability, which directly improve device lifetime. The specific coordination geometry and ligand field strength are tuned to resist degradation. Simultaneously, the molecular structure is designed to maintain solution processability, preserving ease of manufacture through solution-based deposition methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops platinum complexes that can be synthesized and processed using solution-based methods, which are more accessible and cost-effective than vacuum deposition. The complexes are designed to be stable enough for practical device lifetimes while maintaining ease of synthesis and processing, balancing durability with manufacturability.

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

3Ease of operation

If conventional emissive materials are used in OLEDs, then device fabrication is simpler, but turn-on voltage remains high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturn-on voltageVSAvoidcomplexity of emissive layer configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent tunes the electrochemical parameters of the platinum complex, specifically the HOMO and LUMO energy levels, by modifying the ligand structures. The electron-donating or electron-withdrawing properties of substituents on rings B, C, and D are adjusted to optimize charge injection and transport. This enables lower turn-on voltage while maintaining a relatively simple single-layer emissive configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Illumination intensity

If conventional emissive materials are used in OLEDs, then color saturation is insufficient, but material selection is more limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor saturationVSAvoidtunability of emission properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves color tuning by systematically varying the structural parameters of the ligands. The conjugation length, aromaticity, and substituent effects on rings B, C, and D are modified to shift the emission wavelength. The carbene ligand G and linkers L1-L3 are also adjusted to fine-tune the HOMO-LUMO gap. This enables achieving saturated red, green, and blue emissions with high color purity while maintaining the same fundamental molecular architecture.

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 use of these platinum complexes results in OLED devices with improved efficiency, longer lifetimes, and lower turn-on voltage, achieving superior performance compared to conventional materials, particularly in achieving saturated colors for display applications.

Implementation Method 1

OLEDs make use of thin organic films that emit light when voltage is applied across the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

One application for phosphorescent emissive molecules is a full color display

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Data Source

PatentEP2551274B1Tetradentate platinum complexes
Publication Date: 2015.12.09 UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORP
  • EP2551274B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2551274B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2551274B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Novel phosphorescent tetradentate platinum compounds of Formula I are provided. The complexes contain a dibenzo moiety, which allows for the creation of OLED devices with improved properties when compounds of Formula I are incorporated into such devices.