Extending the π-Skeleton of Multi-Resonance TADF Materials towards High-Efficiency Narrowband Deep-Blue Emission

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 Jul 18;61(29):e202201588. doi: 10.1002/anie.202201588. Epub 2022 May 31.

Abstract

Multi-resonance TADF (MR-TADF) emitters are promising for high-resolution OLEDs, but the concurrent optimization of excited-state dynamics and color purity remains a tough challenge. Herein, three deep-blue MR-TADF compounds (BN1-BN3) featuring gradually enlarged ring-fused structures and increased rigidity are accessed by lithium-free borylation in high yields from the same precursor, with all the emitters possessing CIEy coordinates below 0.08. Structure-property investigations demonstrate a strategic improvement of the oscillator strength (fosc ) and acceleration of the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) process by extending the π-skeleton, where BN3 realizes a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 37.6 % and reduced roll-off, thus showing the best efficiency reported for deep-blue TADF OLEDs. The internal regulation of the efficiency and color purity of these compounds validate the general effectiveness to achieve advanced deep-blue narrowband emitters with higher-order boron/nitrogen-based MR motifs.

Keywords: Deep-Blue Emitters; Multiple Resonance; Organic Light-Emitting Diodes; Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence; π-Skeleton.