Fine-Tuning of Photophysical and Electroluminescence Properties of Benzothiadiazole-Based Emitters by Methyl Substitution

New benzothiadiazole-based materials containing methyl substitution are prepared and characterized as promising green/yellowish green emitters for electroluminescent applications. The dyes exhibited shorter wavelength absorption and emission when compared to nonmethylated dyes. A dye containing methyl group on the donor side exhibited blue shift in absorption and emission when compared to the analogous dye containing methyl group away from donor. The steric effect exerted by the methyl group is responsible for the nonplanar arrangement of donor and acceptor, which inhibited the intramolecular charge transfer. All the dyes displayed solvatochromism in the emission spectra characteristic of hybridization of local and charge transfer excited states. Due to the benefit of methyl group, the dyes restrained the formation of aggregates in the solid state. Solution processed multilayered OLED device were fabricated employing these compounds either as host emitters or dopant emitters in suitable host matrix and exhibited green/yellowish green electroluminescence with external quantum efficiency as high as 4.6% (15.7 cd A^–1).