Synthesis and Performance in OLEDs of Selenium-Containing Phosphorescent Emitters with Red Emission Color Deeper Than the Corresponding NTSC Standard

The synthesis of new iridium­(III) complexes containing a 2-(benzo­[b]­selenophen-2-yl)­pyridine ligand is reported along with their photophysical, thermal, electrochemical and electroluminescent properties. These complexes are characterized by deep red phosphorescence with photoluminescence quantum yields exceeding 31% in the solid state. Solid layers of the complexes were characterized by ionization potentials of 5.17–5.27 eV and electron affinities of 2.87–2.95 eV. Their thermal and electrochemical stabilities were proved by cyclic voltammetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Deep red selenium-based iridium phosphorescent emitters were used in red electroluminescent devices which were characterized by a deep red color with Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE 1931) chromaticity coordinates (x, y) of (0.69, 0.31). This color is deeper than that defined by the red color standard (0.67, 0.33) of the National Television System Committee (NTSC) or CIE 1931 of (0.68, 0.32) of the widely known red phosphorescent emitter bis­(1-phenylisoquinoline)­(acetylacetonate)­iridium­(III) (Ir­(piq)₂(acac)). Using newly developed deep red iridium complexes, white hybrid wet-processable light-emitting devices were fabricated, the electroluminescence of which was characterized by a white color with a color rendering index (CRI) reaching 85. White hybrid OLEDs were obtained by mixing blue fluorescence, green thermally activated delayed fluorescence, and red phosphorescence. They showed a maximum brightness exceeding 10000 cd/m² and a high external quantum efficiency of 6.3% as for solution-processed white devices.