A molecular design to high-performance red and near-infrared (NIR) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) emitters remains demanding. Herein a series of dinuclear platinum(II) complexes featuring strong intramolecular Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and π-π interactions has been developed by using N-deprotonated α-carboline as a bridging ligand. The complexes in doped thin films exhibit efficient red to NIR emission from short-lived (τ=0.9-2.1 μs) triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3 MMLCT) excited states. Red OLEDs demonstrate high maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of up to 23.3 % among the best PtII -complex-doped devices. The maximum EQE of 15.0 % and radiance of 285 W sr-1 m-2 for NIR OLEDs (λEL =725 nm) are unprecedented for devices based on discrete molecular emitters. Both red and NIR devices show very small efficiency roll-off at high brightness. Appealing operational lifetimes have also been revealed for the devices. This work sheds light on the potential of intramolecular metallophilicity for long-wavelength molecular emitters and electroluminescence.
Keywords: NIR emission; OLEDs; metallophilicity; platinum complexes; red emission.
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