Direct Observation of Ultrafast Access to a Solvent-Independent Singlet-Triplet Equilibrium State in Acridone Solutions

J Phys Chem B. 2021 Dec 9;125(48):13291-13297. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c08844. Epub 2021 Nov 27.

Abstract

Acridone and its derivatives have potential application as emitters for highly efficient blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this paper, we demonstrated ultrafast access of a solvent-independent singlet-triplet equilibrium state in acridone solutions by using femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. Our spectral data show that due to highly effective forward and reverse intersystem crossing (both kISC and krISC over 1010 s-1), a singlet-triplet equilibrium state is always populated in acridone in all solvents studied. However, the lifetimes of the equilibrium state varied a lot in different solvent environments and the final decay pathway of this state can switch between high quantum yield fluorescence emission and further internal conversion to the lowest triplet state. These findings provide direct experimental evidence to understand the distinct photophysical behaviors of acridone and also provide guidance for further design of acridone and its derivatives as blue OLED emitters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acridones*
  • Solvents
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Acridones
  • Solvents