Synthesis of Multi-Functional POSS Emitters for OLED Applications

Three separate organic, fluorescent emitter molecules with emission spectra corresponding to either blue, orange, or yellow have been covalently attached to an inorganic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) core in several controllable combinations. We were able to functionalize POSS with eight of the same emitters or a combination of two different emitters (i.e., blue and orange or blue and yellow). After purification, monodisperse products of the desired ratio of emitters attached to POSS were obtained. Solution and thin-film photoluminescence spectra were measured and compared for both the free emitters and the functionalized POSS. All POSS emitter materials have shown an increase in thermal stability over their free emitter counterparts and were able to be spincoated from solution for the fabrication of OLED devices.