Supramolecular Phosphorescent Polymer Iridium Complexes for High-Efficiency Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

The synthesis of supramolecualr phosphorescent polymers (SPPs) as a novel class of solution-processable electroluminescent (EL) emitters was presented. The SPPs were formed by utilizing the efficient nonbonding self-assembly of luminescent iridium monomer 1 and “terfluorenyl”-based monomers 2 and 3, tethered with either a crown ether or dibenzylammonium unit. The supramolecular assembly process was monitored and illustrated by 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and viscosity measurement. Moreover, the SPPs exhibit an intrinsic glass transition with a glass-transition temperature ( T g ) of 72.5–81.5 °C, which is absent in the monomers. The characterization of organic light-emitting diodes that consisted of these SPPs as an emitter gave an efficiency of 14.6 cd A –1 at a luminance of 450 cd m –2 . Considering the good solution processability and catalyst-free polymerization process for the designed SPPs, combining the good device performances, the present study provide a promising alternative route to develop solution processed phosphorescent light-emitting materials for optoelectronic applications.