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Singlet and triplet to doublet energy transfer: improving organic light-emitting diodes with radicals

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Li

    (Jilin University
    University of Cambridge)

  • Alexander J. Gillett

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Qinying Gu

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Junshuai Ding

    (Jilin University)

  • Zhangwu Chen

    (Jilin University)

  • Timothy J. H. Hele

    (University College London)

  • William K. Myers

    (University of Oxford)

  • Richard H. Friend

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Emrys W. Evans

    (University of Cambridge
    Swansea University)

Abstract

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) must be engineered to circumvent the efficiency limit imposed by the 3:1 ratio of triplet to singlet exciton formation following electron-hole capture. Here we show the spin nature of luminescent radicals such as TTM-3PCz allows direct energy harvesting from both singlet and triplet excitons through energy transfer, with subsequent rapid and efficient light emission from the doublet excitons. This is demonstrated with a model Thermally-Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) organic semiconductor, 4CzIPN, where reverse intersystem crossing from triplets is characteristically slow (50% emission by 1 µs). The radical:TADF combination shows much faster emission via the doublet channel (80% emission by 100 ns) than the comparable TADF-only system, and sustains higher electroluminescent efficiency with increasing current density than a radical-only device. By unlocking energy transfer channels between singlet, triplet and doublet excitons, further technology opportunities are enabled for optoelectronics using organic radicals.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Li & Alexander J. Gillett & Qinying Gu & Junshuai Ding & Zhangwu Chen & Timothy J. H. Hele & William K. Myers & Richard H. Friend & Emrys W. Evans, 2022. "Singlet and triplet to doublet energy transfer: improving organic light-emitting diodes with radicals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29759-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29759-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Lei Hua & Yuchao Liu & Binbin Liu & Zhennan Zhao & Lei Zhang & Shouke Yan & Zhongjie Ren, 2022. "Constructing high-efficiency orange-red thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters by three-dimension molecular engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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