Deep-Blue OLEDs with BT. 2020 Blue Gamut, External Quantum Efficiency Approaching 40.

Xiao, Zhengqi; Zou, Yang; Chen, Zhanxiang; Miao, Jingsheng; Qiu, Yuntao; Huang, Zhongyan; Cao, Xiaosong; Peng, Xiaojun et al. · Adv Mater · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The hyperfluorescence (HF) technology holds great promise for the development of high-quality organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for their excellent color purity, high efficiency, and low-efficiency roll-off. Sensitizer plays a crucial role in the performance of HF devices. However, designing sensitizers with simultaneous high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), rapid radiative decay (k<sub>r</sub>), and fast reverse intersystem crossing rate (k<sub>RISC</sub>) poses a great challenge, particularly for the thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) sensitizers targeting deep-blue HF device. Herein, by introducing a boron-containing multi-resonance-type acceptor into the multi-tert-butyl-carbazole encapsulated benzene molecular skeleton, two TADF emitters featuring hybridized multi-channel charge-transfer pathways, including short-range multi-resonance, weakened through-bond, and compact face-to-face through-space charge-transfer. Benefiting from the rational molecular design, the proof-of-concept sensitizers exhibit simultaneous rapid k<sub>r</sub> of 5.3 × 10<sup>7</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>, fast k<sub>RISC</sub> up to 5.9 × 10<sup>5</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>, a PQLY of near-unity, as well as ideal deep-blue emission in both solution and film. Consequently, the corresponding deep-blue HF devices not only achieve chromaticity coordinates that fully comply with the latest BT. 2020 standards, but also showcase record-high maximum external quantum efficiencies nearing 40%, along with suppressed efficiency roll-off.