Circularly polarized electroluminescence from topologically chiral [2]catenane-based neutral radicals with tunable deep-red emission.

Wang, Yu; Xu, Xiao-Qin; Gao, Zhiwen; Li, Xue; Yang, Yiming; Zhao, Wen-Long; Li, Meng; Wang, Wei et al. · Nat Commun · 2026

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Stable organic radicals with unique luminescence have demonstrated great importance in photoelectromagnetic materials and have found broad applicability in the field of organic light-emitting diode (OLEDs). Aiming to further extend their application into chiral optoelectronic devices, by employing topologically chiral [2]catenane as the key chiral skeleton, this work presents the first successful construction of circularly polarized OLEDs (CP-OLEDs) based on donor-acceptor (D-A<sup>•</sup>) type neutral tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM) radicals. Remarkably, the topologically chiral skeleton, in combination with its controllable dynamic features, enables the system to exhibit a luminescence dissymmetry factor (|g<sub>PL</sub>|) value as high as 7.1 × 10<sup>-3</sup>, as well as reversible circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) on/off switching in film state. Importantly, the resulting CP-OLEDs exhibit deep red emission, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE<sub>max</sub>) of 3.92%, and a |g<sub>EL</sub>| value of 7.2 × 10<sup>-3</sup>. These findings demonstrate the successful development of not only luminescent radicals with unique switchable CPL performances, but also the first CP-OLEDs with promising device performance based on topologically chiral radical emitter, providing a distinctive design principle and a versatile platform for the creation of next-generation smart CP-OLEDs.