High-efficiency green organic light-emitting devices utilizing phosphorescent bis-cyclometalated alkynylgold(III) complexes

A new phosphorescent material of cyclometalated alkynylgold(III) complex, [Au(2,5-F₂C₆H₃-CʌNʌC)(C≡C-C₆H₄N(C₆H₅)₂-p)] (1) (2,5-F₂C₆H₃-HCʌNʌCH = 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,5- difluorophenyl)pyridine), has been synthesized, characterized, and its device performance investigated. This luminescent gold(III) complex was found to exhibit rich PL and EL properties and has been utilized as phosphorescent dopants of OLEDs. At an optimized dopant concentration of 4%, a device with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 11.5%, corresponding to a current efficiency of 37.4 cd/A and a power efficiency of 26.2 lm/W, has been obtained. Such a high EQE is comparable to that of Ir(ppy)₃-based devices. The present work suggests that the alkynylgold(III) complex is a promising phosphorescent material in terms of both efficiency and thermal stability, with the additional advantages of its relatively inexpensive cost and low toxicity. Copyright © 2010 American Chemical Society.