Efficient and stable deep-blue narrow-spectrum electroluminescence based on hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) state

Two phenanthroimidazole-acridine derivatives (DPM and TDPM) were designed and synthesized for deep-blue organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Twisted combined rigid structures with hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) state properties enable them to achieve excellent OLED performance. Non-doped OLEDs based on DPM and TDPM show decent deep-blue narrow-spectrum emission with Commission International de L’Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.157, 0.053) and (0.158, 0.045), as well as maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 4.0% and 2.6%, respectively. More importantly, OLEDs based on TDPM exhibit a smaller efficiency roll-off (12%) than that of DPM (35%) at high brightness (820 cd m−2 for DPM and 893 cd m−2 for TDPM, respectively). Overall, our work provides a molecular design strategy of HLCT materials for efficient deep-blue OLED with high color purity using purely organic emitter.