Supramolecular Phosphorescent Polymer Iridium Complexes for High-Efficiency Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

The synthesis of supramolecualr phosphorescent polymers (SPPs) as a novel class of solution-processable electroluminescent (EL) emitters was presented. The SPPs were formed by utilizing the efficient nonbonding self-assembly of luminescent iridium monomer 1 and “terfluorenyl”-based monomers 2 and 3, tethered with either a crown ether or dibenzylammonium unit. The supramolecular assembly process was monitored and illustrated by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and viscosity measurement. Moreover, the SPPs exhibit an intrinsic glass transition with a glass-transition temperature (T g) of 72.5–81.5 °C, which is absent in the monomers. The characterization of organic light-emitting diodes that consisted of these SPPs as an emitter gave an efficiency of 14.6 cd A–1 at a luminance of 450 cd m–2. Considering the good solution processability and catalyst-free polymerization process for the designed SPPs, combining the good device performances, the present study provide a promising alternative route to develop solution processed phosphorescent light-emitting materials for optoelectronic applications.