Pure red phosphorescent OLED (PhOLED) based on a cyclometalated iridium complex with a dibenzoylmethane (dbm) moiety as the ancillary ligand

A neutral heteroleptic iridium(III) complex bis(1-phenylisoquinoline) (dibenzoylmethane)iridium(III) Ir(piq)2(dbm) bearing a dibenzoylmethane (dbm) moiety as the ancillary ligand has been designed and investigated as an emitter in phosphorescent organic light emitting devices (PhOLEDs). To date, the family of dbm-based complexes has only been scarcely investigated in OLEDs and only one complex of this family has been tested in electroluminescent devices. Interestingly, pure red devices were obtained with this emitter. PhOLEDs were fabricated at different dopant concentrations and the best device performances were obtained in the device with 8wt.% dopant concentration. Ir(piq)2(dbm) was characterized by UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations were also performed to support our experimental results. •A neutral iridium complex has been tested as emitter.•Electrochemical measurements were carried out.•Absorption and photoluminescence of complexes were investigated.•Theoretical calculations are examined.