Electroplex emission at PVK/Bphen interface for application in white organic light-emitting diodes

White organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) with a structure of ITO/poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK)/4,7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline (Bphen)/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq 3)/LiF/Al has been fabricated via the thermal evaporation technique. The electroluminescence (EL) spectrum of the as-fabricated WOLED covers from 380 to 700 nm of the visible light region with a wide blue emission from PVK and an interesting new red emission. The red emission at 613 nm in EL spectra of the WOLED was attributed to electroplex emission at PVK/Bphen interface since it was not observed in photoluminescence spectra. The WOLED showed a Commission International De l'Eclairage coordinate of (0.31, 0.32), which is very close to the standard white coordinate (0.33, 0.33). ► A white organic light-emitting diode was fabricated by vacuum deposition. ► A new red emission at 613 nm was observed in the electroluminescence spectra. ► Red emission comes from electroplex instead of exciplex at PVK/Bphen interface. ► The device has a CIE coordinate of (0.31, 0.32).