Constructing High-Efficiency Orange-Red Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Polymers by Excited State Energy Levels Regulation via Backbone Engineering

Abstract

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have attracted extensive attention because of their 100% theoretical exciton utilization. Solution-processable orange-red TADF polymers are one of indispensable participants. Herein, a series of orange-red TADF polymers with dibenzothiophene (DBT) and carbazole (Cz) units as joint backbones are synthesized. Their performance can be successfully optimized by regulating the connection positions of DBT units through backbone engineering. It is found that the pNAI37 series with DBT units embedded in the polymeric backbones at the 3, 7 sites display a better performance than those connected at the 2, 8 sites. The optimal polymer, pNAI3705, exhibits a better excited state nature, leading to the photoluminescence quantum yield of 60%. Consequently, pNAI3705 based organic light-emitting diodes reach a maximum external quantum efficiency of 20.16%, and maintain 10.61% at 500 cd m−2, which is in first tier among orange-red polymers. These results unambiguously suggest the potential application of the combined DBT and Cz backbones in TADF polymers. This design strategy may provide a versatile approach for optimizing the properties of TADF polymers through backbone engineering.