Electrophosphorescent polyfluorenes containing osmium complexes in the conjugated backbone

Abstract

Electrophosphorescent copolymers have been synthesized by covalent bonding of a red-emitting osmium complex Os(bpftz), which contains two 3-trifluoromethyl-5-(4-tert-butyl-2-pyridyl)triazolate (bpftz) cyclometalated ligands, into the backbone of a bipolar polyfluorene (PF) copolymer. Employing these copolymers, a highly efficient red polymer light-emitting diode has been realised that has an external quantum efficiency of 18.0%, a maximum brightness of 38 000 cd m-2, and an emission centered at 618 nm. In addition, after incorporating appropriate amounts of green-emitting benzothiadiazole (BT) and the aforementioned Os(bpftz) into the bipolar PF, an efficient white-light electroluminescent polymer is obtained that displays simultaneous blue, green, and red emissions. © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.