Issue 7, 2024

Recent advances in highly-efficient near infrared OLED emitters

Abstract

Near infrared (NIR) light (700–1400 nm) can be used in numerous biological/medical as well as technological applications. In this work we review the most recent examples of highly efficient NIR organic light-emitting diode (OLED) emitters among the most relevant types of luminophores: platinum(II), iridium(III), and osmium(II) complexes, unimolecular thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters and exciplexes, fluorescent dyes, and the emerging group of stable luminescent radicals. We dive into the structural design principles of emitters with improved NIR efficiency. In our discussion we consider unimolecular emission as well as that arising from aggregated luminophores, as the latter often leads to a longer wavelength NIR. Our analysis of numerous emitters from various groups concludes, without a doubt, that platinum(II) complexes present superior efficiency in nearly all wavelengths from 700 to 1000 nm. We report on an apparent NIR boundary line, which appears to be a current limitation for NIR OLED efficiency. Presently, virtually only platinum(II) complexes exceed the efficiency limit set out by this boundary. So far efficient OLEDs, i.e. >1% external quantum efficiency, emitting significantly beyond 1000 nm have not yet been reported.

Graphical abstract: Recent advances in highly-efficient near infrared OLED emitters

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
01 Okt 2023
Accepted
23 Jan 2024
First published
26 Jan 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Mater. Chem. Front., 2024,8, 1731-1766

Recent advances in highly-efficient near infrared OLED emitters

P. L. dos Santos, P. Stachelek, Y. Takeda and P. Pander, Mater. Chem. Front., 2024, 8, 1731 DOI: 10.1039/D3QM01067H

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