Unusual disparity in electroluminescence and photoluminescence spectra of vacuum-evaporated films of 1,1-bis ((di-4-tolylamino) phenyl) cyclohexane

The electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of thin films of 1,1-bis((di-4-tolyloamino)phenyl) cyclohexane (TAPC) appear to be completely different. Whereas the broad PL spectra reveal major maxima at ≅370 and 450 nm, a strong regular band at 580 nm is characteristic of the EL spectra. It is shown that in contrast to PL, which is composed of molecular exciton (monomer) and excimer emission, EL can be explained by the direct cross recombination transition between electrons and holes trapped on tritolylamine (TTA) subunits of different TAPC molecules. Such a pair of trapped carriers, formed selectively under recombination of statistically independent (here injected at opposite electrodes) electrons and holes, is considered as a particular excited state (“electromer”) responsible also for the EL emission of some other compounds containing TTA or triphenylamine moieties, as for example an amino-substituted triphenylbenzene.