Polymer-Based Tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium Complexes

A series of fac-Ir(ppy)3 complex functionalized poly(styrene)s and poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-co-poly(styrene)s were synthesized. The emission wavelength of all polymers could be readily tuned from 550 to 515 nm by reducing the linkage of the Ir complex to the polymer backbones from a Schiff base to an amine. The reduced polymers retained the photophysical properties of the corresponding small molecule fac-Ir(ppy)3, including transient absorption behaviors, high emission quantum yields (0.12−0.23), and long excited-state lifetimes (963−1221 ns). These results clearly indicate that the polymer backbones do not interfere with the photophysical properties of the pendant fac-Ir(ppy)3 chromophore but endow solution processability to these materials for potential use in light-emitting devices and emissive display technology.