Novel bipolar hosts for highly efficient green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes with slow efficiency roll-off

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) based on phosphorescent emitter promise 100 % internal quantum efficiency (IQE) theoretically, showing extensive applications in various fields. The guest phosphors are usually doped into appropriate host matrices to minimize unnecessary excitons quenching. Herein, three novel bipolar host materials (H1–H3) were developed. Pyridine or pyrimidine was selected as the electron-transporting n-type unit and indolocarbazole as hole-transporting p-type unit. Dibenzofuran was grafted onto the central pyridine or pyrimidine to enhance the electron-transporting ability based on its electron-deficient feature. Furthermore, dibenzofuran was also useful to enhance the thermal and amorphous stabilities of the generated host materials. These host materials are characterized by high glass transition temperatures over 150 °C and suitable energy levels. Thanks to strengthened microcavity effect, the top-emitting green phosphorescent OLEDs containing these hosts in emitting layer realized quite narrow spectra with full width at half maxima (FWHM) of ≤27 nm. Low turn on voltage of 2.01 V, high external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 41.1 % and pretty stable emission color with ΔCIEy≤0.002 were achieved for these green devices. Moreover, these devices are characterized by extraordinary efficiency stability. A high EQE of 34.9 % was still remained at extremely high brightness of 10000 cd/m2, corresponding to an efficiency roll-off of less than 15 %. These host materials may find practical applications in highly efficient and stable OLED displays.