OLED thin film fabrication from poorly soluble terbium o-phenoxybenzoate through soluble mixed-ligand complexes

• Published in: Organic electronics Vol. 28; pp. 319 - 329
• Main Authors: Kalyakina, Alena S., Utochnikova, Valentina V., Sokolova, Elena Yu, Vashchenko, Andrey A., Lepnev, Leonid S., Van Deun, Rik, Trigub, Alexander L., Zubavichus, Yan V., Hoffmann, Michael, Mühl, Susan, Kuzmina, Natalia P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Electroluminescence; Lanthanide carboxylates; OLED; Spin-coating; Ternary complexes; Thin film; OLED; Spin-coating; Electroluminescence; Ternary complexes; Lanthanide carboxylates; Thin film
• ISSN: 1566-1199; 1878-5530
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orgel.2015.11.006

Features and advantages of the approach of the luminescent thin film deposition of non-volatile and non-soluble lanthanide aromatic carboxylates were exemplified by thin film deposition of terbium o-phenoxybenzoate Tb(pobz)3(H2O)2 (I) with quantum yield measured to be 96%. This approach is based on the formation and decomposition of mixed-ligand complexes, and thus mixed-ligand complex Tb(pobz)3(MG)(H2O)2 (II) (MG – monoglyme) was synthesized, characterized and used as a precursor for I thin films. Electroluminescent (EL) properties of high quality thin films of I and those with suitable host material were studied in a series of OLED devices. [Display omitted] •Mixed-ligand complex Tb(pobz)3(monoglyme)(H2O)2 was used as precursor for thin films of Tb(pobz)3 with quantum yield of 96%.•Deposited thin films with roughness down to 2.3 nm and transparency up to 95% were successfully tested in OLED devices.•Mixed layer composition was thoroughly examined with an emphasis on luminescence and EXAFS spectroscopy.