Advanced Organic Optoelectronic Materials: Harnessing Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) Process

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 23; no. 32; pp. 3615 - 3642
• Main Authors: Kwon, Ji Eon, Park, Soo Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 23.08.2011; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Electronics; excited-state intramolecular proton transfer; fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; imaging; Materials Testing; Molecular Structure; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; organic optoelectronics; Protons; Quantum Theory; sensor; Stereoisomerism
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201102046

Recently, organic fluorescent molecules harnessing the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process are drawing great attention due to their unique photophysical properties which facilitate novel optoelectronic applications. After a brief introduction to the ESIPT process and related photo­physical properties, molecular design strategies towards tailored emission are discussed in relation to their theoretical aspects. Subsequently, recent studies on advanced ESIPT molecules and their optoelectronic applications are surveyed, particularly focusing on chemical sensors, fluorescence imaging, proton transfer lasers, and organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Organic fluorescent molecules harnessing excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process are drawing great attention due to their unique and beneficial photophysical properties such as a large Stokes' shift, no self‐absorption, and easy population inversion of the keto form, which are attributed to its intrinsic four‐level photocycle scheme. Here, recent studies on advanced ESIPT molecules and their novel optoelectronic applications are reviewed.