Onion-like multicolor thermally activated delayed fluorescent carbon quantum dots for efficient electroluminescent light-emitting diodes

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 3043
• Main Authors: Shi, Yuxin, Zhang, Yang, Wang, Zhibin, Yuan, Ting, Meng, Ting, Li, Yunchao, Li, Xiaohong, Yuan, Fanglong, Tan, Zhan'ao, Fan, Louzhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 08.04.2024; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Atomic energy levels; Carbon; Carbon dots; Displays; Electroluminescence; Energy gap; Fluorescence; Light; Light emitting diodes; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Onions; Quantum dots; Quantum efficiency; Structural analysis; Structural design; Structural engineering; Synthesis; Triplet state; Vegetables
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47372-8

Carbon quantum dots are emerging as promising nanomaterials for next-generation displays. The elaborate structural design is crucial for achieving thermally activated delayed fluorescence, particularly for improving external quantum efficiency of electroluminescent light-emitting diodes. Here, we report the synthesis of onion-like multicolor thermally activated delayed fluorescence carbon quantum dots with quantum yields of 42.3-61.0%. Structural, spectroscopic characterization and computational studies reveal that onion-like structures assembled from monomer carbon quantum dots of different sizes account for the decreased singlet-triplet energy gap, thereby achieving efficient multicolor thermally activated delayed fluorescence. The devices exhibit maximum luminances of 3785-7550 cd m and maximum external quantum efficiency of 6.0-9.9%. Importantly, owing to the weak van der Waals interactions and adequate solution processability, flexible devices with a maximum luminance of 2554 cd m are realized. These findings facilitate the development of high-performance carbon quantum dots-based electroluminescent light-emitting diodes that are promising for practical applications.