A Zinc(II) Benzamidinate-N-oxide Complex as an Aggregation-Induced Emission Material: toward Solution-Processable White Organic Light-Emitting Devices

Abstract

The synthesis, characterization, photophysical and redox properties of a dinuclear complex Zn2(AMOX)4 (AMOX = 4-bromo N,N’-diphenylbenzamidinate-N-oxide) are highlighted. This compound is a first example of a novel class of aggregation induced emission (AIE) materials. Noticeably, solution-processed white-green organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated using this complex as dopant in a co-host matrix in the emissive layer (EML). A luminance efficiency (LE) and power efficiency (PE) as high as 1.12 cd/A and 0.30 lm/W were obtained, respectively. The characteristics of this complex: high solubility, thermal stability, AIE behavior, ease of synthesis, tunability options, and low-cost, reveal altogether great potential for the development of this new family of compounds as materials for applications in optoelectronic devices.