Photophysical characterization of [Ir(ppy)2(dmb)][PF6] towards application in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs)

A detailed photophysical characterization of [Ir(ppy)2(dmb)]+, ppy = 2-phenilpyridyne and dmb = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyne, was performed in dichloromethane and films to be evaluated as active layers in light-emitting devices. The complex showed suitable photophysical features (ϕ = 0.22 and τ = 0.60 μs) in different media and was successfully applied, for the first time, as a thin spin-coated emissive layer in an ionic transition metal complex (iTMC) light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC). The optoelectronic characterization of the FTO/PEDOT:PSS/[Ir(ppy)2(dmb)][PF6]/Al device was carried out outside of a glovebox, with CIE coordinates of x = 0.48 and y = 0.50 and current efficiency up to 59.7 cd A− 1. This iTMC LEC, which turned on even under air, stands as a bridge between molecular devices and manufacture engineering to contribute for affordable LEC fabrication processes.