Novel erbium (III) fluorinated β-diketonate ternary complexes for application in 1.5 μm emitting OLEDs

Novel near infra-red emitting erbium (III) fluorinated β-diketonate complexes with 5-NO₂-1,10-phenanthroline as chelating N, N-donor molecule have been tested as active layers in solution processed organic light emitting diodes. The function of N, N molecule is to saturate the coordination sphere of the erbium ion and to harvest excitation light that can be transferred to the excited states of the erbium ion. Absorption, emission properties and 1.5 μm emission life time of the material in solution and in thin film are described. We describe the fabrication and characterization of solution processed organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based fabricated using single structure: glass/indiumtin oxide(ITO) / poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) / poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/Er-complex/Ca/Al. These Er-complexes form very uniform thin films. The good electrical response, with low threshold voltages (a few volts), together with the very uniform thin films formed, made these complexes promising for IR emitting displays.