A thermally activated delayed fluorescence exciplex to achieve highly efficient and stable blue and green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes

The development of a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) exciplex with high energy is of great significance in achieving highly efficient blue, green, and red organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for use in full-color displays and white lighting. Highly efficient and stable blue and green phosphorescent OLEDs were demonstrated by employing a TADF exciplex (energy: 2.9 eV) based on 4-substituted aza-9,9′-spirobifluorenes (aza-SBFs). Blue PhOLEDs demonstrated a maximum current efficiency (CE) of 47.9 cd A(−1) and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 22.5% at 1300 cd m(−2) (2.5 times the values of aza-SBF-based systems), with the best blue PhOLED demonstrating a CE, power efficiency (PE) and EQE of 60.3 cd A(−1), 52.7 lm W(−1), and 26.2%, respectively. Green PhOLEDs exhibited a CE of 78.1 cd A(−1) and EQE of 22.5% at 9360 cd m(−2), with the best green PhOLED exhibiting a maximum CE, PE, and EQE of 87.4 cd A(−1), 101.6 lm W(−1), and 24.5%, respectively. The device operational lifetime was improved over 17-fold compared to reference devices because of the high thermal stability of the materials and full utilization of the TADF exciplex energy, indicating their potential for application in commercial OLEDs.