Volume 61, Issue 31 e202205684
Research Article

Ultrafast Triplet–Singlet Exciton Interconversion in Narrowband Blue Organoboron Emitters Doped with Heavy Chalcogens

Dr. In Seob Park

Corresponding Author

Dr. In Seob Park

INAMORI Frontier Research Center (IFRC), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

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Hyukgi Min

Hyukgi Min

INAMORI Frontier Research Center (IFRC), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

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Prof. Dr. Takuma Yasuda

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Takuma Yasuda

INAMORI Frontier Research Center (IFRC), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

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First published: 26 May 2022
Citations: 188

Graphical Abstract

A selenium-doped polycyclic organoboron emitter exhibits ultrafast triplet–singlet exciton interconversion ability in addition to strong narrowband blue emission. Its spin-flip reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rate exceeds 108 s−1 (100 million times spin inversion per second), enabling superimposed fluorescence with full exciton utilization. This breakthrough shatters the stereotypical physicochemical views of conventional thermally activated delayed fluorescence limited by slow RISC.

Abstract

Narrowband emissive organoboron emitters featuring the multi-resonance (MR) effect have now become a critical material component for constructing high-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with pure emission colors. These MR organoboron emitters are capable of exhibiting high-efficiency narrowband thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) by allowing triplet-to-singlet reverse intersystem crossing (RISC). However, RISC involving spin-flip exciton upconversion is generally the rate-limiting step in the overall TADF; hence, a deeper understanding and precise control of the RISC dynamics are ongoing crucial challenges. Here, we introduce the first MR organoboron emitter (CzBSe) doped with a selenium atom, demonstrating a record-high RISC rate exceeding 108 s−1, which is even higher than its fluorescence radiation rate. Furthermore, the spin-flip upconversion process in CzBSe can be accelerated by factors of ≈20000 and ≈800, compared to those of its oxygen- and sulfur-doped homologs (CzBO and CzBS), respectively. Unlike CzBO and CzBS, the photophysical rate-limiting step in CzBSe is no longer RISC, but the fluorescence radiation process; this behavior is completely different from the conventional time-delaying TADF limited by the slow RISC. Benefitting from its ultrafast exciton spin conversion ability, OLEDs incorporating CzBSe achieved a maximum external electroluminescence quantum efficiency as high as 23.9 %, accompanied by MR-induced blue narrowband emission and significantly alleviated efficiency roll-off features.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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