Synthesis, properties and Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cell (LEEC) device fabrication of cationic Ir(III) complexes bearing electron-withdrawing groups on the cyclometallating ligands

Amlan Kumar Pal, David Bradford Cordes, Alexandra Martha Zoya Slawin, Cristina Momblona, Enrique Orti, Ifor David William Samuel, Henk Bolink, Eli Zysman-Colman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The structure-property relationship study of a series of cationic Ir(III) complexes in the form of [Ir(C^N)2(dtBubpy)]PF6 [where dtBubpy = 4,4′-ditert-butyl-2,2′- bipyridine and C^N = cyclometallating ligand bearing an electron-withdrawing group (EWG) at C4 of the phenyl substituent, i.e. -CF3 (1), -OCF3 (2), -SCF3 (3), -SO2CF3 (4)] have been investigated. The physical and optoelectronic properties of the four complexes were comprehensively characterized, including by X-ray diffraction analysis. All the complexes exhibit quasi-reversible dtBubpy-based reductions from -1.29 V to -1.34 V (vs. SCE). The oxidation processes are likewise quasi-reversible (metal+C^N ligand) and are between 1.54- 1.72 V (vs. SCE). The relative oxidation potentials follow a general trend associated with the Hammett parameter (σ) of the EWGs. Surprisingly, complex 4 bearing the strongest EWG does not adhere to the expected Hammett behavior and was found to exhibit red-shifted absorption and emission maxima. Nevertheless, the concept of introducing EWGs was found to be generally useful in blue-shifting the emission maxima of the complexes (λem = 484-545 nm) compared to that of the prototype complex [Ir(ppy)2(dtBubpy)]PF6 (where ppy = 2- phenylpyridinato) (λem = 591 nm). The complexes were found to be bright emitters in solution at room temperature (ΦPL = 45-66%) with long excited-state lifetimes (τe = 1.14-4.28 μs). The photophysical properties along with Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the emission of these complexes originates from mixed contributions from ligand-centered (LC) transitions and mixed metal-to-ligand and ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT/MLCT) transitions, depending on the EWG. In complexes 1, 3 and 4 the 3LC character is prominent over the mixed 3CT character while in complex 2, the mixed 3CT character is much more pronounced, as demonstrated by DFT calculations and the observed positive solvatochromism effect. Due to the quasi-reversible nature of the oxidation and reduction waves, fabrication of light emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs) using these complexes as emitters was possible with the LEECs showing moderate efficiencies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10361-10376
JournalInorganic Chemistry
Volume55
Issue number20
Early online date28 Sept 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Oct 2016

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