Novel Blue Phosphorescent Emitter Materials for OLED Lighting

The Department of Energy has a mandate that supports the advancement of solid- state-lighting (SSL) for energy efficient buildings. Currently, the full potential of SSL is limited by the availability of advanced materials. For Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) SSL, the absence of efficient and stable blue emitter materials represents a long-standing challenge. To close the blue emitter technology gap and provide a market solution for OLED SSL, R-Display & Lighting has designed and developed a novel class of phosphorescent emitter materials that provide high efficiency with enhanced bond stability to achieve suitable SSL product stability. Blue emitter materials have been prepared and evaluated for OLED applications. Photoluminescence measurements show high quantum efficiency and operating blue OLED devices have been demonstrated. The proposed DOE Phase 1 project will consist of synthetic work to prepare previously developed and newly developed novel blue emitters for device fabrication and testing. Existing blue emitter materials shall be modified for color and lifetime optimization (there is typically a tradeoff between color and device lifetime). Device development and evaluation work will be carried out by using device fabrication facilities operated by OLED lighting manufacturer OLEDworks. Dr. Tommie L. Royster, project PI has experience with the R&D equipment used by OLEDWorks (equipment originates from past R&D program at Eastman Kodak Company).Commercialization applications for the new emitter technology will include OLED SSL luminaires for commercial building, office and decorative lighting applications for homes. The new blue emitter technology will provide improved color and product lifetime. Phase II work for the project will focus on process optimization for manufacturing of OLED lighting luminaires with an OLED lighting manufacturing partner such as OLEDWorks. Organic Light Emitting Diode panels manufactured for solid state lighting use red and green phosphorescent materials to achieve high light producing efficiency, but the blue phosphorescent emitter has remained elusive. This research enables R-Display and Lighting to refine their novel blue emitter to deliver the expected energy efficiency.