The
synthesis of new iridium(III) complexes containing a 2-(benzo[b]selenophen-2-yl)pyridine ligand is reported along with
their photophysical, thermal, electrochemical and electroluminescent
properties. These complexes are characterized by deep red phosphorescence
with photoluminescence quantum yields exceeding 31% in the solid state.
Solid layers of the complexes were characterized by ionization potentials
of 5.17–5.27 eV and electron affinities of 2.87–2.95
eV. Their thermal and electrochemical stabilities were proved by cyclic
voltammetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Deep red selenium-based
iridium phosphorescent emitters were used in red electroluminescent
devices which were characterized by a deep red color with Commission
Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE 1931) chromaticity coordinates
(x, y) of (0.69, 0.31). This color
is deeper than that defined by the red color standard (0.67, 0.33)
of the National Television System Committee (NTSC) or CIE 1931 of
(0.68, 0.32) of the widely known red phosphorescent emitter bis(1-phenylisoquinoline)(acetylacetonate)iridium(III)
(Ir(piq)2(acac)). Using newly developed deep red iridium
complexes, white hybrid wet-processable light-emitting devices were
fabricated, the electroluminescence of which was characterized by
a white color with a color rendering index (CRI) reaching 85. White
hybrid OLEDs were obtained by mixing blue fluorescence, green thermally
activated delayed fluorescence, and red phosphorescence. They showed
a maximum brightness exceeding 10000 cd/m2 and a high external
quantum efficiency of 6.3% as for solution-processed white devices.