Highly Robust CuI-TADF Emitters for Vacuum-Deposited OLEDs with Luminance up to 222 200 cd m−2 and Device Lifetimes (LT90) up to 1300 hours at an Initial Luminance of 1000 cd m−2

Abstract

A critical step in advancing the practical application of copper-based organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is to bridge the large gap between device efficiency and operational stability at practical luminance. Described is a panel of air- and thermally stable two-coordinate CuI emitters featuring bulky pyrazine- (PzIPr) or pyridine-fused N-heterocyclic carbene (PyIPr*) and carbazole (Cz) ligands with enhanced amide-Cu-carbene bonding interactions. These CuI emitters display thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) from the 1LL′CT(Cz→PzIPr/PyIPr*) excited states across the blue to red regions with exceptional radiative rate constants of 1.1–2.2×106 s−1. Vapour-deposited OLEDs based on these CuI emitters showed excellent external quantum efficiencies and luminance up to 23.6 % and 222 200 cd m−2, respectively, alongside record device lifetimes (LT90) up to 1300 h at 1000 cd m−2 under our laboratory conditions, highlighting the practicality of the CuI-TADF emitters.