Youngson Choe

Utilization of a phenanthroimidazole based fluorophore in light-emitting electrochemical cells

An easily accessible, highly soluble, small-molecule phenanthroimidazole derivative has been synthesized and characterized. The synthesized compound shows strong luminescence in solution and exhibits good thermal stability. Single crystal X-ray crystallography studies were carried out. Correlations between the X-ray structures, photophysical properties and the performance in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are described. A yellowish green emission was achieved by using the target compound in a LEC device configuration. The constructed prototype device performance was promising with a maximum brightness of 125 cd m−2. The results suggest that the phenanthroimidazole derivative can function as an active material in LEC devices.

Blue and Blue-Green Light-Emitting Cationic Iridium Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Optoelectronic Properties

Two new cationic iridium complexes, [Ir(ppy)2(phpzpy)]PF6 (complex 1) and [Ir(dfppy)2(phpzpy)]PF6 (complex 2), bearing a 2-(3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (phpzpy) ancillary ligand and either 2-phenylpyridine (Hppy) or 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (Hdfppy) cyclometalating ligands, were synthesized and fully characterized. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes were investigated by means of UV-visible spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were performed to simulate and study the photophysical and electrochemical properties of both complexes. Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) were fabricated by incorporating complexes 1 and 2, which respectively exhibit blue-green (488 and 516 nm) and blue (463 and 491 nm) emission colors, achieved through the meticulous design of the ancillary ligand. The luminance and current efficiency measurements recorded for the LEC based on complex 1 were 1246 cd m(-2) and 0.46 cd A(-1), respectively, and were higher than those measured for complex 2 because of the superior balanced carrier injection and recombination properties of the former.

Influence of a Stacked-CuPc Layer on the Performance of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Vacuum deposited copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) was placed as a thin interlayer between indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode and a hole transporting layer (HTL) in a multi-layered, organic, light-emitting diode (OLEDs). The well-stacked CuPc layer increased the stability and efficiency of the devices. Thermal annealing after CuPc deposition and magnetic field treatment during CuPc deposition were performed to obtain a stacked-CuPc layer; the former increased the stacking density of the CuPc molecules and the alignment of the CuPc film. Thermal annealing at about 100°C increased the current flow through the CuPc layer by over 25%. Surface roughness decreased from 4.12 to 3.65 nm and spikes were lowered at the film surface as well. However, magnetic field treatment during deposition was less effective than thermal treatment. Eventually, a higher luminescence at a given voltage was obtained when a thermally-annealed CuPc layer was placed in the present, multi-layered, ITO/CuPc/NPD/Alq3/LiF/Al devices. Thermal annealing at about 100°C for 3 h produced the most efficient, multi-layered EL devices in the present study.

Copolymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether with carbon dioxide catalyzed by ionic liquids

The copolymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) and carbon dioxide was performed without any solvent in the presence of ionic liquid as catalyst. The reaction was carried out in a batch autoclave reactor. The carbonate content of polycarbonate was affected by the structure of imidazolium salt ionic liquid; the one with the cation of bulkier alkyl chain length and with more nucleophilic anion showed better reactivity. However, the yield of carbon dioxide addition decreased when hexyl or octyl containing ionic liquids were used in place of butyl group in 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium salts. The carbonate content and turnover number (TON) of the polycarbonate increased as the reaction temperature increased from 40 to 80 ‡C. However, the carbonate content decreased with increasing reaction time.

Non-doped deep blue light-emitting electrochemical cells from charged organic small molecules

Blue emitters are still elusive for solid-state light-emitting electrochemical cells, and limit the development of white light emitting devices for display applications. We report the photophysical, electrochemical, thermal and electroluminescence properties of two charged organic deep blue-emitters. The synthesized materials showed intense blue fluorescence with high quantum efficiencies and good thermal stabilities. Single-layered non-doped LEC devices were fabricated from solution. The fabricated non-doped LEC devices exhibited deep blue electroluminescence centered at 432 and 434 nm with the CIE coordinates of (0.15, 0.09) and (0.16, 0.10), respectively for compounds 1 and 2, which are quite close to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard for blue color coordinates. Electroluminescent devices operated at very low turn-on voltages reveal maximum luminance of 118 cd m−2 for compound 1 and 136 cd m−2 for compound 2. These promising results are highly desirable for the development of low cost white light-emitting devices.

Effects of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS as a hole-conducting layer on the performance characteristics of polymer photovoltaic cells

We have investigated the effect of pentacene-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly(4-styrenesulfonate) [PEDOT:PSS] films as a hole-conducting layer on the performance of polymer photovoltaic cells. By increasing the amount of pentacene and the annealing temperature of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS layer, the changes of performance characteristics were evaluated. Pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS thin films were prepared by dissolving pentacene in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone solvent and mixing with PEDOT:PSS. As the amount of pentacene in the PEDOT:PSS solution was increased, UV-visible transmittance also increased dramatically. By increasing the amount of pentacene in PEDOT:PSS films, dramatic decreases in both the work function and surface resistance were observed. However, the work function and surface resistance began to sharply increase above the doping amount of pentacene at 7.7 and 9.9 mg, respectively. As the annealing temperature was increased, the surface roughness of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS films also increased, leading to the formation of PEDOT:PSS aggregates. The films of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS were characterized by AFM, SEM, UV-visible transmittance, surface analyzer, surface resistance, and photovoltaic response analysis.

In situ detection of the onset of phase separation and gelation in epoxy/anhydride/thermoplastic blends

The isothermal cure reactions of blends of epoxy (DGEBA, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A)/anhydride resin with polyamide copolymer (poly(dimmer acid-co-alkyl polyamine)) or PEI were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Rheological measurements have been made to investigate the viscosity and mechanical relaxation behavior of the blends. The reaction rate and the final cure conversion were decreased with increasing the amount of thermoplastics in the blends. Lower values of final cure conversions in the epoxy/thermoplastic blends indicate that thermoplastics hinder the cure reaction between the epoxy and the curing agent. Complete miscibility was observed in the uncured blends of epoxy/thermoplastics up to 120°C but phase separations occurred in the early stages of the curing process at higher temperatures than 120°C. According to the rheological measurement results, a rise ofG′andG″ at the onset of phase separation is seen. A rise ofG′ andG″ is not observed for neat epoxy system since no phase separation is seen during cure reaction. At the onset of phase separation the rheological behavior was influenced by the amount of thermoplastics in the epoxy/thermoplastic blends, and the onset of phase separation can be detected by rheological measurements.

Improving Efficiency of Organic Photovoltaic Cells Using PEDOT:PSS and MWCNT Nanocomposites as a Hole Conducting Layer

In this study, polymeric nanocomposites of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were spin coated on a pre-patterned ITO glass and used as a hole conducting layer in organic photovoltaic cells. The multi-layered ITO/MWCNT-PEDOT:PSS/CuPc/C60/Al devices were fabricated to investigate the current density-voltage characteristics and power conversion efficiency. The power conversion efficiency obtained from the device with a concentration of 1.0 wt% MWCNT in the PEDOT:PSS layer was increased twice as those adopted from device without MWCNT doping in the PEDOT:PSS layer and current density-voltage characteristics was also improved well with incorporation of MWCNTs.

Effect of Smaller Counter Anion, BF4 –, on the Electroluminescent Properties of Cationic Iridium Complex Based Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells

A cationic iridium complex with tetrafluoroborate (BF4 -) as anion was synthesized and characterized for its potential application in display and solid state lighting devices. Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) based on this complex displayed yellow electroluminescence with CIE coordinates of (0.50, 0.49). The imidazolium ionic liquids such as BMIMBF4 and EMIMBF4 were separately added to the light-emitting layer of the devices and their effects on the electroluminescent properties were studied. The presence of smaller BF4 - ion effectively facilitates the charge injection from the electrodes and hence results in rapid increase of luminance and current density of the devices with voltages.

Cure kinetics and mechanical properties of the blend system of epoxy/diaminodiphenyl sulfone and amine terminated polyetherimide-carboxyl terminated poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile) block copolymer

The cure kinetics of blends of epoxy resin (4,4’-tetraglycidyl diaminodiphenyl methane; TGDDM)/curing agent (diaminodiphenyl sulfone; DDS) with ATPEI (amine terminated poly-etherimide) -CTBN (carboxyl terminated poly (butadiene-co-acrylonitrile)) block copolymer (AB type) were studied using differential scanning calorimetry under isothermal conditions to determine the reaction kinetic parameters such as activation energy and reaction constants. Final cure conversion decreased with increasing amount of AB in the blends. A diffusion controlled reaction was observed as the cure conversion increased, and the curing reaction was successfully analyzed by incorporating the diffusion control term in the rate equation for the epoxy/DDS/AB blends. The fracture toughness was improved to about 350% compared to that of the unmodified resin at 30% of AB block copolymer. This is attributed to the formation of co-continuous morphology between the epoxy phase and AB block copolymer phase. By increasing the amount of AB, the modulus of the cured blends decreased, which was due to the presence of CTBN rubbery phases.