Organic long-persistent luminescence stimulated by visible light in p-type systems based on organic photoredox catalyst dopants

Organic long-persistent-luminescent (OLPL) materials demonstrating hour-long photoluminescence have practical advantages in applications owing to their flexible design and easy processability. However, the energy absorbed in these materials is typically stored in an intermediate charge-separated sta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature materials 2022-03, Vol.21 (3), p.338-344
Main Authors: Jinnai, Kazuya, Kabe, Ryota, Lin, Zesen, Adachi, Chihaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/1019
639/638/439
639/638/440/949
Biomaterials
Catalysis
Chemistry and Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Crystallization
Electrons
Light
Luminescence
Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Optical and Electronic Materials
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Summary:Organic long-persistent-luminescent (OLPL) materials demonstrating hour-long photoluminescence have practical advantages in applications owing to their flexible design and easy processability. However, the energy absorbed in these materials is typically stored in an intermediate charge-separated state that is unstable when exposed to oxygen, thus preventing persistent luminescence in air unless oxygen penetration is suppressed through crystallization. Moreover, OLPL materials usually require ultraviolet excitation. Here we overcome such limitations and demonstrate amorphous OLPL systems that can be excited by radiation up to 600 nm and exhibit persistent luminescence in air. By adding cationic photoredox catalysts as electron-accepting dopants in a neutral electron-donor host, stable charge-separated states are generated by hole diffusion in these blends. Furthermore, the addition of hole-trapping molecules extends the photoluminescence lifetime. By using a p-type host less reactive to oxygen and tuning the donor–acceptor energy gap, our amorphous blends exhibit persistent luminescence stimulated by visible light even in air, expanding the applicability of OLPL materials. Organic blends based on cationic photoredox catalyst dopants in neutral donor hosts show p-type charge transport behaviour. This favours reduced reactivity to oxygen in organic long-persistent luminescence materials responsive to visible light.
ISSN:1476-1122
1476-4660
DOI:10.1038/s41563-021-01150-9