Cited by 1,662Luminescence and Fluorescent MaterialsCrystallography and molecular interactionsOrganic Light-Emitting Diodes Research

Activating efficient phosphorescence from purely organic materials by crystal design

Bolton, Onas, Lee, Kangwon, Kim, Hyong-Jun, Lin, Kevin Y., Kim, Jinsang·2011·Nature Chemistry

Abstract

Phosphorescence is among the many functional features that, in practice, divide pure organic compounds from organometallics and inorganics. Considered to be practically non-phosphorescent, purely organic compounds (metal-free) are very rarely explored as emitters in phosphor applications, despite the emerging demand in this field. To defy this paradigm, we describe novel design principles to create purely organic materials demonstrating phosphorescence that can be turned on by incorporating halogen bonding into their crystals. By designing chromophores to contain triplet-producing aromatic aldehydes and triplet-promoting bromine, crystal-state halogen bonding can be made to direct the heavy atom effect to produce surprisingly efficient solid-state phosphorescence. When this chromophore is diluted into the crystal of a bi-halogenated, non-carbonyl analogue, ambient phosphorescent quantum yields reach 55%. Here, using this design, a series of pure organic phosphors are colour-tuned to emit blue, green, yellow and orange. From this initial discovery, a directed heavy atom design principle is demonstrated that will allow for the development of bright and practical purely organic phosphors.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nchem.984

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Authors
Bolton, O., Lee, K., Kim, H.-J., Lin, K. Y., & Kim, J.
Affiliations
University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Kim, Jinsang
Venue
Nature Chemistry
Published
2011-02-13
Volume
3
Issue
3
Pages
205-210
ISSN
  • 1755-4330 (ISSN-L)
  • 1755-4349
OpenAlex
W1995673420
Cited by
1,662
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 111 · 2025: 146 · 2024: 170 · 2023: 163 · 2022: 159 · 2021: 179 · 2020: 153 · 2019: 148 · 2018: 123 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 77 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 21
FWCI
18.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
addendum (2011-03-15)
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Chemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Research Foundation of Korea
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Crystallography and molecular interactions
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Research
Keywords
organic phosphorescence, halogen bonding, crystal engineering, heavy atom effect, triplet state emission, aromatic aldehydes, metal-free phosphors, chromophore design
MeSH terms
Crystallization, Fluorescent Dyes, Halogens, Molecular Conformation, Organic Chemicals, Organometallic Compounds, Phosphorus, Quantum Theory

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