Organic light-emitting diodes employing efficient reverse intersystem crossing for triplet-to-singlet state conversion

Light emission from organic light-emitting diodes that make use of fluorescent materials have an internal quantum efficiency that is typically limited to no more than 25% due to the creation of non-radiative triplet excited states. Here, we report the use of electron-donating and electron-accepting molecules that allow a very high reverse intersystem crossing of 86.5% between non-radiative triplet and radiative singlet excited states and thus a means of achieving enhanced electroluminescence. Organic light-emitting diodes made using m-MTDATA as the donor material and 3TPYMB as the acceptor material demonstrate that external quantum efficiencies as high as 5.4% can be achieved, and we believe that the approach will offer even higher values in the future as a result of careful material selection.