Novel main-chain poly-carbazoles as hole and electron transport materials in polymer light-emitting diodes

We report the use of substituted main-chain poly-carbazoles as hole and electron transporting polymers for electroluminescence (EL) applications. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents and high quality thin films are obtained by spin coating method. A single layer of hole or electron transfer devices with indium tin oxide anode and aluminum cathode shows current densities up to 40-50 mA/cm(2), respectively, but no visible emission from either layer. Double-layer structures combining the hole and electron transfer polymers show strong emission originated from the electron transfer layer. The peak of double-layer EL spectrum is about 30 nm redshifted to the peak of corresponding photoluminescence spectrum, which may be due to the formation of an exciplex between the two layers. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.