Non-conjugated Polynorbornene Hosts with High Triplet Energy Levels for Solution-processed Narrowband Blue OLEDs

Three polymer hosts(namely PNB-tBuCz,PNB-Ac,PNB-TAc)containing non-conjugated polynorbornene(PNB)backbone and hole-transporting arylamine segments(carbazole,acridan and dendritic teracridan)in side chains are developed for solution-processed narrowband blue organic light-emitting diodes(OLEDs).It is found that the non-conjugated polynorbornenes can keep high triplet energy(ET)levels in range of 3.12-3.20 eV by interrupting the conjugation of repeating units,making them capable as host materials for blue emitters.Meanwhile,by increasing the electron-donating capability of side chain arylamine from carbazole to acridan and dendritic teracridan,the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)levels for the polymer hosts are elevated from-5.50 eV to-5.11 eV,beneficial for reducing the hole injection barrier from anode to emissive layer.As a result,solution-processed OLEDs employing polynorbornenes with dendritic teracridan side chain(PNB-TAc)as host and boron,selenium,nitrogen-containing multiple resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter as dopant reveal efficient narrowband blue electroluminescence with emission peak at 474 nm,full-width at half maximum of 30 nm,together with maximum external quantum efficiency of 20.2%,representing the state-of-the-art device efficiency for solution-processed OLEDs with narrowband blue emission.