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Room-temperature phosphorescence from organic aggregates

Nature Reviews Materials volume 5, pages 869–885 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Triplet excitons in organic molecules underscore a variety of processes and technologies as a result of their long lifetime and spin multiplicity. Organic phosphorescence, which originates from triplet excitons, has potential for the development of a new generation of organic optoelectronic materials and biomedical agents. However, organic phosphorescence is typically only observed at cryogenic temperatures and under inert conditions in solution, which severely restricts its practical applications. In the past few years, room-temperature-phosphorescent systems have been obtained based on organic aggregates. Rapid advances in molecular-structure design and aggregation-behaviour modulation have enabled substantial progress, but the mechanistic picture is still not fully understood because of the high sensitivity and complexity of triplet-exciton behaviour. This Review analyses key photophysical processes related to triplet excitons, including intersystem crossing, radiative and non-radiative decay, and quenching processes, to illustrate the intrinsic structure–property relationships and draw clear and integrated design principles. The resulting strategies for the development of efficient and persistent room-temperature-phosphorescent systems are discussed, and newly emerged applications based on these materials are highlighted.

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Fig. 1: Towards organic phosphorescence.
Fig. 2: Strategies for room-temperature phosphorescence efficiency enhancement.
Fig. 3: Chemical structures of representative organic molecules phosphorescent at room temperature.
Fig. 4: Strategies for room-temperature phosphorescence lifetime prolongation.
Fig. 5: Examples of efficient and persistent room-temperature phosphorescence.
Fig. 6: Examples of applications of organic room-temperature phosphorescence.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support by the National Science Foundation of China (21975061, 21788102, 51703042), the Natural Scientific Research Innovation Foundation in Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT.NSRIF.2020062), the National Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2019A1515011050), the Science and Technology Plan of Shenzhen (JCYJ20170811155015918), the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (C6009-17G and A-HKUST605/16) and the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC-CNERC14SC01). The authors are grateful to Professor Qian Peng and Professor Huili Ma for helpful discussions.

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  1. Department of Chemistry and Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Weijun Zhao & Ben Zhong Tang

  2. School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, HIT Campus of University Town, Shenzhen, China

    Zikai He

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Zhao, W., He, Z. & Tang, B.Z. Room-temperature phosphorescence from organic aggregates. Nat Rev Mater 5, 869–885 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-020-0223-z

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