Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of 9,10-Disubstituted Anthracenes

Roberto Pizzoferrato^1*, Pietro Tagliatesta², Carlo Schillaci², Paolo Prosposito¹, Roberta De Angelis¹

¹Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
¹Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
²Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
²Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2015.611095                

Abstract

We report the synthesis and photophysical characterization of four 9,10-disubstituted dipheny-lanthracenes with specific modifications of the model backbone which involve both the 9,10 para substituents at the phenyl rings and the substitution with carbon-carbon triple bonds. The effects of such modifications on the photoluminescence and electroluminescence properties have been investigated on the basis of the diphenylanthracene molecular characteristics and in view of application to light-emitting devices. We have found that the substitution with the carbon-carbon triple bonds at the two 9,10-phenyls noticeably alters the electronic states of the reference molecule, also introducing a certain degree of sensitivity to the phenyl substituents, which improves the tunability of the optical emission. Differently, the 9,10 para substituents produce minor changes in the single-molecule properties, due to the lack of electronic conjugation across the 9,10-phenyls. However, even a single nitro substituent in the phenyl para position produces the formation of excimers, which appreciably reduces the optical quantum efficiency. These properties are maintained in solid-state blends and simple spin-coated bilayer electroluminescent devices have been fabricated.

Keywords

Blue Material, Electroluminescence, PVK, 9, 10-Diphenylanthracene, Organic Light-Emitting Devices

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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