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Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence in Cu I Complexes Originating from Restricted Molecular Vibrations
Author(s) -
Li Guangfu,
Nobuyasu Roberto S.,
Zhang Baohua,
Geng Yun,
Yao Bing,
Xie Zhiyuan,
Zhu Dongxia,
Shan Guogang,
Che Weilong,
Yan Likai,
Su Zhongmin,
Dias Fernando B.,
Bryce Martin R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201701862
Subject(s) - fluorescence , molecule , luminescence , solid state , aggregation induced emission , materials science , chemical physics , kinetic energy , crystal (programming language) , molecular vibration , photochemistry , chemistry , optoelectronics , physics , optics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
The mechanism of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) in molecules in aggregated or condensed solid states has been rarely studied and is not well understood. Nevertheless, many applications of TADF emitters are strongly affected by their luminescence properties in the aggregated state. In this study, two new isomeric tetradentate Cu I complexes which simultaneously show aggregation induced emission (AIE) and TADF characteristics are reported for the first time. We provide direct evidence that effectively restricting the vibrations of individual molecules is a key requisite for TADF in these two Cu I complexes through in‐depth photophysical measurements combined with kinetic methods, single crystal analysis and theoretical calculations. These findings should stimulate new molecular engineering endeavours in the design of AIE–TADF active materials with highly emissive aggregated states.