Origin of Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Roll‐Off in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on Pt(II) Complexes

ABSTRACT Metal–metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MMLCT) complexes are emerging as next‐generation emitters that combine molecular precision with metallic coherence, achieving fast exciton decay and high photoluminescence quantum yields. Despite their promise, the lack of mechanistic insight linking molecular structure to exciton dynamics has hindered rational design. Here, we establish the microscopic origin of MMLCT emission in Pt(II) systems by integrating quantum‐chemical modelling, ultrafast spectroscopy, and synchrotron‐based x‐ray probes to deliver an end‐to‐end mechanistic picture of MMLCT‐state formation and decay. Direct measurements on Pt(fppz) 2 and its alkylated analogue Pt(8ppz) 2 quantify Pt–Pt spacings, revealing that few‐ångström variations govern the emergence and coherence of the MMLCT state. Coherently stacked Pt(fppz) 2 aggregates (Pt–Pt ≈3.3 Å) exhibit sub‐microsecond exciton decay with nearly complete exciton utilization, whereas Pt(8ppz) 2 (Pt–Pt >5 Å) yields long‐lived ligand‐centred emission. These contrasting exciton dynamics translate directly into different device performance, with Pt(fppz) 2 ‐based organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) achieving ∼29% external quantum efficiency and negligible roll‐off, enabling applications in visible‐light communication, bioimaging, and transparent displays. Our findings establish a generalizable structure–property relationship for MMLCT emitters, extending beyond Pt(II) to aggregated d 8 –d 8 and coinage‐metal systems, unlocking new opportunities across optoelectronic and photonic technologies.

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Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-08-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.77325
Primary Topic
Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Research
Type
article
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article

Origin of Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Roll‐Off in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on Pt(II) Complexes

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Advanced Science
Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Research
article

Origin of Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Roll‐Off in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on Pt(II) Complexes

Romain J. Lepage, Chihaya Adachi, Ebinazar B. Namdas, Julian A. Steele, Ken Onda, Eduardo Solano, Monirul Hasan, Shih‐Chun Lo, Takumi Ehara, Sarah K. M. McGregor, Kiyoshi Miyata, I. G. Gale, Cherumuttathu H. Suresh, Atul Shukla, Christian McDonald, Pilankatta K. Ramya
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Metal–metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MMLCT) complexes are emerging as next‐generation emitters that combine molecular precision with metallic coherence, achieving fast exciton decay and high photoluminescence quantum yields. Despite their promise, the lack of mechanistic insight linking molecular structure to exciton dynamics has hindered rational design. Here, we establish the microscopic origin of MMLCT emission in Pt(II) systems by integrating quantum‐chemical modelling, ultrafast spectroscopy, and synchrotron‐based x‐ray probes to deliver an end‐to‐end mechanistic picture of MMLCT‐state formation and decay. Direct measurements on Pt(fppz) 2 and its alkylated analogue Pt(8ppz) 2 quantify Pt–Pt spacings, revealing that few‐ångström variations govern the emergence and coherence of the MMLCT state. Coherently stacked Pt(fppz) 2 aggregates (Pt–Pt ≈3.3 Å) exhibit sub‐microsecond exciton decay with nearly complete exciton utilization, whereas Pt(8ppz) 2 (Pt–Pt >5 Å) yields long‐lived ligand‐centred emission. These contrasting exciton dynamics translate directly into different device performance, with Pt(fppz) 2 ‐based organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) achieving ∼29% external quantum efficiency and negligible roll‐off, enabling applications in visible‐light communication, bioimaging, and transparent displays. Our findings establish a generalizable structure–property relationship for MMLCT emitters, extending beyond Pt(II) to aggregated d 8 –d 8 and coinage‐metal systems, unlocking new opportunities across optoelectronic and photonic technologies.

Advanced Science
Raman Research Institute (IN), Kyushu University (JP), National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (IN), The University of Queensland (AU), ALBA Synchrotron (Spain) (ES)
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Research
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