A team of Dutch scientists has used platinum group metals to help create light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs).

Researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology and the Dutch Polymer Institute say they have created what is known as a supramolecular compound which emits light under electrical stimulation, according to Spectroscopy.Now.

By using a compound containing both a 2,2'-bipyridine as well as a 2-ureido-4[1H]-ureidopyrimidinone group, the team have been able to link either iridium or ruthenium to create polypyridyl dimmers.

These polypyridyl dimmers can be processed using ink-jet technology in order to form slim films which can produce light.

One of the team, Ulrich S. Schubert, says the new material shows great potential for use industrially.

"In particular iridium(III) and ruthenium(II) complexes with appropriate ligands such as 2,2'-bipyridine or 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine revealed potential applications in light-emitting devices (LEDs) or LECs," he said.

"They offer a variety of remarkable advantages such as high quantum efficiencies, long luminescence lifetimes (ruthenium complexes) and short phosphorescence lifetimes as well as ability of colour-tuning due to metal-to-ligand based radiation (iridium complexes)."

The researchers used the inkjet technology for controlling the despots of small solutions, helping them to create the thin silvers of LED-style material.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd