Novel hole-transporting materials based on 1,4-bis(carbazolyl)benzene for organic light-emitting devices

Abstract

Novel hole-transporting molecules containing 1,4-bis(carbazolyl)benzene as a central unit and different numbers of diphenylamine moieties as the peripheral groups have been synthesized and characterized. These compounds are thermally stable with high glass transition temperatures of 141–157 °C and exhibit chemically reversible redox processes. Their amorphous state stability and hole transport properties can be significantly improved by increasing the number of diphenylamine moieties in the outer part and by controlling the symmetry of the carbazole-based molecules. These compounds can be used as good hole-transporting materials for organic electroluminescent (EL) devices. The device performance based on tri- and tetra-substituted carbazole derivatives is comparable to that of a typical 4,4′-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino] biphenyl (NPB)-based device.