Causes of efficiency roll-off in phosphorescent organic light emitting devices: Triplet-triplet annihilation versus triplet-polaron quenching

Abstract

Delayed electroluminescence measurements are used to probe and differentiate between triplet-triplet-annihilation (TTA) and triplet-polaron-quenching (TPQ) processes and their correlation with efficiency roll-off in fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium-based phosphorescent organic light emitting devices. Investigations on devices employing 4,4′-bis(9-carbazolyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (CBP) and 4,4′,4″-tris(N-carbazolyl) triphenylamine, two widely used host materials, show that the efficiency roll-off is primarily due to TPQ processes. Guest-guest TTA, on the other hand, is found to play no major role, contrary to speculations, especially at low guest concentrations. Evidence of host-host TTA in certain cases, and its possible contribution to exciton quenching in the case of devices with CBP host, is also reported.