Efficient blue non-doped OLEDs with new tetraphenylethene-based aggregation-induced emission molecules

New tetraphenylethene-based aggregation-induced emission (AIE) compounds were synthesized from key starting materials 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzaldehyde or 1-(4-formyl)-4-(1,2,2-triphenylethenyl)benzene in reactions with various diethylbenzylphosphonates. The objective materials show high thermal stability with high values of melting temperatures. The derivatives demonstrate AIE properties and form thin homogenous layers using the thermal evaporation method, which was essential property for the preparation of organic light-emitting diodes. The most efficient blue light-emitting device using 1-(2-(4-methylphenyl)vinyl)-4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzene as emitter achieved the highest efficiency values of 3.4% (8.8 cd/A and 7.3 lm/W). The properties confirm that this synthetic strategy is promising for preparing AIE emitters for first-generation light-emitting devices.