Origin of electrophosphorescence from a doped polymer light emitting diode

The origin of electrophosphorescence from a doped polymer light emitting diode (LED) has been investigated. A luminescent polymer host, poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO), was doped with a red phosphorescent dye, 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H-porphyrin platinum(II) (PtOEP). The maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.5% was obtained at a concentration of 4% PtOEP by weight. Energy transfer mechanisms between PFO and PtOEP were studied by absorption, photoluminescence, and photoinduced absorption spectroscopy. Even though electroluminescence spectra were dominated by PtOEP at a concentration of only 0.2 wt% PtOEP, Forster transfer of singlet excitons was weak and there was no evidence for Dexter transfer of triplet excitons. We conclude that the dominant emission mechanism in doped LED{close_quote}s is charge trapping followed by recombination on PtOEP molecules.