Nanoparticle-doped electrospun fiber random lasers with spatially extended light modes

Complex assemblies of light-emitting polymer nanofibers with molecular materials exhibiting optical gain can lead to important advance to amorphous photonics and to random laser science and devices. In disordered mats of nanofibers, multiple scattering and waveguiding might interplay to determine localization or spreading of optical modes as well as correlation effects. Here we study electrospun fibers embedding a lasing fluorene-carbazole-fluorene molecule and doped with titania nanoparticles, which exhibit random lasing with sub-nm spectral width and threshold of about 9 mJ cm^-2 for the absorbed excitation fluence. We focus on the spatial and spectral behavior of optical modes in the disordered and non-woven networks, finding evidence for the presence of modes with very large spatial extent, up to the 100 micrometer-scale. These findings suggest emission coupling into integrated nanofiber transmission channels as effective mechanism for enhancing spectral selectivity in random lasers and correlations of light modes in the complex and disordered material.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

Differently substituted benzonitriles for non-doped OLEDs

DG acknowledges to the ERDF PostDoc grant No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177 . This research was funded by the European Regional Development Fund according to the supported activity ‘Research Projects Implemented by World-class Researcher Groups’ under Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718 .Towards highly efficient doping-free organic light-emitting diodes, five benzonitrile-based emitters with different substitution pattern were designed exploiting symmetrical donor-acceptor-donor and asymmetrical donor-acceptor-donor* structures. As it was predicted by theoretical calculations, different thermally activated delayed fluorescence of different energy with relatively high absolute quantum yields (11–42%) was detected for non-doped films of the studied compounds. The smallest singlet-triplet energy splitting of 0.05 eV thus the most efficient TADF was estimated for the film of compound with the asymmetrical donor-acceptor-donor* structure containing carbazole and acridan donor moieties. Thermogravimetry revealed sublimation of the materials with the onset temperatures in the range of 350–383 °C. Glass transition temperatures of the molecular materials were in the range of 82–94 °C. Tuning of hole injection properties of these compounds in solid-state was demonstrated. Their ionization potential was in range from 5.8 to 6.0 eV. Strong effect of different substitutions was observed on hole mobilities of the layers of compounds. They were found to be in the wide range from 3 × 10−7 cm2V−1s−1 to 1 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1. Electron mobility values of the compounds were found to be comparable and ranged from 1.5 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1 to 3 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1 at electric field of 6.9 × 105 Vcm−1. Reflecting effect of substitution pattern of benzonitrile on electroluminescent properties of OLEDs, maximum external quantum efficiencies in the range from 1.6 to 5% as well as maximum brightness in the wide range from 1200 to 22600 cd/m2 were observed for the devices based on the doping-free light-emitting layerEuropean Regional Development Fund 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177; European Regional Development Fund 01.2.2-LMT-K-718; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART²https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014372081931238

Differently substituted benzonitriles for non-doped OLEDs

DG acknowledges to the ERDF PostDoc grant No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177 . This research was funded by the European Regional Development Fund according to the supported activity ‘Research Projects Implemented by World-class Researcher Groups’ under Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718 .Towards highly efficient doping-free organic light-emitting diodes, five benzonitrile-based emitters with different substitution pattern were designed exploiting symmetrical donor-acceptor-donor and asymmetrical donor-acceptor-donor* structures. As it was predicted by theoretical calculations, different thermally activated delayed fluorescence of different energy with relatively high absolute quantum yields (11–42%) was detected for non-doped films of the studied compounds. The smallest singlet-triplet energy splitting of 0.05 eV thus the most efficient TADF was estimated for the film of compound with the asymmetrical donor-acceptor-donor* structure containing carbazole and acridan donor moieties. Thermogravimetry revealed sublimation of the materials with the onset temperatures in the range of 350–383 °C. Glass transition temperatures of the molecular materials were in the range of 82–94 °C. Tuning of hole injection properties of these compounds in solid-state was demonstrated. Their ionization potential was in range from 5.8 to 6.0 eV. Strong effect of different substitutions was observed on hole mobilities of the layers of compounds. They were found to be in the wide range from 3 × 10−7 cm2V−1s−1 to 1 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1. Electron mobility values of the compounds were found to be comparable and ranged from 1.5 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1 to 3 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1 at electric field of 6.9 × 105 Vcm−1. Reflecting effect of substitution pattern of benzonitrile on electroluminescent properties of OLEDs, maximum external quantum efficiencies in the range from 1.6 to 5% as well as maximum brightness in the wide range from 1200 to 22600 cd/m2 were observed for the devices based on the doping-free light-emitting layerEuropean Regional Development Fund 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177; European Regional Development Fund 01.2.2-LMT-K-718; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART²https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014372081931238

Diverse regimes of mode intensity correlation in nanofiber random lasers through nanoparticle doping

Random lasers are based on disordered materials with optical gain. These devices can exhibit either intensity or resonant feedback, relying on diffusive or interference behaviour of light, respectively, which leads to either coupling or independent operation of lasing modes. We study for the first time these regimes in complex, solid-state nanostructured materials. The number of lasing modes and their intensity correlation features are found to be tailorable in random lasers made of light-emitting, electrospun polymer fibers upon nanoparticle doping. By material engineering, directional waveguiding along the length of fibers is found to be relevant to enhance mode correlation in both intensity feedback and resonant feedback random lasing. The here reported findings can be used to establish new design rules for tuning the emission of nano-lasers and correlation properties by means of the compositional and morphological properties of complex nanostructured materials.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure

Methoxycarbazolyl-disubstituted dibenzofuranes as holes- and electrons-transporting hosts for phosphorescent and TADF-based OLEDs

This research was funded by European Social Fund (Project No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-02-0105). DG acknowledges to the ERDF PostDoc grant No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177.In the search of universal host materials for organic light emitting diodes a new series of bipolar host materials containing methoxy-substituted carbazoles as the electron-donating and dibenzofuran as an electron-accepting units were designed and synthesized. Different linking topologies and number of methoxy groups attached to carbazolyl moiety were used to understand the impact of the strength of the donor moiety on the thermal, optical, photophysical, electrochemical and electroluminescent properties. The synthesized compounds exhibited relatively high thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures exceeding 378 °C and formed molecular glasses with high glass-transition temperatures ranging from 120 to 148 °C. High triplet energy values of 2.86–2.96 eV were estimated for dilute THF solutions at 77K. Hole and electron drift mobilities estimated using time-of-flight technique in solid layers approached 10−4 cm2V−1s−1 at high electric fields exceeding 3.6 × 105 V cm−1. The synthesized methoxy-carbazole based compounds were tested as hosts in electrophosphorescent and TADF organic light-emitting diodes reaching luminance of 53000 cd m−2 and external quantum efficiency of 12.5%, in the best case.European Social Fund 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-02-0105; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART²https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014372081931162

Fluorescent thiol-epoxy thermosets obtained from diglycidylether of bisphenol A and carbazole based diepoxy monomer

A new epoxy resin containing carbazole moieties was synthesized and added in several proportions to diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (TTMP) formulations that were thermally cured by thiol-epoxy click reaction. The curing was catalyzed by a latent amine precursor, which after triggering at high temperature liberates the amine that enables the formation of thiolate groups. The curing process of the different formulations was monitored by calorimetric analysis, which allowed to observe that the increase of the proportion of the synthesized epoxy resin with carbazole groups in the formulation decreased the curing rate. However, all these formulations cured quickly after triggering, which make them adequate for the formation of layers in multilayer devices. Thermal characteristics of the obtained thermosets were determined by calorimetric, thermomechanical and thermogravimetric analysis. The obtained thermosets have good thermal stability. Their glass transition temperature increased when the proportion of the carbazole containing resin was increased in the formulation. The photophysical properties of the thermoset films were studied and it was proved that they exhibit fluorescence in the range of 352 to 369 °C.Postprint (author's final draft

Effect of donor substituents on thermally activated delayed fluorescence of diphenylsulfone derivatives

This research was funded by the European Social Fund according to the activity ‘Improvement of researchers’ qualification by implementing world-class R&D projects’ of Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712. DG acknowledges to the ERDF PostDoc project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177;Diphenylsulfones substituted by acridan, carbazole, phenothiazine and phenoxazine moieties were synthesized and characterized by thermal analysis, UV-, steady-state and time-resolved luminescent spectrometries, cyclic voltametry. Quantum chemical calculations on the molecular level were performed to interpret photophysical properties of the derivatives. Structural parameters, electronic properties, HOMO-LUMO gaps, molecular orbital densities, ionization potentials, reorganization energies were determined. The lowest excitation energies and the wavelengths of absorption maxima were also estimated using the time-dependent density functional theory. All the compounds were found to be capabale to form glasses with glass transition temperatures ranging from 82° to 91°C. They exhibited high thermal stabilities, with 5% weight loss temperatures exceeding 385 °C. Strong solvatochromism arising from the intramolecular charge transfer in the excited state was evidenced by bathochromic shifts of emission maxima with increasing solvent polarity. The compounds containing acridan and phenoxazine moieties showed relatively high photoluminescence quantum yield (up to 35%) in the non-doped solid state, long delayed fluorescence lifetime (in µs range) and small singlet-triplet energy splitting (ΔEST) that is attributed to thermally activated delayed fluorescence. These compounds were tested as emissive species for the fabrication of OLEDs. The sky-blue and green devices showed maximum brightness of 3200 and 12300 cd/m2 and maximum external quantum efficiency of 6.3% and 6.9%, respectively.European Social Fund 09.3.3-LMT-K-712; European Regional Development Fund 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/177; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

Role of the alkylation patterning in the performance of OTFTs: the case of thiophene-functionalized triindoles

Organic semiconductors have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional inorganic materials due to their numerous assets and applications. In this context, the star-shaped triindole core stands as a promising system to design new organic materials with enticing charge-transporting properties. Herein, we present the synthesis of three thiophene-containing triindole derivatives that feature N-alkyl chains of different lengths, from methyl to decyl. The impact of the alkylation patterning on the crystallinity of the thin films and their resultant performance as semiconductor have been analyzed. All derivatives displayed p-type semiconductor properties, as demonstrated via both TOF measurements and integration in organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) devices. The attachment of longer alkyl chains and the functionalization of the silicon substrate with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) prompted better OTFT characteristics, with a hole mobility value up to 5 × 10-4 cm2 V-1 s-1. As elucidated from the single crystal, this core is arranged in a convenient cofacial packing that maximizes the p-overlapping. The analysis of the thin films also corroborates that derivatives possessing longer N-alkyl chains confer a higher degree of order and a more adequate morphology.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version