Methods for producing materials with photo and electroluminescence properties and systems using such materials.

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method of preparing polymeric metallomacrocycles having measurable photo- and electroluminescence properties and devices using such materials. In an embodiment an O-hexyl-3,5-bis(terpyridine)phenol ligand has been synthesized and transformed into a hexagonal Zn(II)-metallomacrocycle by a facile self-assembly procedure capitalizing on terpyridine-Zn(II)-terpyridine connectivity. The material is usable in an OLED device based on the photo- and electro-luminescence characteristics thereof.

1 . A method of preparing a metallomacrocycle, the method comprising the steps of:
 reacting a plurality of phenol-modified compounds with at least one metal complex to form a self-assembled complex.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the phenol-modified compound is O-hexyl-3,5-bis(terpyridine)phenol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where the at least one metal complex includes a transition metal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  where the at least one metal complex is Zn(BF 4 ) 2 .4H 2 O. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where the metallomacrocycle exhibits photoluminescent properties. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where the metallomacrocycle exhibits electroluminescent properties. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  where the assembled complex is a hexameric metal complex. 
     
     
         8 . A metallomacrocycle comprising:
 a transition metal-terpyridinyl-based complex with alkyl side chains, wherein the complex exhibits measurable photoluminescent and electroluminescent properties.   
     
     
         9 . The metallomacrocycle of  claim 8  where the transition metal is zinc. 
     
     
         10 . The metallomacrocycle of  claim 8  where the complex is a hexamer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing an electroluminescent device, the method comprising the steps of:
 depositing a mixture containing at least a metallomacrocycle onto an indium tin oxide glass sheet;   metallizing a cathode to facilitate the deposition of a layer of a metal halide compound and a layer of conductive metal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of blending the metallomacrocycle with at least one other dye. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of using at least one color filter to form one of a red-green-blue (RGB) emission. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture is spin-coated onto the indium tin oxide glass sheet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electroluminescent device is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electroluminescent device is an organic light emitting diode. 
     
     
         17 . The metallomacrocycle of  claim 8 , wherein the metallomacrocycle is deposited on a screen to create a graphical color display. 
     
     
         18 . The metallomacrocycle of  claim 17 , wherein the graphical color display is used ins systems selected from the group consisting of a television screen, a computer display, a portable system screen, and advertising and information board applications. 
     
     
         19 . A light emitting diode device comprising the metallomacrocycle of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         20 . An organic light emitting diode device comprising the metallomacrocycle of  claim 8 .