Theoretical Studies on the Electronic Structures and Phosphorescence Properties of Three Heteroleptic Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes

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The geometry structures, electronic structures, absorption, and phosphorescence properties of three heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes have been theoretically investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) method. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the three complexes has the similar distributions on two main ligands. However, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the three complexes has different distributions on different ligand fragments. Especially for 3, the LUMO is mainly composed of the picolinate auxiliary ligand. The lowest lying absorptions were calculated to be at 409, 473, and 414 nm for 1–3, respectively. By changing the conjugation length of the main ligand from 1 to 2, one can tune the emission color from green to red. The addition of sterically bulky phenolic substituents in 3 also results in an obvious red shift of the emission wavelength. The calculated results show that the absorption and emission transition character can be changed by altering the main ligands. Calculations of ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA) were used to evaluate the injection abilities of holes and electrons into these complexes. The theoretical work should provide a suitable guide to the future design and synthesis of novel phosphorescent materials for use in the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).