Intermolecular Electronic Coupling of Organic Units for Efficient Persistent Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence

Although persistent room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission has been observed for a few pure crystalline organic molecules, there is no consistent mechanism and no universal design strategy for organic persistent RTP (pRTP) materials. A new mechanism for pRTP is presented, based on combining the advantages of different excited-state configurations in coupled intermolecular units, which may be applicable to a wide range of organic molecules. By following this mechanism, we have developed a successful design strategy to obtain bright pRTP by utilizing a heavy halogen atom to further increase the intersystem crossing rate of the coupled units. RTP with a remarkably long lifetime of 0.28 s and a very high…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51173210, 51473185
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
• NH
  National High-tech Research and Development Program

  Award: SS2015AA031701