Researchers from the Technical University in Dresden have developed a method to produce polymer TADF emitting molecules. Up until now most TADF materials are based on small molecules or chromophores linked to a polymer network.
This research focused on actual polymer TADF, and using a controlled extension of the conjugation of the monomers HOMO wavefunction, the researchers were able to to increase thephotoluminescence quantum yield from about 3% to about 71%. The reseachers say that this is an encouraging first step towards polymer TADF emitters.
TADF is considered a promising route towards efficient metal-free OLED emitters. There are several companies researching TADF materials, most notably Kyulux which was spun-off from the Kyushu University in Japan and Germany-based Cynora. You can read more about Kyushu's TADF emitters here, and we also host an OLED Auditorium presentation from Kyushu's Prof. Adachi here. Cynora estimates that its blue TADF emitters will be ready for commercial use by the end of 2017.
In March 2015 the European Commission launched a new project called Phebe that aims to develop and commercialize TADF emitters. Read our premium article discussing the latest advances in TADF emitters here.
