Researchers from Kyushu University's Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics Research (OPERA) developed a new TADF emitter molecule that is based on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT).
The researchers says that ESIPT can be used to design completely new TADF materials, which could enable researchers to achieve a high performance and long-lasting emitter structure, as a new material family may expand the molecule design possibilities. TADF from a ESIPT molecule has been reported previously - but the researchers say that this is the first demonstration of highly efficient TADF observed inside and outside of a device.
TADF is getting a lot of attention as many consider it a viable way towards next-generation emitter technology (including an efficient blue). TADF is being developed by several companies. Japan-based Kyulux is commercializing Kyushu University's Prof. Adachi's HyperFluoresence TADF technology, while Germany-based Cynora is focusing on a blue TADF emitter. Both companies aim to release their first commercial materials in late 2017 or early 2018.
Idemitsu Kosan also considers TADF as one of the key OLED technologies and intends to focus on TADF in the future (although Idemitsu's actual TADF plans are not clear yet). UDC has been recently awarded a patent on TADF materials, although the company says that TADF is not in its focus. The EU launched two TADF related collaborative research projects to focus on TADF emitters, Project HyperOLED and the 2015 project Phebe.
