Microsecond triplet emission from organic chromophore-transition metal dichalcogenide hybrids via through-space spin orbit proximity effect

Abstract

Efficient light generation from triplet states of organic molecules has been a hot yet demanding topic in academia and the display industry. Herein, we propose a strategy for developing triplet emitter by creating heterostructures of organic chromophores and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). These heterostructures emit microsecond phosphorescence at room temperature, while their organic chromophores intrinsically exhibit millisecond phosphorescence under vibration dissipation-free conditions. This enhancement in phosphorescence is indicative of significantly enhanced spin-orbit coupling efficiency through coupling with TMDs. Through detailed studies on these hybrids from various perspectives, we elucidate key features of each component essential for generating microsecond triplet emission, including 2H-TMDs with heavy transition metals and aromatic carbonyl with an ortho-hydroxy group. Our intriguing findings open avenues for exploring the universal applicability of fast and stable hybrid triplet emitters. Metal-organic charge transfer has been the inevitable core of microsecond triplet emitters. Here the authors hybridize organic chromophores with transition-metal dichalcogenides to realize microsecond phosphorescence without metal-organic ligand bonding.