Iridium (III) complexes as promising emitters for solid-state Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells (LECs)

Light-emitting Electrochemical Cells (LECs) constitute one of the most recent generations of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). The main difference between LECs and OLEDs is that LECs include mobile ions in the active layer. Ionic transition-metal complexes and especially ionic iridium (III) complexes have recently attracted widespread attention as potential electroluminescent materials for LECs. Herein, we present an overview of LECs incorporating ionic iridium (III) complexes as phosphorescent emitters. Synthetic strategies developed to introduce iridium (III) complexes in the active layer are also reviewed. Despite the numerous intrinsic drawbacks still remaining, recent advances make iridium-based LECs promising devices for future commercial and scientific applications.