SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A DISTYRYLBENZENE DERIVATIVE FOR USE IN ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT DEVICES

New materials have been synthesized by attaching long alkyl chains to the basic distyrylbenzene chromophore. The most promising material, 4, 4''-di(dodecyloxy)distyrylbenzene, has been characterized, and vacuum- deposited films have been used as the emitting layer in organic electr oluminescent (EL) cells. Bright blue emission, with an emission maximu m at 482 nm and a maximum luminance of over 50 cd m(-2), has been obta ined from such devices. When deposited as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films , it is hoped that these materials will provide interesting new insigh t into the effect of molecular orientation in organic EL devices.