JP2009076624A - Organic electroluminescent device, display device, and illuminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an organic EL device whose light-emitting wavelength is controlled, which demonstrates high luminous efficiency, and has a long emission lifetime as well as an illuminating device and a display device using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The organic electroluminescent device contains at least one type of chemical compound including a partial structure expressed by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), R<SP>1</SP>and R<SP>2</SP>each represent substituent groups, Q<SP>1</SP>expresses an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocycle, Q<SP>2</SP>expresses a complex condensed ring containing hydrogen, which is formed by at least two five-membered rings, n1 expresses an integer of 0 to 4, n2 expresses 0 to an integer in which permutation is possible for Q<SP>2</SP>, and M expresses transition metal elements of groups 8 to 10 in the element periodic table. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element material, an organic electroluminescence element, a display device, and a lighting device.

  Conventionally, as a light-emitting electronic display device, there is an electroluminescence display (hereinafter referred to as ELD). Examples of the constituent elements of ELD include inorganic electroluminescent elements and organic electroluminescent elements (hereinafter also referred to as organic EL elements).

  Inorganic electroluminescent elements have been used as planar light sources, but an alternating high voltage is required to drive the light emitting elements. An organic EL device has a structure in which a light emitting layer containing a compound that emits light is sandwiched between a cathode and an anode, injects electrons and holes into the light emitting layer, and recombines them to generate excitons (exciton). It is an element that emits light by using light emission (fluorescence / phosphorescence) when this exciton is deactivated, and can emit light at a voltage of several volts to several tens of volts, and is also self-luminous. In addition, it is attracting attention from the viewpoints of space saving, portability and the like because it is a thin film type complete solid element with a wide viewing angle and high visibility.

  However, in organic EL elements for practical use in the future, development of organic EL elements that emit light efficiently and with high luminance with lower power consumption is desired.

  In Japanese Patent No. 3093796, a small amount of a phosphor is doped into a stilbene derivative, a distyrylarylene derivative or a tristyrylarylene derivative to achieve an improvement in light emission luminance and a longer device lifetime. Further, an element having an organic light-emitting layer in which an 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum complex is used as a host compound and a small amount of phosphor is doped thereto (for example, JP-A 63-264692), and an 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum complex is used as a host compound. For example, an element having an organic light emitting layer doped with a quinacridone dye (for example, JP-A-3-255190) is known.

  As described above, when light emission from excited singlet is used, the generation ratio of singlet excitons and triplet excitons is 1: 3, and thus the generation probability of luminescent excited species is 25%. Since the efficiency is about 20%, the limit of the external extraction quantum efficiency (η) is set to 5%.

  However, since Princeton University reported on an organic EL device using phosphorescence emission from an excited triplet (MA Baldo et al., Nature, 395, 151-154 (1998)), Research on materials that exhibit phosphorescence has become active.

  For example, M.M. A. Baldo et al. , Nature, 403, 17, 750-753 (2000), US Pat. No. 6,097,147, and the like.

  When the excited triplet is used, the upper limit of the internal quantum efficiency is 100%. In principle, the luminous efficiency is four times that of the excited singlet, and there is a possibility that almost the same performance as a cold cathode tube can be obtained. Therefore, it is attracting attention as a lighting application.

  For example, S.M. Lamansky et al. , J .; Am. Chem. Soc. , 123, 4304 (2001), etc., many compounds are being studied for synthesis centering on heavy metal complexes such as iridium complexes.

  In addition, the aforementioned M.I. A. Baldo et al. , Nature, 403, 17, 750-753 (2000), studies have been made using tris (2-phenylpyridine) iridium as a dopant.

In addition, M.M. E. Thompson et al., In The 10th International Works on Inorganic and Organic Electroluminescence (EL'00, Hamamatsu), used L ₂ Ir (acac), for example, (ppy) ₂ Ir (acac), e. 0 g, Tetsuo Tsutsui, etc., again The 10th International Workshop on Inorganic and Organic Electroluminescence (EL'00, Hamamatsu), the dopant as tris (2-(p-tolyl) pyridine) iridium (Ir (ptpy) _3), tris ( Studies using benzo [h] quinoline) iridium (Ir (bzq) ₃ ) and the like are being conducted (note that these metal complexes are generally called ortho-metalated iridium complexes).

  In addition, the S. Lamansky et al. , J .; Am. Chem. Soc. , 123, 4304 (2001) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-247859, etc., attempts have been made to form devices using various iridium complexes.

  In order to obtain high luminous efficiency, in the 10th International Workshop on Inorganic and Organic Electroluminescence (EL'00, Hamamatsu), Ikai et al. Uses a hole transporting compound as a host of a phosphorescent compound. In addition, M.M. E. Thompson et al. Use various electron transporting materials as a host of phosphorescent compounds, doped with a novel iridium complex.

  Orthometalated complexes in which the central metal is platinum instead of iridium are also attracting attention. (For this type of complex, there are many known examples of ligands).

  In either case, the light emission brightness and light emission efficiency of the light emitting device are greatly improved compared to conventional devices because the emitted light is derived from phosphorescence. There was a problem that it was lower than the conventional element. As described above, it is difficult for phosphorescent highly efficient light-emitting materials to shorten the light emission wavelength and improve the light emission lifetime of the device, and the performance that can withstand practical use cannot be sufficiently achieved.

  In addition, regarding wavelength shortening, introduction of an electron withdrawing group such as a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a cyano group or the like into phenylpyridine as a substituent, and picolinic acid or a pyrazabole-based ligand as a ligand. Although it is known to introduce, with these ligands, the emission wavelength of the luminescent material is shortened to achieve blue color, and while achieving a highly efficient device, the light emission lifetime of the device is greatly deteriorated, There was a need to improve the trade-off.

  It is disclosed that a metal complex having phenylpyrazole as a ligand is a light-emitting material having a short emission wavelength (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Furthermore, a metal complex formed from a ligand having a partial structure in which a 6-membered ring is condensed to a 5-membered ring of phenylpyrazole is disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 3 and 4).

  In addition, an example in which such a condensed ring formed of two 5-membered rings is applied to a fluorescent light-emitting material is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 5).

However, with the metal complexes described in the above-mentioned known documents, the external extraction quantum efficiency is not improved, and a practically sufficient improvement effect is not obtained for the light emission lifetime, and there is a need for improvement. Yes.
International Publication No. 04/085450 Pamphlet JP 2005-53912 A JP 2006-28101 A US Pat. No. 7,147,937 JP 2000-63818 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element in which a light emission wavelength is controlled, high light emission efficiency, and a long light emission lifetime, and an illumination device and a display device using the organic EL element. In particular, it is to provide an organic EL element that exhibits high luminous efficiency with a short-wave light emission of blue to blue-green and has a long light emission lifetime.

  The above object of the present invention has been achieved by the following constitution.

  1. An organic electroluminescence device comprising at least one compound including a partial structure represented by the following general formula (1).

[Wherein R ¹ and R ² each represent a substituent, Q ¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring, and Q ² represents a nitrogen-containing group formed of at least two 5-membered rings. N1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, n2 represents an integer of 0 to 0 that can be substituted on Q ² , and M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table . ]
2. 2. The organic electroluminescence device according to 1 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (2).

[Wherein, R ¹ and R ³ each represent a substituent, and R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Q ¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring, Q ³ represents an aromatic heterocyclic ring, n 1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, n 3 represents an integer of 0 to 2, M is It represents a transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table. ]
3. 3. The organic electroluminescence device according to 2 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (2) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (3).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Q ³ represents an aromatic heterocycle, R ³ represents a substituent, and n3 represents an integer of 0 to 2. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
4). 4. The organic electroluminescence device according to 3 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (3) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (4).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. A ₂ represents —C (Ra) ═ (Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent) or a nitrogen atom. A ₁ and A ₃ each represent —C (Rb) ═, —C (Rb) (Rc) — (Rb and Rc represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent), a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom. . The bond between A ₁ and A _{2 and} the bond between A ₂ and A ₃ each represents a single bond or a double bond. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
5). 2. The organic electroluminescent element according to 1 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (5).

[Wherein, R ¹ and R ⁵ represent a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, n4 represents an integer of 0 to 2, Q ⁴ represents an aromatic heterocyclic ring, and M represents a group 8 to group 10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
6). 5. The organic electroluminescent element according to 4 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (4) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (6).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to ⁴ , and R ⁴ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
7). 5. The organic electroluminescence device according to 4 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (4) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (7).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to ⁴ , and R ⁴ and R ⁸ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
8). 6. The organic electroluminescence device according to 5 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (5) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (8).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and A ₂ represents —C (Ra) = (Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent) or a nitrogen atom. A ₁ and A ₃ each represent —C (Rb) ═, —C (Rb) (Rc) — (Rb and Rc represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent), a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom. . The bond between A ₁ and A _{2 and} the bond between A ₂ and A ₃ represent a single bond or a double bond. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
9. 9. The organic electroluminescence device according to 8, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (8) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (9).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ⁹ and R ¹⁰ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
10. 9. The organic electroluminescence device as described in 8 above, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (8) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (10).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ¹⁰ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ]
11. Said M represents platinum or iridium, The organic electroluminescent element of any one of said 1-10 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  12 It has an organic layer as a constituent layer, and the organic layer contains a compound containing a partial structure represented by any one of the general formula (1) to the general formula (10), and the organic layer 12. The organic electroluminescence device according to any one of 1 to 11 above, wherein at least one layer is formed by a wet process.

  13. A display device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to any one of 1 to 12 above.

  14 A lighting device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to any one of 1 to 12 above.

  According to the present invention, an organic EL element having a controlled emission wavelength, high emission efficiency, and a long emission lifetime, and an illumination device and a display device using the element can be provided.

  In the organic EL device of the present invention, an organic EL device having a high light emission efficiency and a long light emission lifetime can be obtained by the structure defined in any one of claims 1 to 13, and An illuminating device and a display device including the element can be provided.

  Hereinafter, details of each component according to the present invention will be sequentially described.

  As a means for improving the lifetime of the organic EL element, development focusing on the structure of the light-emitting dopant has been advanced, and as a result, a structure that can withstand practical use is being found.

  However, small changes in structure, such as introduction of substituents into dopants, have a significant effect on lifetime, and there remains a problem to be solved.

  Until now, there have been many approaches to control the wavelength and improve the lifetime by introducing a substituent into the basic skeleton of the dopant, but it cannot be said to have been successful. Therefore, when attention was focused on a condensed ring that can be expected to have the same effect as the introduction of a substituent, a tendency to improve the lifetime was found in several structures.

  However, when a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered condensed ring formed as described above are introduced, the red shift of the emission wavelength is remarkable, and there is a drawback that it is difficult to use other than red light emission. However, as shown in the present invention, when a fused ring formed of two 5-membered rings is introduced, there are many cases in which the emission wavelength does not shift, and a long lifetime is achieved at the desired emission wavelength. It has been found that development of such dopants is possible.

  As an example in which a fused ring formed from two 5-membered rings can be adapted to an organic EL material, there is a disclosure of Patent Document 5, but there is no description regarding application to a dopant structure, which is different from the present invention. In addition, there are a limited number of structures that can control the influence on the emission wavelength while the condensed ring is involved in the coordination bond, and from this viewpoint, the present invention has never been suggested. It can be said that it gives completely new knowledge.

  As a result of further investigation, the present inventors have intensively studied a metal complex containing a condensed ring formed from two 5-membered rings as a part of the ligand, and as a result, the above general formulas (1) to (10) The organic EL element which contains the compound (it is also called a metal complex) containing the partial structure represented by any one of these as an organic EL element material acquired the knowledge that luminous efficiency and a light emission lifetime are improved significantly.

  The feature of these structures is that there is no nitrogen atom at the bridge head position of the 5-membered ring, and it is formed of carbon atoms. As a result, it has been found that the light emission lifetime, which has been a problem of the organic EL device produced using a conventional blue metal complex, can be greatly improved, and both the light emission efficiency and the light emission life can be achieved.

  In addition, even if the ligand having a mother nucleus according to the present invention is introduced as a substituent, the auxiliary ligand to be combined or the substituent itself having a long emission wavelength is introduced as a substituent. Can be controlled in different areas. Therefore, the molecular design for imparting the function of controlling the emission wavelength of the metal complex to a long wave region (green to red) is any one of the general formulas (1) to (9) according to the present invention. The represented partial structure can be used as a starting point for the basic skeleton design.

  Hereinafter, the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) and the compound (metal complex) containing the partial structure will be described.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (1) >>
The partial structure represented by the general formula (1) will be described.

In the general formula (1), the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² are each an alkyl group (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group). Octyl group, dodecyl group, tridecyl group, tetradecyl group, pentadecyl group, etc.), cycloalkyl group (for example, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, etc.), alkenyl group (for example, vinyl group, allyl group, 1-propenyl group, 2- Butenyl group, 1,3-butadienyl group, 2-pentenyl group, isopropenyl group, etc.), alkynyl group (eg, ethynyl group, propargyl group, etc.), aromatic hydrocarbon group (aromatic hydrocarbon ring group, aromatic carbon) Also referred to as ring group, aryl group, etc., for example, phenyl group, p-chlorophenyl group, mesityl group, tolyl group, xylyl group, naphthyl group Group, anthryl group, azulenyl group, acenaphthenyl group, fluorenyl group, phenanthryl group, indenyl group, pyrenyl group, biphenylyl group, etc., aromatic heterocyclic group (for example, furyl group, thienyl group, pyridyl group, pyridazinyl group, pyrimidinyl group) Group, pyrazinyl group, triazinyl group, imidazolyl group, pyrazolyl group, thiazolyl group, quinazolinyl group, carbazolyl group, carbolinyl group, diazacarbazolyl group (one of the carbon atoms constituting the carboline ring of the carbolinyl group is nitrogen An phthalazinyl group), a heterocyclic group (eg, pyrrolidyl group, imidazolidyl group, morpholyl group, oxazolidyl group, etc.), an alkoxy group (eg, methoxy group, ethoxy group, propyloxy group, pentyl) Oxy group, hexyloxy Si group, octyloxy group, dodecyloxy group, etc.), cycloalkoxy group (eg, cyclopentyloxy group, cyclohexyloxy group, etc.), aryloxy group (eg, phenoxy group, naphthyloxy group, etc.), alkylthio group (eg, methylthio group) Group, ethylthio group, propylthio group, pentylthio group, hexylthio group, octylthio group, dodecylthio group, etc.), cycloalkylthio group (eg, cyclopentylthio group, cyclohexylthio group, etc.), arylthio group (eg, phenylthio group, naphthylthio group, etc.) An alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, a methyloxycarbonyl group, an ethyloxycarbonyl group, a butyloxycarbonyl group, an octyloxycarbonyl group, a dodecyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), an aryloxycarbonyl group (for example, Phenyloxycarbonyl group, naphthyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), sulfamoyl group (for example, aminosulfonyl group, methylaminosulfonyl group, dimethylaminosulfonyl group, butylaminosulfonyl group, hexylaminosulfonyl group, cyclohexylaminosulfonyl group, octylaminosulfonyl group) , Dodecylaminosulfonyl group, phenylaminosulfonyl group, naphthylaminosulfonyl group, 2-pyridylaminosulfonyl group, etc.), acyl group (for example, acetyl group, ethylcarbonyl group, propylcarbonyl group, pentylcarbonyl group, cyclohexylcarbonyl group, octylcarbonyl) Group, 2-ethylhexylcarbonyl group, dodecylcarbonyl group, phenylcarbonyl group, naphthylcarbonyl group, pyridylcarbonyl group, etc.), Siloxy group (for example, acetyloxy group, ethylcarbonyloxy group, butylcarbonyloxy group, octylcarbonyloxy group, dodecylcarbonyloxy group, phenylcarbonyloxy group, etc.), amide group (for example, methylcarbonylamino group, ethylcarbonylamino group) Dimethylcarbonylamino group, propylcarbonylamino group, pentylcarbonylamino group, cyclohexylcarbonylamino group, 2-ethylhexylcarbonylamino group, octylcarbonylamino group, dodecylcarbonylamino group, phenylcarbonylamino group, naphthylcarbonylamino group, etc.) Carbamoyl group (for example, aminocarbonyl group, methylaminocarbonyl group, dimethylaminocarbonyl group, propylaminocarbonyl group, pentylaminocarbonyl) Bonyl group, cyclohexylaminocarbonyl group, octylaminocarbonyl group, 2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl group, dodecylaminocarbonyl group, phenylaminocarbonyl group, naphthylaminocarbonyl group, 2-pyridylaminocarbonyl group, etc.), ureido group (for example, methylureido) Group, ethylureido group, pentylureido group, cyclohexylureido group, octylureido group, dodecylureido group, phenylureido group, naphthylureido group, 2-pyridylaminoureido group, etc.), sulfinyl group (for example, methylsulfinyl group, ethylsulfinyl group, Butylsulfinyl group, cyclohexylsulfinyl group, 2-ethylhexylsulfinyl group, dodecylsulfinyl group, phenylsulfinyl group, naphthylsulfinyl , 2-pyridylsulfinyl group, etc.), alkylsulfonyl group (eg, methylsulfonyl group, ethylsulfonyl group, butylsulfonyl group, cyclohexylsulfonyl group, 2-ethylhexylsulfonyl group, dodecylsulfonyl group, etc.), arylsulfonyl group or heteroarylsulfonyl Group (for example, phenylsulfonyl group, naphthylsulfonyl group, 2-pyridylsulfonyl group, etc.), amino group (for example, amino group, ethylamino group, dimethylamino group, butylamino group, cyclopentylamino group, 2-ethylhexylamino group, Dodecylamino group, anilino group, naphthylamino group, 2-pyridylamino group, etc.), halogen atom (eg, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom etc.), fluorinated hydrocarbon group (eg, fluoromethyl group, trifluoro) Til group, pentafluoroethyl group, pentafluorophenyl group, etc.), cyano group, nitro group, hydroxy group, mercapto group, silyl group (for example, trimethylsilyl group, triisopropylsilyl group, triphenylsilyl group, phenyldiethylsilyl group, etc.) ), A phosphono group, and the like.

  These substituents may be further substituted with the above substituents. In addition, a plurality of these substituents may be bonded to each other to form a ring.

In the general formula (1), the aromatic hydrocarbon ring represented by Q ¹ includes a benzene ring, a biphenyl ring, a naphthalene ring, an azulene ring, an anthracene ring, a phenanthrene ring, a pyrene ring, a chrysene ring, a naphthacene ring, and a triphenylene ring. , O-terphenyl ring, m-terphenyl ring, p-terphenyl ring, acenaphthene ring, coronene ring, fluorene ring, fluoranthrene ring, naphthacene ring, pentacene ring, perylene ring, pentaphen ring, picene ring, pyrene ring , Pyranthrene ring, anthraanthrene ring and the like.

Furthermore, the aromatic hydrocarbon ring may have a substituent represented by R ¹ or R ² in the general formula (1).

In the general formula (1), examples of the aromatic heterocycle represented by Q ¹ include a furan ring, a thiophene ring, an oxazole ring, a pyrrole ring, a pyridine ring, a pyridazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, a pyrazine ring, a triazine ring, and a benzo Imidazole ring, oxadiazole ring, triazole ring, imidazole ring, pyrazole ring, thiazole ring, indazole ring, indazole ring, benzimidazole ring, benzothiazole ring, benzoxazole ring, quinoxaline ring, quinazoline ring, cinnoline ring, quinoline ring, An isoquinoline ring, a phthalazine ring, a naphthyridine ring, a carbazole ring, a carboline ring, a diazacarbazole ring (showing a ring in which one of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon ring constituting the carboline ring is further substituted with a nitrogen atom) .

Furthermore, the aromatic heterocyclic ring may have a substituent represented by R ¹ or R ² in the general formula (1).

Examples of the nitrogen-containing heterocondensed ring formed by at least two 5-membered rings represented by Q ² in the general formula (1) include pyrroloimidazole, pyrrolotriazole, pyrazoloimidazole, pyrazolooxazole, pyrrolo Examples include pyrazole, furopyrazole, pyrazolothiazole, pyrazolopyrazole, pyrazolotriazole, and imidazoimidazole.

Furthermore, the nitrogen-containing heterocondensed ring may have a substituent represented by R ¹ or R ² in the general formula (1).

  In the general formula (1), the transition metal element represented by M in the periodic table of elements represents a group 8-10 transition metal element (also simply referred to as a transition metal) in the periodic table of elements. Platinum is a preferred transition metal element.

  In the present invention, the partial structure represented by the general formula (2) is preferably used among the partial structures represented by the general formula (1).

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (2) >>
In the general formula (2), the substituents represented by R ¹ , R ³ and R ⁴ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively.

In the general formula (2), an aromatic hydrocarbon ring represented by Q ¹ are the compounds of formula (1), it is synonymous with the aromatic hydrocarbon ring represented by Q ^1.

In the general formula (2), the aromatic heterocycles represented by Q ¹ and Q ³ have the same meaning as the aromatic heterocycle represented by Q ¹ in the general formula (1).

  In the general formula (2), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

  In the present invention, the partial structure represented by the general formula (3) is preferably used among the partial structures represented by the general formula (2).

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (3) >>
In the general formula (3), the substituents represented by R ¹ , R ³ and R ⁴ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively.

In the general formula (3), the aromatic heterocycle represented by Q ³ has the same meaning as the aromatic heterocycle represented by Q ¹ in the general formula (1).

  In general formula (3), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

  In the present invention, among the partial structures represented by the general formula (3), the partial structure represented by the general formula (4) is preferably used.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (4) >>
In the general formula (4), the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ⁴ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively.

In the -C A ₂ in the general formula (4) (Ra) =, substituent represented by Ra, -C of _{A 1, A 3 (Rb)} =, - C (Rb) (Rc) - In, Rb The substituents represented by Rc are the same as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1).

  In general formula (4), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

  In the present invention, among the partial structures represented by the general formula (4), the partial structures represented by the general formula (6) or the general formula (7) are preferably used.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (6) >>
In the general formula (6), the substituents represented by R ¹ , R ⁴ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively. is there.

  In general formula (6), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (7) >>
In the general formula (7), the substituents represented by R ¹ , R ⁴ and R ⁸ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1).

  In general formula (7), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

  Moreover, as a preferable aspect of the partial structure represented by General Formula (1) according to the present invention, the partial structure represented by General Formula (5) is preferably used.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (5) >>
In the general formula (5), the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ⁵ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively.

In the general formula (5), the aromatic heterocycle represented by Q ⁴ has the same meaning as the aromatic heterocycle represented by Q ¹ in the general formula (1).

  In general formula (5), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

  In the present invention, the partial structure represented by the general formula (8) is preferably used among the partial structures represented by the general formula (5).

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (8) >>
In the general formula (8), R ¹ , R ¹¹ , A ₂ —C (Ra) ═Ra, A ₁ or A ₃ , —C (Rb) ═, Rb in —C (Rb) (Rc) — , Rc are the same as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1).

  In general formula (8), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (9) >>
In the general formula (9), the substituents represented by R ¹ , R ⁹ and R ¹⁰ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively.

  In general formula (9), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

<< Partial structure represented by general formula (10) >>
In the general formula (10), the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ¹⁰ have the same meanings as the substituents represented by R ¹ and R ² in the general formula (1), respectively.

  In the general formula (10), the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements represented by M is the transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table of elements. It is synonymous with.

(Ligand)
The compound (metal complex) including the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) according to the present invention (specifically, having as a ligand) is a ligand of the compound (the metal complex). All of which may be composed of only the partial structure represented by the general formula (1), and a ligand known to those skilled in the art as a so-called ligand used for forming a conventionally known metal complex ( (Also referred to as a coordination compound) as a ligand.

  From the viewpoint of preferably obtaining the effects described in the present invention, the type of ligand in the complex is preferably composed of 1 to 2 types, and more preferably 1 type.

  As a ligand used for a conventionally known metal complex, there are various known ligands. For example, “Photochemistry and Photophysics of Coordination Compounds” Springer-Verlag H. Published by Yersin in 1987, “Organometallic Chemistry-Fundamentals and Applications-” Liu Huabo Company, Akio Yamamoto, published in 1982, etc. (for example, halogen ligands (preferably chlorine ligands), Nitrogen heterocyclic ligands (for example, bipyridyl, phenanthroline, etc.) and diketone ligands).

  In the present invention, any one of the general formulas (2) to (10), which is a preferred embodiment of the compound having the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) or the partial structure represented by the general formula (1). By using a compound having a partial structure represented by one, it was possible to provide an organic EL element, a lighting device, and a display device that exhibit high light emission efficiency and have a long light emission lifetime.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the compound containing a partial structure represented by any one of the general formulas (1) to (10) according to the present invention (the compound is also referred to as a metal complex) will be shown. It is not limited to.

  Hereinafter, although the specific example of the metal complex which has the said general formula (1)-(10) which concerns on this invention or its tautomer as a structure is shown, this invention is not limited to these.

  These metal complexes are described in, for example, Organic Letter, vol. 16, 2579-2581 (2001), Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 30, No. 8, 1685-1687 (1991), J. Am. Am. Chem. Soc. , 123, 4304 (2001), Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 40, No. 7, 1704-1711 (2001), Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 41, No. 12, 3055-3066 (2002) , New Journal of Chemistry. 26, 1171 (2002), Organic Letter, vol. 3, pages 415 to 418 (2006), and further by applying methods such as references described in these documents.

  The synthesis example of a typical compound is shown below.

  << Synthesis Example: Synthesis of Compound (1-6) >>

  Under a nitrogen atmosphere, iridium chloride trihydrate, 0.7 g and 70 ml of water were added to a solution of 2 g of ligand 1 in 200 ml of 2-ethoxyethanol, and the mixture was refluxed for 5 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction solution was cooled, 100 ml of methanol was added, and the precipitated crystals were collected by filtration.

  The obtained crystals were further washed with methanol and dried to obtain 1.8 g of μ complex 1.

  Under a nitrogen atmosphere, 1 μg of μ complex and 0.3 g of sodium carbonate were suspended in 150 ml of 2-ethoxyethanol. To this suspension, 0.3 g of acetylacetone was added and refluxed for 2 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere.

  After cooling the reaction solution, sodium carbonate and inorganic salts were removed by filtration under reduced pressure. 1 L of water was added to the solid obtained after concentration of the solvent under reduced pressure to suspend it, and the solid was collected by filtration. The obtained crystals were further washed with a methanol / water = 1/1 mixed solution, and dried to obtain 1.0 g of acac complex 1.

  Under a nitrogen atmosphere, acac complex 1, 0.8 g and ligand 1 0.5 g were suspended in glycerin 150 ml. The reaction was completed at a reaction temperature of 150 to 160 ° C. for 2 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere, and when the disappearance of the complex B was confirmed, the reaction was terminated. The reaction solution was cooled, 200 ml of methanol was added, and the precipitated crystals were collected by filtration.

  The obtained crystals were further washed with methanol, and dried to obtain 0.5 g of a crude product. This crude product was dissolved in a small amount of methylene chloride and purified by silica gel column chromatography (methylene chloride) to obtain 0.3 g of exemplified compound (1-6).

<< Application of Compound having Partial Structure Represented by General Formula (1) to Organic EL Device >>
When producing the organic EL device of the present invention using the compound (metal complex) containing the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) according to the present invention, in the constituent layers of the organic EL device (details will be described later) In the light emitting layer, it is preferably used as the following light emitting dopant.

  In addition, when the compounds represented by the general formulas (2) to (6), which are preferred embodiments of the compound having the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) according to the present invention, are used, a further excellent book The effects described in the invention can be obtained.

(Light emitting host and light emitting dopant)
The mixing ratio of the light-emitting dopant to the light-emitting host, which is the host compound as the main component in the light-emitting layer, is preferably adjusted to a range of 0.1 to less than 30% by mass.

  However, the light-emitting dopant may be a mixture of a plurality of types of compounds, and the partner to be mixed may be a phosphorescent dopant or a fluorescent dopant having a different structure, other metal complexes or other structures.

  Here, a dopant (phosphorescent dopant) that may be used in combination with a compound (metal complex) having a partial structure represented by any one of the general formulas (1) to (6) according to the present invention used as a light-emitting dopant. , Fluorescent dopants, etc.).

  Luminescent dopants are roughly classified into two types: fluorescent dopants that emit fluorescence and phosphorescent dopants that emit phosphorescence.

  Representative examples of the former (fluorescent dopant) include coumarin dyes, pyran dyes, cyanine dyes, croconium dyes, squalium dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, fluorescein dyes, rhodamine dyes, pyrylium dyes, Examples include perylene dyes, stilbene dyes, polythiophene dyes, and rare earth complex phosphors.

  A typical example of the latter (phosphorescent dopant) is preferably a complex compound containing a transition metal element of Group 8, 9, or 10 in the periodic table, and more preferably an iridium compound or an osmium compound. Of these, iridium compounds are most preferred.

  Specifically, it is a compound described in the following patent publications.

  WO 00/70655 pamphlet, JP 2002-280178, JP 2001-181616, JP 2002-280179, JP 2001-181617, JP 2002-280180, JP 2001-247859, JP 2002-299060, JP 2001-313178, JP 2002-302671, JP 2001-345183, JP 2002-324679, International Publication No. 02/15645 pamphlet, JP 2002-332291 A, JP 2002-50484 A, JP 2002-332292 A, JP 2002-83684 A, JP 2002-540572 A, JP 2002-2002 A. No. 117978, JP 20 JP-A-2-338588, JP-A-2002-170684, JP-A-2002-352960, WO01 / 93642, JP-A-2002-50483, JP-A-2002-1000047, JP-A-2002. No. -173744, JP-A No. 2002-359082, JP-A No. 2002-17584, JP-A No. 2002-363552, JP-A No. 2002-184582, JP-A No. 2003-7469, JP-T-2002-525808. Gazette, JP2003-7471, JP2002-525833, JP2003-31366, JP2002-226495, JP2002-234894, JP2002-2335076 JP 2002-241751 A JP 2001-319779, JP 2001-319780, JP 2002-62824, JP 2002-1000047, JP 2002-203679, JP 2002-343572, JP 2002-203678 gazette etc.

  Some specific examples are shown below.

(Light emitting host)
The host compound used in the present invention represents a compound having a phosphorescence quantum yield of phosphorescence emission of less than 0.01 at room temperature (25 ° C.) among compounds contained in the light emitting layer.

  The light-emitting host used in the present invention is not particularly limited in terms of structure, but is typically a carbazole derivative, a triarylamine derivative, an aromatic borane derivative, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, a thiophene derivative, a furan derivative, an oligoarylene. Examples thereof include compounds having a basic skeleton such as compounds, or carboline derivatives and derivatives having a ring structure in which at least one carbon atom of a hydrocarbon ring constituting the carboline ring of the carboline derivative is substituted with a nitrogen atom. Among these, carbazole derivatives, carboline derivatives, and derivatives having a ring structure in which at least one carbon atom of the hydrocarbon ring constituting the carboline ring of the carboline derivative is substituted with a nitrogen atom are preferably used.

  Specific examples are given below, but the present invention is not limited thereto. These compounds are also preferably used as hole blocking materials.

  In the light emitting layer according to the present invention, a plurality of known host compounds may be used in combination as a host compound. By using a plurality of types of host compounds, it is possible to adjust the movement of charges, and the efficiency of the organic EL element can be increased. As these known host compounds, compounds having a hole transporting ability and an electron transporting ability, preventing the emission of longer wavelengths, and having a high Tg (glass transition temperature) are preferable.

  The light emitting host used in the present invention may be a low molecular compound, a high molecular compound having a repeating unit, or a low molecular compound having a polymerizable group such as a vinyl group or an epoxy group (evaporation polymerizable light emitting host). .

  As the light-emitting host, a compound having a hole transporting ability and an electron transporting ability, preventing a long wavelength of light emission, and having a high Tg (glass transition temperature) is preferable.

  As specific examples of the light-emitting host, compounds described in the following documents are suitable. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-257076, 2002-308855, 2001-313179, 2002-319491, 2001-357777, 2002-334786, JP2002-8860, JP2002-334787, JP2002-15871, JP2002-334788, JP2002-43056, JP2002-334789, JP JP 2002-75645 A, JP 2002-338579 A, JP 2002-105445 A, JP 2002-343568 A, JP 2002-141173 A, JP 2002-352957 A, JP 2002-2002 A. No. 203683, JP-A-2002-3632 7, JP 2002-231453, JP 2003-3165, JP 2002-234888, JP 2003-27048, JP 2002-255934, JP 2002-286061. JP, JP-A-2002-280183, JP-A-2002-299060, JP-A-2002-302516, JP-A-2002-305083, JP-A-2002-305084, JP-A-2002-308837, etc. .

  The light emitting layer may further contain a host compound having a fluorescence maximum wavelength as a host compound. In this case, the energy transfer from the other host compound and the phosphorescent compound to the fluorescent compound allows electroluminescence as an organic EL element to be emitted from the other host compound having a fluorescence maximum wavelength. A host compound having a fluorescence maximum wavelength is preferably a compound having a high fluorescence quantum yield in a solution state. Here, the fluorescence quantum yield is preferably 10% or more, particularly preferably 30% or more. Specific host compounds having a maximum fluorescence wavelength include coumarin dyes, pyran dyes, cyanine dyes, croconium dyes, squalium dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, fluorescein dyes, rhodamine dyes, and pyrylium dyes. Perylene dyes, stilbene dyes, polythiophene dyes, and the like. The fluorescence quantum yield can be measured by the method described in 362 (1992, Maruzen) of Spectroscopic II of the Fourth Edition Experimental Chemistry Course 7.

  Next, a configuration of a typical organic EL element will be described.

<< Constituent layers of organic EL elements >>
The constituent layers of the organic EL element of the present invention will be described.

  Although the preferable specific example of the layer structure of the organic EL element of this invention is shown below, this invention is not limited to these.

(I) Anode / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode (ii) Anode / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode (iii) Anode / Hole transport layer / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode (iv) Anode / hole transport layer / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode ( v) Anode / hole transport layer / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode (vi) Anode / anode buffer layer / hole transport layer / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / Hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode (vii) Anode / anode buffer layer / hole transport layer / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode 《Blocking layer (electron blocking layer, hole blocking layer)》
The blocking layer (for example, electron blocking layer, hole blocking layer) according to the present invention will be described.

  The thickness of the blocking layer according to the present invention is preferably 3 nm to 100 nm, and more preferably 5 nm to 30 nm.

《Hole blocking layer》
The hole blocking layer has the function of an electron transport layer in a broad sense, and is made of a material that has a function of transporting electrons but has a very small ability to transport holes, and blocks holes while transporting electrons. Thus, the probability of recombination of electrons and holes can be improved.

  Examples of the hole blocking layer include, for example, JP-A Nos. 11-204258 and 11-204359, and “Organic EL elements and the forefront of industrialization thereof (issued by NTT Corporation on November 30, 1998)” Can be applied as the hole blocking layer according to the present invention.

  Moreover, the structure of the electron carrying layer mentioned later can be used as a hole-blocking layer concerning this invention as needed.

  The organic EL device of the present invention has a hole blocking layer as a constituent layer, and at least one of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon ring constituting the carboline derivative or the carboline ring of the carboline derivative is a nitrogen atom. It is preferable to contain a derivative having a substituted ring structure.

《Electron blocking layer》
On the other hand, the electron blocking layer has a function of a hole transport layer in a broad sense, and is made of a material that has a function of transporting holes and has an extremely small ability to transport electrons, and transports electrons while transporting holes. By blocking, the recombination probability of electrons and holes can be improved. Moreover, the structure of the positive hole transport layer mentioned later can be used as an electron blocking layer as needed.

  In the present invention, the organic EL element material of the present invention is preferably used for the adjacent layer adjacent to the light emitting layer, that is, the hole blocking layer and the electron blocking layer, and particularly preferably used for the electron blocking layer.

《Hole transport layer》
The hole transport layer includes a material having a function of transporting holes, and in a broad sense, a hole injection layer and an electron blocking layer are also included in the hole transport layer. The hole transport layer can be provided as a single layer or a plurality of layers.

  The hole transport material is not particularly limited, and is conventionally used as a hole charge injection / transport material in a photoconductive material, or a well-known material used for a hole injection layer or a hole transport layer of an organic EL element. Any one can be selected and used.

  The hole transport material has one of hole injection or transport and electron barrier properties, and may be either organic or inorganic. For example, triazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, polyarylalkane derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives and pyrazolone derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, arylamine derivatives, amino-substituted chalcone derivatives, oxazole derivatives, styrylanthracene derivatives, fluorenone derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, Examples thereof include stilbene derivatives, silazane derivatives, aniline copolymers, and conductive polymer oligomers, particularly thiophene oligomers.

  The above-mentioned materials can be used as the hole transport material, but it is preferable to use a porphyrin compound, an aromatic tertiary amine compound and a styrylamine compound, particularly an aromatic tertiary amine compound.

  Representative examples of aromatic tertiary amine compounds and styrylamine compounds include N, N, N ′, N′-tetraphenyl-4,4′-diaminophenyl; N, N′-diphenyl-N, N′— Bis (3-methylphenyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl] -4,4′-diamine (TPD); 2,2-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) propane; 1,1-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) cyclohexane; N, N, N ′, N′-tetra-p-tolyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl; 1,1-bis (4-di-p-tolyl) Aminophenyl) -4-phenylcyclohexane; bis (4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl) phenylmethane; bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) phenylmethane; N, N'-diphenyl-N, N ' − (4-methoxyphenyl) -4,4'-diaminobiphenyl; N, N, N ', N'-tetraphenyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether; 4,4'-bis (diphenylamino) quadriphenyl; N, N, N-tri (p-tolyl) amine; 4- (di-p-tolylamino) -4 '-[4- (di-p-tolylamino) styryl] stilbene; 4-N, N-diphenylamino- (2-diphenylvinyl) benzene; 3-methoxy-4′-N, N-diphenylaminostilbenzene; N-phenylcarbazole, as well as two of those described in US Pat. No. 5,061,569 Having a condensed aromatic ring in the molecule, for example, 4,4'-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl (NPD), JP-A-4-3086 4,4 ', 4 "-tris [N- (3-methylphenyl) -N-phenylamino] triphenylamine in which three triphenylamine units described in Japanese Patent No. 8 are linked in a starburst type ( MTDATA) and the like.

  Furthermore, a polymer material in which these materials are introduced into a polymer chain or these materials are used as a polymer main chain can also be used. In addition, inorganic compounds such as p-type-Si and p-type-SiC can also be used as the hole injection material and the hole transport material.

  This hole transport layer can be formed by thinning the hole transport material by a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, an ink jet method, or an LB method. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the film thickness of a positive hole transport layer, Usually, it is about 5 nm-5000 nm. The hole transport layer may have a single layer structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

《Electron transport layer》
The electron transport layer is made of a material having a function of transporting electrons, and in a broad sense, an electron injection layer and a hole blocking layer are also included in the electron transport layer. The electron transport layer can be provided with a single layer or a plurality of layers.

  Conventionally, in the case of a single-layer electron transport layer and a plurality of layers, the following materials are used as the electron transport material (also serving as a hole blocking material) used for the electron transport layer adjacent to the cathode side with respect to the light emitting layer. Are known.

  Further, the electron transport layer only needs to have a function of transmitting electrons injected from the cathode to the light emitting layer, and any material can be selected and used from conventionally known compounds.

  Examples of materials used for this electron transport layer (hereinafter also referred to as electron transport materials) include heterocyclic tetracarboxylic acid anhydrides such as nitro-substituted fluorene derivatives, diphenylquinone derivatives, thiopyran dioxide derivatives, naphthalene perylene, and carbodiimides. , Fluorenylidenemethane derivatives, anthraquinodimethane and anthrone derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, carboline derivatives, or at least one carbon atom of the hydrocarbon ring constituting the carboline ring of the carboline derivative is substituted with a nitrogen atom Examples thereof include derivatives having a ring structure.

  Furthermore, in the oxadiazole derivative, a thiadiazole derivative in which the oxygen atom of the oxadiazole ring is substituted with a sulfur atom, and a quinoxaline derivative having a quinoxaline ring known as an electron-withdrawing group can also be used as an electron transport material.

  Furthermore, a polymer material in which these materials are introduced into a polymer chain or these materials are used as a polymer main chain can also be used.

  Also, metal complexes of 8-quinolinol derivatives such as tris (8-quinolinol) aluminum (Alq), tris (5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5,7-dibromo-8-quinolinol) aluminum, Tris (2-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, bis (8-quinolinol) zinc (Znq), etc., and the central metals of these metal complexes are In, Mg, Cu , Ca, Sn, Ga, or Pb can also be used as an electron transport material.

  In addition, metal-free or metal phthalocyanine, or those having terminal ends substituted with an alkyl group or a sulfonic acid group can be preferably used as the electron transport material.

  In addition, the distyrylpyrazine derivative exemplified as the material of the light emitting layer can also be used as an electron transport material, and an inorganic semiconductor such as n-type-Si, n-type-SiC, etc. as in the case of the hole injection layer and hole transport layer Can also be used as an electron transporting material.

  The electron transport layer can be formed by thinning the electron transport material by a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, an ink jet method, or an LB method. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the film thickness of an electron carrying layer, Usually, it is about 5 nm-5000 nm. This electron transport layer may have a single layer structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

  Next, an injection layer used as a constituent layer of the organic EL element of the present invention will be described.

<< Injection layer >>: Electron injection layer, hole injection layer An injection layer is provided as necessary, and includes an electron injection layer and a hole injection layer, and as described above, between the anode and the light emitting layer or the hole transport layer, and Further, it may be present between the cathode and the light emitting layer or the electron transport layer.

  An injection layer is a layer that is provided between an electrode and an organic layer in order to lower drive voltage and improve light emission brightness. “Organic EL elements and the forefront of their industrialization (issued by NTT Corporation on November 30, 1998) 2 of Chapter 2, “Electrode Materials” (pages 123 to 166) in detail, and includes a hole injection layer (anode buffer layer) and an electron injection layer (cathode buffer layer).

  The details of the anode buffer layer (hole injection layer) are described in JP-A Nos. 9-45479, 9-260062, and 8-288069. Representative examples thereof include copper phthalocyanine. Phthalocyanine buffer layers, oxide buffer layers represented by vanadium oxide, amorphous carbon buffer layers, polymer buffer layers using conductive polymers such as polyaniline (emeraldine) and polythiophene, and the like.

  The details of the cathode buffer layer (electron injection layer) are described in JP-A-6-325871, JP-A-9-17574, JP-A-10-74586, and the like. Specifically, strontium, aluminum, etc. Examples include a metal buffer layer represented by an alkali metal compound buffer layer represented by lithium fluoride, an alkaline earth metal compound buffer layer represented by magnesium fluoride, and an oxide buffer layer represented by aluminum oxide.

  The buffer layer (injection layer) is preferably a very thin film, and the film thickness is preferably in the range of 0.1 nm to 100 nm, although it depends on the material.

  This injection layer can be formed by thinning the above material by a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, an ink jet method, or an LB method. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the film thickness of an injection | pouring layer, Usually, it is about 5 nm-5000 nm. The injection layer may have a single layer structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

"anode"
As the anode according to the organic EL device of the present invention, an electrode having a work function (4 eV or more) metal, alloy, electrically conductive compound and a mixture thereof as an electrode material is preferably used. Specific examples of such electrode substances include metals such as Au, and conductive transparent materials such as CuI, indium tin oxide (ITO), SnO ₂ , and ZnO. Alternatively, an amorphous material such as IDIXO (In ₂ O ₃ —ZnO) capable of forming a transparent conductive film may be used.

  For the anode, these electrode materials may be formed into a thin film by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering, and a pattern having a desired shape may be formed by a photolithography method, or when pattern accuracy is not so high (about 100 μm or more) A pattern may be formed through a mask having a desired shape at the time of vapor deposition or sputtering of the electrode material.

  When light emission is extracted from the anode, it is desirable that the transmittance be greater than 10%, and the sheet resistance as the anode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less. Further, although the film thickness depends on the material, it is usually selected in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm, preferably 10 nm to 200 nm.

"cathode"
On the other hand, as the cathode according to the present invention, a cathode having a work function (4 eV or less) metal (referred to as an electron injecting metal), an alloy, an electrically conductive compound, and a mixture thereof is used.

Specific examples of such electrode materials include sodium, sodium-potassium alloy, magnesium, lithium, magnesium / copper mixture, magnesium / silver mixture, magnesium / aluminum mixture, magnesium / indium mixture, aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) Mixtures, indium, lithium / aluminum mixtures, rare earth metals and the like.

Among these, from the point of durability against electron injection and oxidation, etc., a mixture of an electron injecting metal and a second metal which is a stable metal having a larger work function than this, for example, a magnesium / silver mixture, Suitable are a magnesium / aluminum mixture, a magnesium / indium mixture, an aluminum / aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) mixture, a lithium / aluminum mixture, aluminum and the like.

  The cathode can be produced by forming a thin film of these electrode materials by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering. The sheet resistance as the cathode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less, and the film thickness is usually selected in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm, preferably 50 nm to 200 nm. In order to transmit light, if either one of the anode or the cathode of the organic EL element is transparent or translucent, the light emission luminance is improved, which is convenient.

<< Substrate (also referred to as substrate, substrate, support, etc.) >>
The substrate of the organic EL device of the present invention is not particularly limited as to the type of glass, plastic and the like, and is not particularly limited as long as it is transparent. Examples of the substrate preferably used include glass and quartz. And a light transmissive resin film.

  A particularly preferable substrate is a resin film capable of giving flexibility to the organic EL element.

  Examples of the resin film include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide, polycarbonate (PC), and cellulose. Examples include films made of triacetate (TAC), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), and the like.

An inorganic or organic film or a hybrid film of both may be formed on the surface of the resin film, and the water vapor permeability (25 ± 0.5 ° C.) measured by a method according to JIS K 7129-1992. , And a relative humidity (90 ± 2)% RH) of 0.01 g / (m ² · 24 h) or less is preferable.

  The external extraction efficiency at room temperature of light emission of the organic EL device of the present invention is preferably 1% or more, more preferably 2% or more.

  Here, the external extraction quantum efficiency (%) = the number of photons emitted to the outside of the organic EL element / the number of electrons sent to the organic EL element × 100.

  Further, a hue improving filter such as a color filter may be used in combination. When used in lighting applications, a film (such as an antiglare film) that has been roughened to reduce unevenness in light emission can be used in combination.

  When used as a multicolor display device, it is composed of at least two types of organic EL elements having different light emission maximum wavelengths. A suitable example for producing an organic EL element will be described.

<< Method for producing organic EL element >>
As an example of the method for producing the organic EL device of the present invention, a method for producing an organic EL device comprising an anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / cathode buffer layer / cathode. Will be described.

  First, a thin film made of a desired electrode material, for example, an anode material, is formed on a suitable substrate by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering so as to have a film thickness of 1 μm or less, preferably 10 nm to 200 nm, thereby producing an anode. Next, a thin film containing an organic compound such as a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, a hole blocking layer, or an electron transport layer, which is an element material, is formed thereon.

  As a method for thinning a thin film containing an organic compound, there are a spin coat method, a cast method, an ink jet method, a vapor deposition method, a printing method, and the like. From the viewpoint of the above, the vacuum deposition method or the spin coating method is particularly preferable.

Further, a different film forming method may be applied for each layer. When a vapor deposition method is employed for film formation, the vapor deposition conditions vary depending on the type of compound used, but generally the boat heating temperature is 50 ° C. to 450 ° C., the degree of vacuum is 10 ⁻⁶ Pa to 10 ⁻² Pa, and the vapor deposition rate. Is suitably selected in the range of 0.01 nm / second to 50 nm / second, the substrate temperature of −50 ° C. to 300 ° C., and the film thickness of 0.1 μm to 5 μm.

  After the formation of these layers, a thin film made of a cathode material is formed thereon by a method such as vapor deposition or sputtering so as to have a film thickness of 1 μm or less, preferably in the range of 50 nm to 200 nm, and a cathode is provided. Thus, a desired organic EL element can be obtained.

  The organic EL device is preferably manufactured from the hole injection layer to the cathode consistently by a single vacuum, but may be taken out halfway and subjected to different film forming methods. At that time, it is necessary to consider that the work is performed in a dry inert gas atmosphere.

<Display device>
The display device of the present invention will be described. The display device of the present invention comprises the organic EL element of the present invention.

  Although the display device of the present invention may be single color or multicolor, the multicolor display device will be described here. In the case of a multicolor display device, a shadow mask is provided only at the time of forming a light emitting layer, and a film can be formed on one surface by vapor deposition, casting, spin coating, ink jet, printing, or the like.

  When patterning is performed only on the light-emitting layer, the method is not limited, but a vapor deposition method, an inkjet method, and a printing method are preferable. In the case of using a vapor deposition method, patterning using a shadow mask is preferable.

  Moreover, it is also possible to reverse the production order and produce the cathode, the electron transport layer, the hole blocking layer, the light emitting layer, the hole transport layer, and the anode in this order.

  When a DC voltage is applied to the multicolor display device thus obtained, light emission can be observed by applying a voltage of about 2 to 40 V with the positive polarity of the anode and the negative polarity of the cathode. Further, even when a voltage is applied with the opposite polarity, no current flows and no light emission occurs. Further, when an AC voltage is applied, light is emitted only when the anode is in the + state and the cathode is in the-state. The alternating current waveform to be applied may be arbitrary.

  The multicolor display device can be used as a display device, a display, and various light emission sources. In a display device or display, full-color display is possible by using three types of organic EL elements of blue, red, and green light emission.

  Examples of the display device and display include a television, a personal computer, a mobile device, an AV device, a character broadcast display, and an information display in an automobile. In particular, it may be used as a display device for reproducing still images and moving images, and the driving method when used as a display device for reproducing moving images may be either a simple matrix (passive matrix) method or an active matrix method.

  Light emitting sources include home lighting, interior lighting, clock and liquid crystal backlights, billboard advertisements, traffic lights, light sources for optical storage media, light sources for electrophotographic copying machines, light sources for optical communication processors, light sources for optical sensors, etc. However, it is not limited to this.

《Lighting device》
The lighting device of the present invention will be described. The illumination device of the present invention has the organic EL element of the present invention.

  The organic EL element of the present invention may be used as an organic EL element having a resonator structure. The purpose of use of the organic EL element having such a resonator structure is as follows. The light source of a machine, the light source of an optical communication processing machine, the light source of an optical sensor, etc. are mentioned, However It is not limited to these. Moreover, you may use for the said use by making a laser oscillation.

  Further, the organic EL element of the present invention may be used as a kind of lamp for illumination or exposure light source, a projection device for projecting an image, or a display for directly viewing a still image or a moving image. It may be used as a device (display).

  The driving method when used as a display device for moving image reproduction may be either a simple matrix (passive matrix) method or an active matrix method. Alternatively, a full-color display device can be manufactured by using two or more organic EL elements of the present invention having different emission colors.

  Hereinafter, an example of a display device having the organic EL element of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a display device composed of organic EL elements. It is a schematic diagram of a display such as a mobile phone that displays image information by light emission of an organic EL element.

  The display 1 includes a display unit A having a plurality of pixels, a control unit B that performs image scanning of the display unit A based on image information, and the like. The control unit B is electrically connected to the display unit A, and sends a scanning signal and an image data signal to each of a plurality of pixels based on image information from the outside, and the pixels for each scanning line respond to the image data signal by the scanning signal. The image information is sequentially emitted to scan the image and display the image information on the display unit A.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the display unit A. The display unit A includes a wiring unit including a plurality of scanning lines 5 and data lines 6, a plurality of pixels 3 and the like on a substrate. The main members of the display unit A will be described below.

  In the figure, the light emitted from the pixel 3 is extracted in the direction of the white arrow (downward). The scanning line 5 and the plurality of data lines 6 in the wiring portion are each made of a conductive material, and the scanning lines 5 and the data lines 6 are orthogonal to each other in a grid pattern and are connected to the pixels 3 at the orthogonal positions (details are illustrated). Not)

  When a scanning signal is applied from the scanning line 5, the pixel 3 receives an image data signal from the data line 6 and emits light according to the received image data. As the color of light emission, full-color display is possible by arranging pixels in the red region, pixels in the green region, and pixels in the blue region as appropriate on the same substrate.

  Next, the light emission process of the pixel will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a pixel.

  The pixel includes an organic EL element 10, a switching transistor 11, a driving transistor 12, a capacitor 13, and the like. A full color display can be performed by using red, green, and blue light emitting organic EL elements as the organic EL elements 10 in a plurality of pixels, and juxtaposing them on the same substrate.

  In FIG. 3, an image data signal is applied from the control unit B to the drain of the switching transistor 11 through the data line 6. When a scanning signal is applied from the control unit B to the gate of the switching transistor 11 via the scanning line 5, the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned on, and the image data signal applied to the drain is supplied to the capacitor 13 and the driving transistor 12. Is transmitted to the gate.

  By transmitting the image data signal, the capacitor 13 is charged according to the potential of the image data signal, and the drive of the drive transistor 12 is turned on. The drive transistor 12 has a drain connected to the power supply line 7 and a source connected to the electrode of the organic EL element 10, and the organic EL element 10 is connected from the power supply line 7 according to the potential of the image data signal applied to the gate. Is supplied with current.

  When the scanning signal is moved to the next scanning line 5 by the sequential scanning of the control unit B, the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned off. However, even if the driving of the switching transistor 11 is turned off, the capacitor 13 maintains the potential of the charged image data signal, so that the driving of the driving transistor 12 is kept on and the next scanning signal is applied. Until then, the light emission of the organic EL element 10 continues. When the scanning signal is next applied by sequential scanning, the driving transistor 12 is driven and the organic EL element 10 emits light according to the potential of the next image data signal synchronized with the scanning signal.

  That is, the organic EL element 10 emits light by emitting the organic EL element 10 of each of the plurality of pixels 3 by providing the switching transistor 11 and the driving transistor 12 as active elements to the organic EL elements 10 of the plurality of pixels. Is going. Such a light emitting method is called an active matrix method.

  Here, the light emission of the organic EL element 10 may be light emission of a plurality of gradations by a multi-value image data signal having a plurality of gradation potentials, or by turning on / off a predetermined light emission amount by a binary image data signal. Good. The potential of the capacitor 13 may be maintained until the next scanning signal is applied, or may be discharged immediately before the next scanning signal is applied.

  In the present invention, not only the active matrix method described above, but also a passive matrix light emission drive in which the organic EL element emits light according to the data signal only when the scanning signal is scanned.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a passive matrix display device. In FIG. 4, a plurality of scanning lines 5 and a plurality of image data lines 6 are provided in a lattice shape so as to face each other with the pixel 3 interposed therebetween.

  When the scanning signal of the scanning line 5 is applied by sequential scanning, the pixel 3 connected to the applied scanning line 5 emits light according to the image data signal.

  In the passive matrix system, the pixel 3 has no active element, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The organic EL element of the present invention can be applied as an organic EL element that emits substantially white light when applied to a lighting device. A plurality of light emitting colors are simultaneously emitted by a plurality of light emitting materials to obtain white light emission by color mixing.

  The combination of a plurality of emission colors may include three emission maximum wavelengths of the three primary colors of blue, green, and blue, or two using the relationship of complementary colors such as blue and yellow, blue green and orange, etc. The thing containing the light emission maximum wavelength may be used.

  As a combination of light emitting materials for obtaining a plurality of emission colors, a combination of a plurality of phosphorescent or fluorescent materials, a light emitting material that emits fluorescence or phosphorescence, and light from the light emitting material is used. Any combination with a dye material that emits light as excitation light may be used, but in the white organic EL device according to the present invention, it is only necessary to mix and combine a plurality of light-emitting dopants.

  It is only necessary to provide a mask only when forming a light emitting layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, etc., and simply arrange them separately by coating with the mask. Since other layers are common, patterning such as a mask is unnecessary. In addition, for example, an electrode film can be formed by a vapor deposition method, a cast method, a spin coating method, an ink jet method, a printing method, etc., and productivity is also improved.

  According to this method, unlike a white organic EL device in which light emitting elements of a plurality of colors are arranged in parallel in an array, the elements themselves are luminescent white.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a luminescent material used for a light emitting layer, For example, if it is a backlight in a liquid crystal display element, the metal complex which concerns on this invention so that it may suit the wavelength range corresponding to CF (color filter) characteristic, Any one of known luminescent materials may be selected and combined to whiten.

  As described above, the white light emitting organic EL element according to the present invention is used as a kind of lamp such as household illumination, interior lighting, and exposure light source as various light emitting light sources and lighting devices in addition to the display device and display. It is also useful for display devices such as backlights for liquid crystal display devices. Others such as backlights for watches, signboard advertisements, traffic lights, light sources for optical storage media, light sources for electrophotographic copying machines, light sources for optical communication processors, light sources for optical sensors, etc. There are a wide range of uses such as household appliances.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention, this invention is not limited to these. Moreover, the compound used for an Example is shown below.

Example 1
<< Production of Organic EL Element 1-1 >>
After patterning on a substrate (made by NH Techno Glass Co., Ltd .: NA-45) having a 150 nm ITO film formed on glass as an anode, the transparent support substrate provided with this ITO transparent electrode was ultrasonically cleaned with iso-propyl alcohol. Then, it was dried with dry nitrogen gas, and UV ozone cleaning was performed for 5 minutes.

This transparent support substrate is fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum deposition apparatus, while α-NPD, H4, Ir-12, BCP, and Alq ₃ are placed in five tantalum resistance heating boats, respectively. (Vacuum chamber).

  Further, lithium fluoride was placed in a resistance heating boat made of tantalum, and aluminum was placed in a resistance heating boat made of tungsten, and attached to the second vacuum tank of the vacuum evaporation apparatus.

First, after reducing the pressure in the first vacuum tank to 4 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, the heating boat containing α-NPD is energized and heated, and transparent at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to 0.2 nm / second. It vapor-deposited so that it might become a film thickness of 20 nm on the support substrate, and provided the positive hole injection / transport layer.

  Further, the heating boat containing H4 and the boat containing Ir-12 are energized independently to adjust the deposition rate of H4 as a light emitting host and Ir-12 as a light emitting dopant to 100: 6. And it vapor-deposited so that it might become a film thickness of 30 nm, and provided the light emitting layer.

  Next, the heating boat containing BCP was energized and heated to provide a 10 nm thick hole blocking layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / sec to 0.2 nm / sec.

Further, the heating boat containing Alq ₃ was energized and heated to provide an electron transport layer having a film thickness of 20 nm at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to 0.2 nm / second.

  Next, after the element deposited up to the electron transport layer was transferred to the second vacuum chamber while being vacuumed, it was remotely controlled from the outside of the apparatus so that a stainless steel rectangular perforated mask was placed on the electron transport layer. Installed.

After reducing the pressure in the second vacuum chamber to 2 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, a cathode buffer layer having a film thickness of 0.5 nm was formed at a deposition rate of 0.01 nm / second to 0.02 nm / second by energizing a boat containing lithium fluoride. Then, a boat containing aluminum was energized, a cathode having a film thickness of 150 nm was attached at a deposition rate of 1 nm / second to 2 nm / second, and an organic EL device 1-1 was produced.

<< Production of Organic EL Elements 1-2 to 1-15 >>
In the production of the organic EL element 1-1, the organic EL elements 1-2 to 1-15 were produced in the same manner except that the light emitting host and the light emitting dopant were changed as shown in Table 1.

<< Evaluation of organic EL elements >>
When evaluating the obtained organic EL elements 1-1 to 1-15, the non-light-emitting surface of each organic EL element after production is covered with a glass case, and a glass substrate having a thickness of 300 μm is used as a sealing substrate. An epoxy-based photo-curing adhesive (Lux Track LC0629B manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.) is applied as a sealing material in the periphery, and this is placed on the cathode to be in close contact with the transparent support substrate and irradiated with UV light from the glass substrate side Then, it was cured and sealed, and an illumination device as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 was formed and evaluated.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the lighting device, and the organic EL element 101 is covered with a glass cover 102 (in addition, the sealing operation with the glass cover is performed in a nitrogen atmosphere without bringing the organic EL element 101 into contact with the atmosphere. (In a high purity nitrogen gas atmosphere with a purity of 99.999% or more).

  4 shows a cross-sectional view of the lighting device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 105 denotes a cathode, 106 denotes an organic EL layer, and 107 denotes a glass substrate with a transparent electrode. The glass cover 102 is filled with nitrogen gas 108 and a water catching agent 109 is provided.

(External quantum efficiency)
By lighting the organic EL element at room temperature (about 23 ° C. to 25 ° C.) under a constant current condition of ^2.5 mA / cm ² and measuring the light emission luminance (L) [cd / m ² ] immediately after the start of lighting. The external extraction quantum efficiency (η) was calculated.

  Here, CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Sensing) was used for measurement of light emission luminance. The external extraction quantum efficiency was expressed as a relative value with the organic EL element 1-1 as 100.

(Luminescent life)
The organic EL element was continuously lit at a constant current of ^2.5 mA / cm ² at room temperature, and the time (τ ^1/2 ) required to achieve half the initial luminance was measured. The light emission lifetime was expressed as a relative value at which the organic EL element 1-1 was set to 100.

(Luminescent color)
The organic EL element was visually evaluated for the color of light emitted when the organic EL element was continuously lit at a constant current of ^2.5 mA / cm ² at room temperature.

  The obtained results are shown in Table 1.

  From Table 1, it is clear that the organic EL device produced using the metal complex according to the present invention can achieve higher luminous efficiency and longer lifetime than the organic EL device of the comparative example.

Example 2
<< Production of Organic EL Element 1-1 >>
After patterning on a substrate (made by NH Techno Glass Co., Ltd .: NA-45) having a 150 nm ITO film formed on glass as an anode, the transparent support substrate provided with this ITO transparent electrode was ultrasonically cleaned with iso-propyl alcohol. Then, it was dried with dry nitrogen gas, and UV ozone cleaning was performed for 5 minutes.

The transparent support substrate is fixed to a substrate holder of a commercially available vacuum deposition apparatus, while α-NPD, H4, Ir-13, BCP, and Alq ₃ are placed in five tantalum resistance heating boats, respectively. (Vacuum chamber).

  Further, lithium fluoride was placed in a resistance heating boat made of tantalum, and aluminum was placed in a resistance heating boat made of tungsten, and attached to the second vacuum tank of the vacuum evaporation apparatus.

First, after reducing the pressure in the first vacuum tank to 4 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, the heating boat containing α-NPD is energized and heated, and transparent at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to 0.2 nm / second. It vapor-deposited so that it might become a film thickness of 20 nm on the support substrate, and provided the positive hole injection / transport layer.

  Further, the heating boat containing H4 and the boat containing Ir-13 are energized independently to adjust the deposition rate of H4 as a light emitting host and Ir-13 as a light emitting dopant to 100: 6. And it vapor-deposited so that it might become a film thickness of 30 nm, and provided the light emitting layer.

  Next, the heating boat containing BCP was energized and heated to provide a 10 nm thick hole blocking layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / sec to 0.2 nm / sec.

Further, the heating boat containing Alq ₃ was energized and heated to provide an electron transport layer having a film thickness of 20 nm at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second to 0.2 nm / second.

  Next, after the element deposited up to the electron transport layer was transferred to the second vacuum chamber while being vacuumed, it was remotely controlled from the outside of the apparatus so that a stainless steel rectangular perforated mask was placed on the electron transport layer. Installed.

After reducing the pressure in the second vacuum chamber to 2 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, a cathode buffer layer having a film thickness of 0.5 nm was formed at a deposition rate of 0.01 nm / second to 0.02 nm / second by energizing a boat containing lithium fluoride. Then, a boat containing aluminum was energized, a cathode having a film thickness of 150 nm was attached at a deposition rate of 1 nm / second to 2 nm / second, and an organic EL element 2-1 was produced.

<< Production of Organic EL Elements 2-2 to 2-15 >>
In the production of the organic EL element 2-1, organic EL elements 2-2 to 2-15 were produced in the same manner except that the light emitting host and the light emitting dopant were changed as shown in Table 1.

<< Evaluation of organic EL elements >>
When evaluating the obtained organic EL elements 2-1 to 2-15, the non-light-emitting surface of each organic EL element after production was covered with a glass case, and a glass substrate having a thickness of 300 μm was used as a sealing substrate. An epoxy-based photo-curing adhesive (Lux Track LC0629B manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.) is applied as a sealing material in the periphery, and this is placed on the cathode to be in close contact with the transparent support substrate and irradiated with UV light from the glass substrate side. Then, it was cured and sealed, and an illumination device as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 was formed and evaluated.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the lighting device, and the organic EL element 101 is covered with a glass cover 102 (in addition, the sealing operation with the glass cover is performed in a nitrogen atmosphere without bringing the organic EL element 101 into contact with the atmosphere. (In a high purity nitrogen gas atmosphere with a purity of 99.999% or more).

  4 shows a cross-sectional view of the lighting device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 105 denotes a cathode, 106 denotes an organic EL layer, and 107 denotes a glass substrate with a transparent electrode. The glass cover 102 is filled with nitrogen gas 108 and a water catching agent 109 is provided.

(External quantum efficiency)
By lighting the organic EL element at room temperature (about 23 ° C. to 25 ° C.) under a constant current condition of ^2.5 mA / cm ² and measuring the light emission luminance (L) [cd / m ² ] immediately after the start of lighting. The external extraction quantum efficiency (η) was calculated.

  Here, CS-1000 (manufactured by Konica Minolta Sensing) was used for measurement of light emission luminance. The external extraction quantum efficiency was expressed as a relative value with the organic EL element 2-1 being 100.

(Luminescent life)
The organic EL element was continuously lit at a constant current of ^2.5 mA / cm ² at room temperature, and the time (τ ^1/9 ) required to ^reach 90% of the initial luminance was measured. The light emission lifetime is represented by a relative value at which the organic EL element 2-1 is set to 100.

(Luminescent color)
The organic EL element was visually evaluated for the color of light emitted when the organic EL element was continuously lit at a constant current of ^2.5 mA / cm ² at room temperature.

  The obtained results are shown in Table 2.

  From Table 2, it is clear that the organic EL device produced using the metal complex according to the present invention can achieve higher luminous efficiency and longer lifetime than the organic EL device of the comparative example.

Example 3
<< Production of Organic EL Element 3-1 >>
An anode of indium tin oxide (ITO, indium / tin = 95/5 molar ratio) was formed on a glass support substrate of 25 mm × 25 mm × 0.5 mm by a sputtering method using a DC power source (thickness 200 nm).

  The surface resistance of this anode was 10Ω / □. Polyvinylcarbazole (hole transporting binder polymer) / Ir-13 (blue light-emitting orthometalated complex) / 2- (4-biphenylyl) -5- (4-t-butylphenyl) -1,3,4 -Oxadiazole (electron transport material) = A dichloroethane solution in which a mass ratio of 200/2/50 was dissolved was applied by a spin coater to obtain a light-emitting layer having a thickness of 100 nm.

  A patterned mask (a mask with a light emission area of 5 mm × 5 mm) is placed on the organic compound layer, and lithium fluoride 0.5 nm is deposited as a cathode buffer layer and aluminum 150 nm is deposited as a cathode in a deposition apparatus to form a cathode. A blue light-emitting organic EL element 3-1 was prepared.

<< Production of Organic EL Elements 3-2 to 3-8 >>
In the production of the organic EL element 2-1, organic EL elements 3-2 to 3-8 were produced in the same manner except that the luminescent dopant was changed as shown in Table 3.

<< Evaluation of organic EL elements >>
When evaluating the obtained organic EL elements 3-1 to 3-8, the non-light-emitting surface of each organic EL element after production was covered with a glass case, and a glass substrate having a thickness of 300 μm was used as a sealing substrate. An epoxy-based photo-curing adhesive (Lux Track LC0629B manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.) is applied as a sealing material in the periphery, and this is placed on the cathode to be in close contact with the transparent support substrate and irradiated with UV light from the glass substrate side. Then, it was cured and sealed, and an illumination device as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 was formed and evaluated.

  Subsequently, the luminance and luminous efficiency were measured as follows.

(Luminance, luminous efficiency)
Using Toyo Technica source measure unit type 2400, a direct current voltage is applied to the organic EL element to emit light, and a light emission luminance (cd / m ² ) and ^2.5 mA / cm ² when a direct current voltage of 10 V is applied. Luminous efficiency (lm / W) when passing current was measured.

  The obtained results are shown in Table 3. In addition, it represented with the relative value which sets the organic EL element 3-1 to 100.

  From Table 3, it is clear that the organic EL device produced using the metal complex according to the present invention can achieve high luminous efficiency and high luminance as compared with the organic EL device of the comparative example.

Example 4
<Production of full-color display device>
(Production of blue light emitting element)
The organic EL element 2-4 of Example 2 was used as a blue light emitting element.

(Production of green light emitting element)
A green light emitting device was produced in the same manner as in the organic EL device 1-1 of Example 1 except that Ir-12 was changed to Ir-1, and this was used as a green light emitting device.

(Production of red light emitting element)
A red light emitting device was produced in the same manner as in the organic EL device 1-1 of Example 1 except that Ir-12 was changed to Ir-9, and this was used as a red light emitting device.

  The red, green, and blue light-emitting organic EL elements produced above were juxtaposed on the same substrate to produce an active matrix type full-color display device having a configuration as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, only the schematic diagram of the display part A of the produced display device is shown. That is, a plurality of pixels 3 (light emission color is a red region pixel, a green region pixel, a blue region pixel, etc.) juxtaposed with a wiring portion including a plurality of scanning lines 5 and data lines 6 on the same substrate. The scanning lines 5 and the plurality of data lines 6 in the wiring portion are each made of a conductive material, and the scanning lines 5 and the data lines 6 are orthogonal to each other in a lattice shape and are connected to the pixels 3 at the orthogonal positions (for details, see FIG. Not shown).

  The plurality of pixels 3 are driven by an active matrix system provided with an organic EL element corresponding to each emission color, a switching transistor as an active element, and a driving transistor, and a scanning signal is applied from a scanning line 5. The image data signal is received from the data line 6 and light is emitted according to the received image data.

  In this way, a full color display device was produced by appropriately juxtaposing red, green, and blue pixels.

  It has been found that when this full-color display device is driven, a high-brightness, high durability, and clear full-color moving image display can be obtained.

Example 5
<< Preparation of white light emitting element and white lighting device >>
The electrode of the transparent electrode substrate of Example 1 is patterned to 20 mm × 20 mm, and α-NPD is formed as a hole injection / transport layer with a thickness of 25 nm thereon, as in Example 1, and further contains CBP. The heated boat, the boat containing Exemplified Compound 1-50 and the boat containing Ir-9 were energized independently, and CBP as a light emitting host and Exemplified Compounds 1-50 and Ir-9 as luminescent dopants The vapor deposition rate was adjusted to 100: 5: 0.6, vapor deposition was performed to a thickness of 30 nm, and a light emitting layer was provided.

Next, BCP was deposited to a thickness of 10 nm to provide a hole blocking layer. Further, Alq ₃ was formed at 40 nm to provide an electron transport layer.

  Next, as in Example 1, a square perforated mask having the same shape as the transparent electrode made of stainless steel was placed on the electron injection layer, and lithium fluoride 0.5 nm was used as the cathode buffer layer and aluminum 150 nm was used as the cathode. Evaporated film was formed.

  This element was provided with a sealing can having the same method and the same structure as in Example 1, and a flat lamp as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 was produced. When this flat lamp was energized, almost white light was obtained, and it was found that it could be used as a lighting device.

Example 6
<< Production of White Light Emitting Element and White Lighting Device-2 >>
After patterning on a substrate (NA-45 manufactured by NH Techno Glass Co., Ltd.) formed by depositing 100 nm of ITO (indium tin oxide) on a 100 mm × 100 mm × 1.1 mm glass substrate as an anode, this ITO transparent electrode was provided. The transparent support substrate was ultrasonically cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, dried with dry nitrogen gas, and subjected to UV ozone cleaning for 5 minutes.

  On this transparent support substrate, a solution obtained by diluting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) -polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT / PSS, Bayer, Baytron P Al 4083) to 70% with pure water at 3000 rpm for 30 seconds. After the film formation by spin coating, the film was dried at 200 ° C. for 1 hour to provide a first hole transport layer having a thickness of 30 nm.

  This substrate was transferred to a nitrogen atmosphere, and a solution of 50 mg of compound A dissolved in 10 ml of toluene was formed on the first hole transport layer by spin coating at 1000 rpm for 30 seconds. After irradiating with ultraviolet light for 180 seconds to carry out photopolymerization / crosslinking, vacuum drying was performed at 60 ° C. for 1 hour to form a second hole transport layer.

  Next, using a solution obtained by dissolving Compound B (60 mg), Ir-14 (3.0 mg), and Ir-15 (3.0 mg) in 6 ml of toluene, a film is formed by spin coating under conditions of 1000 rpm and 30 seconds. did. Irradiated with ultraviolet light for 15 seconds to cause photopolymerization / crosslinking, and further heated in vacuum at 150 ° C. for 1 hour to obtain a light emitting layer.

  Further, a solution of compound C (20 mg) dissolved in 6 ml of toluene was used to form a film by spin coating under conditions of 1000 rpm and 30 seconds. Ultraviolet light was irradiated for 15 seconds, photopolymerization / crosslinking was performed, and further heating was performed in vacuum at 80 ° C. for 1 hour to form a hole blocking layer.

Subsequently, the substrate was fixed to a substrate holder of a vacuum deposition apparatus, the Alq ₃ was placed 200mg to molybdenum resistance heating boat was attached to a vacuum deposition apparatus. After depressurizing the vacuum chamber to 4 × 10 ⁻⁴ Pa, heating by energizing the heating boat containing Alq ₃ , vapor deposition on the hole blocking layer at a deposition rate of 0.1 nm / second, An electron transport layer having a thickness of 40 nm was provided.

  In addition, the substrate temperature at the time of vapor deposition was room temperature.

  Then, 0.5 nm of lithium fluoride and 110 nm of aluminum were vapor-deposited, the cathode was formed, and the white light emitting organic EL element was produced.

  When this element was energized, almost white light was obtained, and it was found that it could be used as a lighting device.

It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the display apparatus comprised from an organic EL element. 4 is a schematic diagram of a display unit A. FIG. It is a schematic diagram of a pixel. It is a schematic diagram of a passive matrix type full-color display device. It is the schematic of an illuminating device. It is a schematic diagram of an illuminating device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display 3 Pixel 5 Scan line 6 Data line 7 Power supply line 10 Organic EL element 11 Switching transistor 12 Drive transistor 13 Capacitor A Display part B Control part 101 Organic EL element 102 Glass cover 105 Cathode 106 Organic EL layer 107 Glass substrate with a transparent electrode 108 Nitrogen gas 109 Water catching agent

Claims (14)

An organic electroluminescence device comprising at least one compound including a partial structure represented by the following general formula (1).

[Wherein R ¹ and R ² each represent a substituent, Q ¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring, and Q ² represents a nitrogen-containing group formed of at least two 5-membered rings. N1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, n2 represents an integer of 0 to 0 that can be substituted on Q ² , and M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table . ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (2).

[Wherein, R ¹ and R ³ each represent a substituent, and R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Q ¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring, Q ³ represents an aromatic heterocyclic ring, n 1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, n 3 represents an integer of 0 to 2, M is It represents a transition metal element of group 8 to group 10 in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 2, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (2) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (3).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Q ³ represents an aromatic heterocycle, R ³ represents a substituent, and n3 represents an integer of 0 to 2. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 3, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (3) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (4).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. A ₂ represents —C (Ra) ═ (Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent) or a nitrogen atom. A ₁ and A ₃ each represent —C (Rb) ═, —C (Rb) (Rc) — (Rb and Rc represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent), a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom. . The bond between A ₁ and A _{2 and} the bond between A ₂ and A ₃ each represents a single bond or a double bond. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (1) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (5).

[Wherein, R ¹ and R ⁵ represent a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, n4 represents an integer of 0 to 2, Q ⁴ represents an aromatic heterocyclic ring, and M represents a group 8 to group 10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent element according to claim 4, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (4) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (6).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to ⁴ , and R ⁴ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 4, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (4) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (7).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, n1 represents an integer of 0 to ⁴ , and R ⁴ and R ⁸ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 5, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (5) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (8).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and A ₂ represents —C (Ra) = (Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent) or a nitrogen atom. A ₁ and A ₃ each represent —C (Rb) ═, —C (Rb) (Rc) — (Rb and Rc represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent), a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom. . The bond between A ₁ and A _{2 and} the bond between A ₂ and A ₃ represent a single bond or a double bond. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescent device according to claim 8, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (8) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (9).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ⁹ and R ¹⁰ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescence device according to claim 8, wherein the partial structure represented by the general formula (8) is a partial structure represented by the following general formula (10).

[Wherein, R ¹ represents a substituent, and R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, and R ¹⁰ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. M represents a group 8-10 transition metal element in the periodic table. ] The organic electroluminescence element according to claim 1, wherein M represents platinum or iridium. It has an organic layer as a constituent layer, and the organic layer contains a compound containing a partial structure represented by any one of the general formula (1) to the general formula (10), and the organic layer The organic electroluminescent element according to claim 1, wherein at least one layer is formed by a wet process. A display device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to claim 1. An illuminating device comprising the organic electroluminescence element according to claim 1.

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