Transition-metal phosphors with emission peak maximum on and beyond the visible spectral boundaries

Third-row transition-metal complexes remain a key component in the preparation of light-emitting layers for future OLED technology. Hence, it is of utmost importance to expand their emission peak wavelengths into the true-blue (∼460–470 nm) and near-infrared (NIR) regions (∼700–1000 nm). Stable true-blue phosphors are expected to excel in commercially available lighting luminaries and visual devices, such as displays and monitors, while efficient NIR emitters will enable new applications such as sensing, imaging, and optical communication. In theory, these advanced emitters can be assembled using transition metals such as iridium and platinum and judiciously designed chelates, as elaborated in this chemistry frontier article. © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry.