PhD Position in Organic Chemistry. Synthesis of Pi-Conjugated Systems for Organic Electronics: Molecular design of very high triplet state host matrices for deep blue phosphorescent OLEDs

9 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS - University of Rennes 1

Department

Chemistry

Research Field

Chemistry » Organic chemistry

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

10 Jun 2024 - 15:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

1 Oct 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Organic electronics (EO) is starting to play a major role in electronics and will undoubtedly be part of the electronics of tomorrow. This new electronics is based on the use of organic semiconductors and the organic electrophosphorescent diode (PhOLED) is nowadays the major component of this technology. A PhOLED is an electronic device in which a light-emitting layer is deposited between different other layers of organic materials, all deposited between two electrodes. By applying an electric field, the PhOLED emits light by electroluminescence. In a PhOLED, the light-emitting layer is composed of an organic host matrix / phosphorescent emitter couple. The operating principle is based on the generation and combination of electron-hole pairs (exciton) in the organic matrix then the transfer of the excitons formed to the phosphorescent emitter. Much of the research carried out over the last 10 years has concerned improving the properties of host matrices to make them more and more adapted to those of phosphorescent emitters. Thus, by to molecular engineering techniques of these matrices, the performance of PhOLEDs has been increased over the years, today exceeding external quantum efficiency of 30%. Our team, based at the Institute of Chemical Sciences of Rennes (ISCR), is today an internationally recognized player in the field of host matrices and has published several world records for PhOLEDs performance in recent years. However, OLED technology still faces a major problem. The presence of heteroatoms (N, S, P, O, etc.) in the molecular structure of the matrices leads to a low device stability, notably  due to the instability of the carbon-heteroatom bonds. In recent years, research has therefore focused on matrices, without heteroatoms, only constituted by carbon and hydrogen atoms (called PHC for Pure HydroCarbon). After a very difficult start, great progress has been made in recent years and the host team recently reported major results highlighting their great efficiency and therefore the potential of PHC matrices in PhOLEDs. The present project aims to take an important step in the field by synthesizing new generations of PHC pi-conjugated organic matrices for applications in the field of PhOLEDs emitting deep blue and white light, which are currently the weakest links in this technology. Thus, this project aims to develop, through new molecular design concepts, PHC matrices with very high levels of the triplet state (>2.9 eV). These matrices being almost absent from the literature, this project has a real pioneering character. This project is at the forefront internationally and will be carried out in collaboration with the University of Soochow (Prof Z. Jiang, China) and the Institute of Electronics and Digital Technologies (IETR, Dr E. Jacques, Rennes) for the preparation and characterization of electronic devices.

The challenges of the project are multiple. This project mainly aims to position this new generation of host matrices at the international forefront by incorporating them into deep blue and white phosphorescent OLEDs. If successful, this project will enable major advances in the field by paving the way for high-energy organic emission. Molecular designs are the cornerstone of the project and will allow to reach very high energies of the triplet state. The synthetic routes appear very promising and, if successful, will provide rapid and efficient access to a new chemistry of PHC compounds with multiple spiro bridges.

• This project is aimed at a dynamic student with a solid background in synthetic organic chemistry and very motivated by academic research. Knowledge and/or initial experience in electrochemical and/or photophysical analysis will be an asset but is not essential. A solid motivation will constitute the basis of this thesis. The doctoral student will join the Condensed Matter and Electroactive Systems team of ISCR and more particularly the group led by Cyril Poriel. The thesis will be directed by Cyril Poriel, CNRS Research Director and Cassandre Quinton, CNRS Researcher.
• The candidate will join, within the MaCSE team of ISCR, a group constitutes by two permanent researchers, two PhD students and two post-doctoral fellows. The group is at the international forefront on these themes with several world performance records in the field of OLEDs. The team has an internationally recognized network of collaborations that will enable this project to be carried out under the best conditions. The candidate will have access to all the infrastructures, equipment and materials of the group and of the institute to carry out this project in the best possible conditions (fully equipped synthesis laboratory, photophysical and electrochemical characterization laboratory, computers access for calculations, etc.). The candidate will be supervised by two CNRS researchers (Cyril Poriel/Cassandre Quinton) working together on these themes for 10 years.

Requirements

Research Field

Chemistry » Organic chemistry

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

This project is aimed at a dynamic student with a solid background in synthetic organic chemistry and very motivated by academic research. Knowledge and/or initial experience in electrochemical and/or photophysical analysis will be an asset but is not essential. A solid motivation will constitute the basis of this thesis. The doctoral student will join the Condensed Matter and Electroactive Systems team of ISCR and more particularly the group led by Cyril Poriel. The thesis will be directed by Cyril Poriel, CNRS Research Director and Cassandre Quinton, CNRS Researcher.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Chemistry » Organic chemistry

Additional Information
Benefits

contact C. Poriel for additional informations

Selection process

Please send your marks (Master), names of two supervisors, CV and cover letter at [email protected]

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

cnrs university of rennes

Country

France

City

rennes

Postal Code

35700

Street

263 avenue du general leclerc

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Rennes

Website

https://cyrilporiel.wixsite.com/cyrilporielcnrs/

Street

ISCR Campus de beaulieu bat 10C

Postal Code

35042 Rennes cedex

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED