Alq3 as the electron-transport and emitting layer material was the first efficient low molecular weight OLED reported by Tang in 1987 [1]. Since then, metaloquinolates have become the focus of new electroluminescent materials research, with Alq3 being the most studied.

General Information

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Full name	Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum
Synonyms	Alq3 8-Hydroxyquinoline aluminum salt Aluminum 8-hydroxyquinolinate Aluminum oxinate Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum
CAS number	2085-33-8
Molecular formula	C27H18AlN3O3
Molecular weight	459.43 g/mol
Absorption	λmax 259 nm (in THF)
Fluorescence	λmax 512 nm (in THF)
HOMO / LUMO	HOMO 5.62 eV LUMO 2.85 eV
Classification / Family	Organometallic, Electron transport layer (ETL), Electron injection layer (EIL), OLED emitting layer (ELM)

Product Details

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Purity	>99% (sublimed)
Melting point	415.4 °C (DSC onset)
Appearance	Yellow-greenish powder

*Sublimation is a technique used to obtain ultra pure-grade chemicals. For more details about sublimation, please refer to the Sublimed Materials page.

Chemical Structure

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Chemical structure of tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3)

Device Structure(s)

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Device structure	ITO/ NPB(60 nm)/Alq3:DCM(7nm)/BCP(12 nm)/ Alq3(36nm)/ MgAg(200 nm) [2]
Colour	Red
Max. Luminance	1, 000 cd/m2
Max. Current Efficiency	5.66 cd/A

Device structure	ITO/m-MTDATA:MoOx (3:1, 15 nm)/m-MTDATA (30 nm)/NPB (5 nm)/Alq3 (50 nm)/BPhen (10 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) [3]
Colour	Green
Max. Luminance	42,090 cd/m2
Max. Current Efficiency	4.77 cd/A
Max. Power Efficiency	3.5 lm W−1

Device structure	ITO/α-NPD* (50 nm)/7%-Ir(ppy)3:CBP (20 nm)/BCP (10 nm)/Alq3 (40 nm)/Mg–Ag (100 nm)/Ag (20 nm) [4]
Colour	Green
Max EQE	(12.0±0.6)%
Max. Powder Efficiency	(45±2) lm W−1

Device structure	ITO/NPB (30 nm)/NPB: DCJTB: C545T* (10 nm)/NPB (4 nm)/DNA (8 nm)/(BCP) (9 nm)/Alq3 (30 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) [5]
Colour	White
Max. Luminance	13,600 cd/m2
Max. Current Efficiency	12.3 cd/A
Max. Power Efficiency	4.4 lm W−1

Device structure	ITO/2-TNATA:33% WO3 (100 nm)/NPB (10 nm)/Alq3 (30 nm)/Bphen (20 nm)/BPhen: 2% Cs (10 nm)/Al (150 nm) [6]
Colour	Green
Operating Voltage for 100 cd/m2	3.1 V
Current Efficiency for 20 mA/cm2	4.4 cd/A
Power Efficiency for 20 mA/cm2	3.3 lm W−1

Device structure	ITO/CuPc(6.0 nm)/[NPB*(3.8 nm)/CuPc (1.5 nm)]4/NPB (15.0 nm)/Alq3 (60.0 nm)/Mg:Ag/Ag [7]
Colour	Green
Max. Luminance	15,000 cd/m2
Max. Current Efficiency	10.8 cd/A

*For chemical structure information please refer to the cited references.

When fabricating devices, processing and handling materials in a glove box helps maintain their purity and maintain efficiency by avoiding contamination from particulates, moisture, and airborne impurities.

Characterisation

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DSC trace of Tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3)