Research Projects

Title of the Project: Organic Phosphorescent Materials: Development and Functional Analysis for Optoelectronic Devices Proposal Submitted by Dr. Neetu Tripathi (Host – Prof. J N Moorthy, IIT Kanpur) Summary: This research aims to develop next-generation purely organic phosphorescent emitters by leveraging the unique structural features of Tröger’s base (TB). While TB has been extensively used as a scaffold in supramolecular chemistry, sensing, and OLED applications, its potential in phosphorescent materials remains largely untapped. TB’s rigid, Λ-shaped, and chiral C2-symmetric architecture offers high glass transition temperatures (Tg) and excellent tunability, making it a promising platform for designing efficient and stable phosphorescent systems. The proposal addresses key limitations of current phosphorescent materials-such as oxygen quenching, low quantum yields, weak spin-orbit coupling, and limited structural flexibility-by incorporating phosphorescence-active moieties onto the TB core. Specifically, the work involves the synthesis of TB derivatives functionalized with carbazole, coumarin, benzophenone, and heteroatom or heavy-atom substituents. These new materials are expected to achieve enhanced photophysical properties, including long afterglow, high efficiency, and superior thermal stability, with potential applications in bio-imaging, OLEDs, optical waveguides, and anti-counterfeiting technologies. Overall, this research not only advances the design of high-performance phosphorescent emitters but also contributes to the development of sustainable optoelectronic devices.