DPPyA consists of an anthracene core joined by two electron withdrawing phenylpyridine units. With two adjacent pyridine units, it is electron deficient. As a result, DPPyA is normally used as an electron transport layer material, either on itself or together with Liq as dual electron transport layer materials in organic light-emitting diodes.
The pyridine units of DPPyA not only facilitate charge injection, but also enhance the electron-transporting mobility, benefitting from the closely packed molecules induced by the intermolecular H---N hydrogen bonding. DPPyA achieved high electron mobility of 1.5 × 10− 3 cm2/Vs under the electric field of 5.5 × 105 V/cm due to the existence of good molecular stacking.
Owing to its high electron mobility, lower operation voltages and high current densities can be observed in devices with DPPyA as electron transport layer material.