An indenobenzofuran-based organic dye (B2DI) as a potential n-type electron transport material for OLED applications: Synthesis, photophysical and theoretical insights.

Abstract

Designing donor-acceptor frameworks is essential for tailoring intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in modern optoelectronics. In this study, we report the synthesis and comprehensive evaluation of a novel, rigid π-conjugated organic dye: 8-benzoyl-4b,7,9b-trihydroxy-4b,9b-dihydro-10H-indeno[1,2-b]benzofuran-10-one(Dye-B2DI). Confirmed through structural spectroscopy, the compound exhibits distinct environment-sensitive solvatochromism and a sharp violet emission at ∼477 nm. To map its underlying electronic landscape, we utilized density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations. Quantum modelling reveals a clean spatial segregation between the HOMO and LUMO networks, while global chemical indices confirm high kinetic stability (Eg = 4.19 eV). Remarkably, charge transport simulations yield an exceptionally low electron reorganization energy (λe = 0.22 eV) and a rapid electron transfer rate (ke = 1.3*1013s-1), outpacing hole transport by six orders of magnitude. Paired with highly responsive nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, our findings establish Dye-B2DI as an exceptionally promising n-type electron transport material structurally optimized for next-generation OLEDs and advanced photonics.