Effects of halogen atom substitution on luminescent radicals: a case study on tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical-carbazole dyads

A series of halogen-substitute carbazole TTM radicals was synthesized. The effect of halogen substituents on radical luminescence was systematically evaluated. It was found that the well-known heavy atom effect does not work in the emission of radicals and that halogen substitution of the donor carbazole can change the HOMO and alter the absorption and emission wavelengths. In addition, the photostability was found to be improved with respect to TTM but not significantly different from that of closed-shell fluorescent molecules. A series of halogenated carbazole-TTM radical dyads are evaluated, and the absence of heavy atom effects was systematically studied.