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A series of bimetallic carbene-metal-amide (cMa) complexes have been prepared with bridging biscarbene ligands to serve as a model for the design of luminescent materials with large oscillator strengths and small energy differences between the singlet and triplet states (dE ST). The complexes have a general structure (R2N)Au(:carbene—carbene:)Au(NR2). The bimetallic complexes show solvation-dependent absorption and emission that is analyzed in detail. It is found that the molar absorptivity of the bimetallic complexes is correlated with the energy barrier to rotation of the metal-ligand bond. The bimetallic cMa complexes also exhibit short emission lifetimes (t = 200-300 ns) with high photoluminescence efficiencies (PL >95%). The radiative rates of bimetallic cMa complexes are 3 to 4 times faster than that of the corresponding monometallic complexes. Analysis of temperature-dependent luminescence data indicates that the lifetime for the singlet state (τ_(S_1 )) of bimetallic cMa complexes are near 12 ns with a dE ST of 40 50 meV. The presented compounds provide a general design for cMa complexes to achieve small values for dE ST while retaining high radiative rates. Solution processed OLEDs made using two of the complexes as luminescent dopants show high efficiency and low roll-off at high luminance. 

Interest in thermal batteries for inexpensive grid-scale storage of renewable energy motivates the development of photovoltaics that efficiently convert very high temperature thermal emission to electrical energy. We have previously shown that InGaAs air-bridge cells can increase TPV efficiency by −30% compared to cells with more conventional back surface reflectors. In this study, we design and experimentally characterize airbridge cells with wider bandgaps for applications at higher emission temperatures. Parametric studies with varying bandgap and emitter temperature identify high performance regimes. At temperatures up to 2000K, predicted device efficiencies of single-junction air-bridge cells match that of record-holding multi-junction cells. Furthermore, a novel platform for device testing using porous graphite emitters is designed and experimentally demonstrated.