Electroluminescent devices including conjugated polymers containing an azole structure

1. An electroluminescent device, comprising

a) a spaced-apart anode and cathode; and

b) an organic layer disposed between the spaced-apart anode and cathode and including a conjugated polymer having an azole structure represented by formula (I)

wherein:

Z is NR′, or S;

Q represents atoms necessary to complete a hetero ring with N and Z;

R is a substituent and selected from hydrogen, or alkyl, or alkenyl, or alkynyl, or alkoxy wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy can have from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; or aryl from 6 to 60 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl from 4 to 60 carbons; or F, or Cl, or Br; or a cyano group; or a nitro group; or atoms coupled to N or Z to complete a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; and

R′ is hydrogen, or alkyl, or alkenyl, or alkynyl of from 1 to 40 carbon atoms wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy can have from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; aryl from 6 to 60 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl from 4 to 60 carbons; or F, or Cl, or Br and wherein the conjugated polymer including formula (I) is represented by the repeating unit of formula (III)

wherein:

X is a conjugated group of 2 to 60 carbon atoms;

Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 60 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl having 4 to 60 carbon atoms, and one or more N, S, or O atoms; and

L is a direct bond between Formula (I) and Ar or a carbon linking group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a non-carbon linking group having 0 to 40 carbon atoms.

2. The electroluminescent device of claim 1 wherein the organic layer is an emissive layer or an electron transport layer or both.

3. The electroluminescent device of claim 1 wherein X includes arylenes.

4. The electroluminescent device of claim 1 wherein L includes an aryl group.

5. A method of making an electroluminescent device, comprising

a) providing a spaced-apart anode and cathode; and

b) depositing an organic layer between the spaced-apart anode and cathode and including a conjugated polymer having an azole structure represented formula (I)

wherein:

Z is NR′, or S;

Q represents atoms necessary to complete a hetero ring with N and Z;

R is a substituent and selected from hydrogen, or alkyl, or alkenyl, or alkynyl, or alkoxy wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy can have from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; or aryl from 6 to 60 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl from 4 to 60 carbons; or F, or Cl, or Br; or a cyano group; or a nitro group; or atoms coupled to N or Z to complete a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; and

R′ is hydrogen, or alkyl, or alkenyl, or alkynyl of from 1 to 40 carbon atoms wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy can have from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; aryl from 6 to 60 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl from 4 to 60 carbons; or F, or Cl, or Br and wherein the conjugated polymer including formula (I) is represented by the repeating unit of formula (III)

wherein:

X is a conjugated group of 2 to 60 carbon atoms;

Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 60 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl having 4 to 60 carbon atoms, and one or more N, S, or O atoms; and

L is a direct bond between Formula (I) and Ar or a carbon linking group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a non-carbon linking group having 0 to 40 carbon atoms.

6. The electroluminescent device of claim 5 wherein the organic layer is an emissive layer or an electron transport layer or both.

7. The electroluminescent device of claim 1 wherein L includes atoms.