Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum-doped stretchable alternating current electroluminescent devices with tunable multicolor emission for patterned display application

Stretchable alternating current electroluminescent (ACEL) devices that emit multiple colors are essential for soft electronics and displays. However, traditional ACEL devices face significant challenges in terms of color tunability and stretchability. This study introduced tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq₃) into the emitting layer for the construction of a multicolored ACEL device, which achieves color-tunable emissions from blue to red (464–588 nm) by adjusting the mass ratio of Alq₃ to ZnS-based phosphors. Polydimethylsiloxane was integrated as a flexible matrix and Ag nanowires as stretchable electrodes to endow the device with mechanical stretchability up to 240 %, while maintaining stable emission under 50 % strain. Structural and photophysical characterizations have confirmed that the incorporation of Alq₃ does not affect the crystallinity of the phosphors but regulates emission through charge transfer. Patterned multicolor display arrays and a customizable “CMSOD” emblem have been fabricated, highlighting potential applications in information displays. This work presents a straightforward method for fabricating stretchable ACEL devices with tunable color output through organic-inorganic hybrids, offering an alternative ACEL device for soft optoelectronics with colorful displays.