Two novel zinc Schiff-base complexes, bis-(N-(2-hydroxybenzidene)-p-aminodimethylaniline)zinc(II) (2) and bis-(N-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthidene)-p-aminodimethylaniline)zinc(II) (4) were designed and synthesized. Both the complexes exhibit good solubility in organic solvents and excellent thermal stabilities. A single crystal of 2 was grown and its crystalline structure was determined from X-ray diffraction data. Analysis of the electronic structures of both the zinc complexes calculated by density functional theory reveals a localization of orbital. The UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence profiles of 4 in thin film are similar to those of 2, but the emission for 4 is red-shifted compared to 2. Three-layered devices with a configuration of ITO/NPB/2/Alq 3 /LiF/Al and ITO/NPB/4/Alq 3 /LiF/Al show a yellow and red emission, respectively.
