An object of the invention is to provide an organic EL element which uses an organometallic complex emitting light by phosphorescence and which represents excellent luminous efficiency, etc; or the like. The organic EL element of the invention includes the organometallic complex, where the organometallic complex includes a metal atom, and a tridentate ligand, where the tridentate ligand binds to the metal atom tridentately via two nitrogen atoms and a carbon atom, and the carbon atom is located between the two nitrogen atoms, and where the tridentate ligand has two azomethine bonds (—C═N—), and each nitrogen atom in the azomethine bonds coordinates to the metal atom. Preferably, in one aspect, the organometallic complex includes a monodentate ligand which binds to the metal atom monodentately, and in another aspect, the metal atom is Pt.
本发明的一个目的是提供一种使用通过
磷光发射的有机
金属配合物发光的有机EL元件,该元件具有优异的发光效率等特性;或类似的元件。该发明的有机EL元件包括有机
金属配合物,其中该有机
金属配合物包括
金属原子和三齿
配体,该三齿
配体通过两个氮原子和一个碳原子三齿配位于
金属原子上,碳原子位于两个氮原子之间,该三齿
配体具有两个偶氮亚甲基键(—C═N—),偶氮亚甲基键中的每个氮原子与
金属原子配位。在一个方面,该有机
金属配合物包括与
金属原子单齿配位的单齿
配体,另一方面,
金属原子为
铂时更佳。