A diphenylmethyl-linkage-based high-triplet-energy organic material, 3-(dibenzofuran-2-yldiphenylmethyl)-9-phenyl-9H-carbazole (TCDFCz), was synthesized as a host material for deep-blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs). High-triplet-energy moieties, 9-phenylcarbazole and dibenzofuran, were connected through diphenylmethyl linkage, and high triplet energy of 2.97 eV was obtained. TCDFCz was effective as the high-triplet-energy host material for deep-blue PHOLEDs, and a high quantum efficiency of 13.1% was achieved. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.