Novel chelating polyfluorene polyelectrolytes and their corresponding neutral precursors with Ir complex incorporated into polymer backbone were synthesized by Suzuki polycondensation reaction. The aminoalkyl or quatemized ammonium group provides good solubility of these phosphorescent polymers in alcohols which has a great advantage in fabrication of multi-layer polymer phosphorescent PLEDs. The photophysical and electroluminescent properties of the phosphorescent polyelectrolytes and their neutral precursors were investigated. The phosphorescent emission bands from both polyelectrolytes and neutral polymers which lie at around 640 nm displayed a saturated red emission. Devices fabricated from these phosphorescent polymers with air-stable high work function metals, such as Al, as cathode showed comparable device performance with low work function metals, such as Ba. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.