A series of starburst carbazole derivatives, which comprise various aryl groups appended to the 1,3,6,8-positions of a 9-alkyl-carbazole core, are synthesized and characterized. These compounds exhibit good thermal stabilities with glass transition temperatures up to 199 degrees C and thermal decomposition temperatures ranging from 321 to 485 degrees C. The starburst configuration of the as-prepared compounds results in fluorescence emission in the UV to blue-violet region (lambda(max) = 389-409 nm) with photoluminescence quantum efficiency (Phi(PL)) reaching 90% and narrow full width half maximum (FWHM) of 43-54 nm in solution. Light-emitting devices are successfully fabricated using these materials as emitters, and emit UV to blue-violet light. With a device structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/molybdenum trioxide (MoO3)/1,3,6,8-tetraaryl carbazole derivatives/1,3,5-tris(2-N-phenylbenzimidazolyl)benzene (TPBI)/8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq(3))/LiF/Al, maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE(max)) of 2.05% and 3.4% have been obtained at UV wavelength of 394 nm with FWHM of 42 nm and blue-violet wavelength of 415 nm with FWHM of 46 nm, respectively.