p-p isotype organic heterojunction and ambipolar field-effect transistors

We realized ambipolar transport behavior in field-effect transistors by using p-p isotype heterojunction films as active layers, which consisted of two p-type semiconductor materials, 2, 2'; 7', 2 ''-terphenanthrenyl (Ph3) and vanadyl-phthalocyanine (VOPc). The ambipolar charge transport was attributed to the interfacial electronic structure of Ph3-VOPc isotype heterojunction, and electrons and holes were accumulated at both sides of the narrow band-gap VOPc and the wide band-gap Ph3, respectively, which were confirmed by the capacitance-voltage relationship of metal-oxide-semiconductor diodes. The accumulation thickness of carriers was also obtained by changing the heterojunction active layer thickness. Furthermore, the results indicate that the device performance is relative to interfacial electronic structures.

Tin (IV) phthalocyanine oxide: An air-stable semiconductor with high electron mobility

Air-stable n-type field effect transistors were fabricated with an axially oxygen substituted metal phthalocyanine, tin (IV) phthalocyanine oxide (SnOPc), as active layers. The SnOPc thin films showed highly crystallinity on modified dielectric layer, and the electron field-effect mobility reached 0.44 cm(2) V-1 s(-1). After storage in air for 32 days, the mobility and on/off ratio did not obviously change. The above results also indicated that it is an effective approach of seeking n-type semiconductor by incorporating the appropriate metal connected with electron-withdrawing group into pi-pi conjugated system.

Pyrazine-containing Acene-Type Molecular Ribbons with up to 16 Rectilinearly Arranged Fused Aromatic Rings

A series of acene-type conjugated molecules(1-5) containing 2-6 pyrazine units and up to 16 rectilinearly arranged fused aromatic rings were synthesized by condensation coupling of 1,2-diamines and 1,2-diketones. The energy gap of the molecules estimated from absorption edge decreases with an increase in molecular length, indicating the well-delocalized nature of the molecules. The cyclic voltarnmetry measurements suggest that the n-type properties of these ribbonlike pyrazine derivatives are dependent on the molecular length and the number of the pyrazine units.

New organic-inorganic perovskite materials with different optical properties modulated by different inorganic sheets

New organic-inorganic perovskites with different PbBr perovskite sheets stabilized by 3- or 4-an-tidinopyridine were synthesized and structurally characterized. 4-Amidinopyridine constructs < 001 >-oriented perovskite with inorganic sheets made up of typical corner-sharing octahedra of PbBr2. Analogous chemistry in the presence of 3-amidinopyridine under the same conditions results in an unusual hybrid perovskite with the inorganic sheets showing a novel framework including both corner-sharing and edge-sharing PbBr2, which is different from any previously reported ones.

Synthesis, structure, and optical properties of a contorted (110)-oriented layered hybrid perovskite: C3H11SN3PbBr4

The < 110 >-oriented perovskite is very rare in the hybrid perovskites family. In this work, an unusual layered < 110 >-oriented hybrid perovskite, which is stabilized by a special organic ligand, 2-(aminoethyl)isothiourea, has been obtained. This ligand combines a primary amine and a formamidine on the two ends of one molecule. Introduction of the special ligand brings about contorted inorganic sheets in the hybrid perovskite structure. The optical properties of the new < 110 >-oriented perovskite were studied.

Synthesis and structure of new low dimensional polymeric haloplumbate(II) complexes [Pb4Br12(C40H40N8)] and [Pb4Cl12(C40H40N8)]center dot H2O

New low dimensional polymeric haloplumbate(II) complexes of the dication of (4,4'-bis(imidazolyl-ylmethyl)biphenyl) were synthesised and their crystal structures determined. Complex 1, [Pb4Br12(C40H40N8)], has cis-edge-shared, octahedral, lead bromide double chains. In compound 2 [Pb4Cl12(C40H40N8)]center dot H2O, the inorganic chains are corner-shared, square pyramidal chains of lead chloride. In both compounds the organic ammoniums form regular layers that alternate with the inorganic chains.

Large current gain and low operational voltage permeable metal-base organic transistors based on Au/Al double layer metal base

In order to realize the common-emitter characteristics of the tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq(3))-based organic transistors, we used Au/Al double metal layer as the base, thus the vertical metal-base transistors with structure of Al/n-Si/Au/Al/Alq(3)/LiF/Al were constructed. It was found that the contact properties between the base and the organic semiconductors play an important role in the device performance. The utilization of Au/Al double layer metal base allows the devices to operate at high gain in the common-emitter and common-base mode at low operational voltage.

Ultrathin-film growth of para-sexiphenyl (I): Submonolayer thin-film growth as a function of the substrate temperature

The para-sexiphenyl (p-6P) monolayer film induces weak epitaxy growth (WEG) of disk-like organic semiconductors, and their charge mobilities are increased dramatically to the level of the corresponding single crystals [Wang et al., Adv. Mater. 2007, 19, 2168]. The growth behavior and morphology of p-6P monolayer film play decisive roles on WEG. Here, we investigated the growth behavior of p-6P submonolayer film as a function of the substrate temperature. Its growth exhibited two different mechanisms at high and low substrate temperature.

Weak epitaxy growth of metal-free phthalocyanine on p-sexiphenyl monolayer and double-layer films

Weak epitaxy growth (WEG) can afford high-mobility thin films of disk-like organic semiconductor of which mobility is up to the level of the corresponding single crystals. We investigated the WEG behavior and mechanism of planar phthalocyanine in the model system of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) grown on p-sexiphenyl (p-6P) ultrathin films (monolayers and double layers). Highly oriented H2Pc films with molecules standing up exhibited two kinds of different in-plane orientations, i.e., three sets of in-plane orientations and only one set of in-plane orientation, on p-6P monolayer and double-layer films, respectively.

Crystalline organic superlattice

Highly crystalline organic superlattice has great potential for providing innovative function in organic devices. With studies of the structure and fundamental electronical properties, we have demonstrated the phathalocynine organic superlattice, which is a structure composed of periodically alternating crystalline layers of H2Pc and F16CuPc. A periodical crystal structure and electronic structure appear in this organic superlattice system. High density of mobile electrons and holes distribute periodically in F16CuPc and H2Pc layers, respectively, leading to a significant change in intrinsic properties of organic semiconductors.

Holmium porphyrin compound liquid crystals: Synthesis and properties

5,10,15,20-Tetra-[(p-alkoxy-m-ethyloxy)phenyl]porphyrin and [5-(p-alkoxy)phenyl-10,15,20-tri-phenyl]porphyrin and their holmium(III) complexes are reported. They display a hexagonal columnar discotic columnar Col(h)) liquid crystal phase and were studied by cyclic voltammetry, surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS), electric-field-induced surface photovoltage spectroscopy (EFISPS) and luminescence spectroscopy. Within the accessible potential window, all these compounds exhibit two one-electron reversible redox reactions. Quantum yields of Q band are in the region 0.0045-0.21 at room temperature. The SPS and EFISPS reveal that all the compounds are p-type semiconductors and exhibit photovoltaic response due to pi-pi* electron transitions.

Synthesis and Characterizations of Poly(9,10-bisarylethynyl-2,6-anthrylene)s and Poly(9,10-bisalkynyl-2,6-anthrylene)

A poly(9,10-bisalkynyl-2,6-anthrylene) (PI) and five poly(9,10-bisarylethynyl-2,6-anthrylene)s(P2-P6) as soluble conjugated polymers have been synthesized and characterized. All polymers exhibit two-dimensional conjugated characteristics as indicated by absorption spectra comprising multi-bands in the range of 300-600 nm. Compared with P1, polymers P2-P5, which contain phenylethynyl substituents with the longer conjugation than alkynyl groups, exhibit a similar to 60 nm red shift of absorption edge. However, further increasing the conjugation length of the arylethynyl substituents (longer than phenylethynyl) has only a no effect on the conjugation of the polymer chains, while comparing the absorption spectra of P6 with those of P2-P5.

Starburst substituted hexaazatriphenylene compounds: synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties

Starburst-substituted hexaazatriphenylene Compounds have been designed and synthesized by introducing various peripheral aryl substituents to the central heterocyclic core. The effects of various substituent groups on the photophysical and electrochemical properties of the substituted hexaazatriphenylene have been investigated. Significant red-shifts of the absorption peak (from 413 nm to 530 nm) and emission peak (from 432 nm to 700 nm) were observed when the electron-donating ability of the aryl substituents was increased, corresponding to a decrease in the band gap from 2.90 eV to 2.05 eV. Introducing bulky substituents with weak electron-donating ability enhances the fluorescence quantum yield from 23% to 87%. In contrast, incorporating aryl substituents with strong electron-donating ability decreases the fluorescence quantum yield.

Micropatterning of polymeric semiconductor by selective lift-off method using epoxy mold

A simple and efficient method for patterning polymeric semiconductors for applications in the field of organic electronics is proposed. The entire polymer layer, except for the desired pattern, is selectively lifted off from a flat poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp surface by an epoxy mold with a relief pattern. This is advantageous because the elastic deformation of the PDMS stamp around protrusions of a patterned stamp under pressure can assist the plastic deformation of a polymer film along the pattern edges, yielding large area and high quality patterns, and the PDMS surface has low surface energy, which allows the easy removal of the polymer film.

Rational Design, Synthesis, and Optical Properties of Film-Forming, Near-Infrared Absorbing, and Fluorescent Chiromophores with Multidonors and Large Heterocyclic Acceptors

A new series of film-forming, low-bandgap chromophores (1a,b and 2a,b) were rationally designed with aid of a computational study., and then synthesized and characterized. To realize absorption and emission above the 1000 nm wavelength, the molecular design focuses on lowering the LUMO level by fusing common heterocyclic units into a large conjugated core that acts an electron acceptor and increasing the charge transfer by attaching the multiple electron-donating groups at the appropriate positions of the acceptor core. The chromophores have bandgap levels of 1.27-0.71 eV, and accordingly absorb at 746-1003 nm and emit at 1035-1290 nm in solution. By design, the relatively high molecular weight (up to 2400 g mol(-1)) and non-coplanar structure allow these near-infrared (NIR) chromophores to be readily spin-coated as uniform thin films and doped with other organic semiconductors for potential device applications. Doping with [6,6]-phenyl-C-61 butyric acid methyl ester leads to a red shift in the absorption on]), for la and 2a. An interesting NIR electrochromism was found for 2a, with absorption being turned on at 1034 nm when electrochemically switched (at 1000 mV) from its neutral state to a radical cation state. Furthermore, a large Stokes shift (256-318 nm) is also unique for this multidonor-acceptor type of chromophore.