Band Electronic Structure of One- and Two-Dimensional Pentacene Molecular Crystals

Validation of intermolecular transfer integral and bandwidth calculations for organic molecular materials

We present an interpretation of the intermolecular transfer integral that is independent from the origin of the energy scale allowing convergence studies of this important parameter of organic molecular materials. We present extensive numerical studies by using an ethylene pi dimer to investigate the dependence of transfer integrals on the level of theory and intermolecular packing. Transfer integrals obtained from semiempirical calculations differ substantially from one another and from ab initio results. The ab initio results are consistent across all the levels used including Hartree-Fock, outer valence Green's function, and various forms of density functional theory (DFT). Validation of transfer integrals and bandwidths is performed by comparing the calculated values with the experimental values of tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ), bis[1,2,5]thiadiazolo-p-quinobis(1,3-dithiole), (BTQBT) K-TCNQ, and hexagonal graphite. DFT in one of its presently popular forms, such as Perdew-Wang functionals (PW91), in combination with sufficient basis sets provides reliable transfer integrals, and therefore can serve as a basis for energy band calculations for soft organic materials with van der Waals gaps.

Electronic Structures and Charge Transport Properties of the Organic Semiconductor Bis[1,2,5]thiadiazolo-p-quinobis(1,3-dithiole), BTQBT, and Its Derivatives

We analyze the correlation between crystal and film structures and charge transport of an important organic semiconductor, bis[1,2,5]thiadiazolo-p-quinobis(1,3-dithiole) (BTQBT), and its derivatives 4,8-bis(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-4H,8H-[1,2, 5]selenadiazolo[3,4-f]-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole, 4,8-bis(1,3-diselenol-2-ylidene)-4H,8H-benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c']bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole, and tetramethyl-BTQBT. We present first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations that agree well with earlier angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments on BTQBT films, strongly supporting that the BTQBT films adopt the same layered structure as in the single crystals. Qualitative charge transport properties based on presented DFT results agree with experiments regarding the sign of the charge carriers and the unusually small anisotropy of conductivity. These agreements indicate that accurate electronic structure calculations, when coupled with ARPES, help establish the correlation between intermolecular packing and charge transport, which is one of the central but elusive aspects of organic molecular materials. Predictions are made for derivatives of BTQBT, and calculations agree with available experimental information on the conductivities. Comparisons are made with pentacene, one of the most widely studied organic molecular materials.

Band Structure of the Four Pentacene Polymorphs and Effect on the Hole Mobility at Low Temperature

The band structure of the four known polymorphs of pentacene is computed from first principles using the accurate molecular orbitals of the isolated molecule as the basis for the calculation of the crystalline orbitals. The computed bands are remarkably different for each polymorph, but their diversity can be easily rationalized using a simple analytical model that employs only three parameters. The effect of the electronic structure on the hole mobility was evaluated using a simple model based on the constant relaxation time approximation. It is found that the mobility tensor is highly anisotropic for three of the four considered polymorphs. The practical implication of this prediction on the technology of thin-film organic transistors is discussed.

Preparation and Characterization of π-Stacking Quinodimethane Oligothiophenes. Predicting Semiconductor Behavior and Bandwidths from Crystal Structures and Molecular Orbital Calculations

A series of new quinodimethane-substituted terthiophene and quaterthiophene oligomers has been investigated for comparison with a previously studied quinoid oligothiophene that has demonstrated high mobilities and ambipolar transport behavior in thin-film transistor devices. Each new quinoidal thiophene derivative shows a reversible one-electron oxidation between 0.85 and 1.32 V, a quasi-reversible one-electron second oxidation between 1.37 and 1.96 V, and a reversible two-electron reduction between -0.05 and -0.23 V. The solution UV-vis-NIR spectrum of each compound is dominated by an intense (epsilon congruent with 100 000 M(-1) cm(-1)) low energy pi-pi transition that has a lambda(max) ranging between 648 and 790 nm. All X-ray crystal structures exhibit very planar quinoidal backbones and short intermolecular pi-stacking distances (3.335-3.492 A). Structures exhibit a single pi-stacking distance with parallel cofacial stacking (sulfur atoms of equivalent rings pointed in the same direction) or with alternating distances and antiparallel cofacial stacking (sulfur atoms of equivalent rings pointed in the opposite direction). Examples of the layered and herringbone-packing motifs are observed for both the parallel and the antiparallel cofacial stacking. Analysis of the X-ray structures and molecular orbital calculations indicates that all of these compounds have one-dimensional electronic band structures as a result of the pi-stacking. For structures with a unique pi-stacking distance, a simple geometric overlap parameter calculated from the shape of the molecule and the slip from perfect registry in the pi-stack correlates well with the transfer integrals (t) calculated using molecular orbital theory. The calculated valence (633 meV) and conduction (834 meV) bandwidths for a quinoid quaterthiophene structure are similar to those calculated for the benchmark pentacene and indicate that both hole and electron mobilities could be significant.

Solid-State Packing of Conjugated Oligomers: From π-Stacks to the Herringbone Structure

The solid-state structures of a series of bithiazole and thiophene oligomers, as well as a series of substituted pentacenes, are rationalized in terms of "pitch and roll" inclinations from an "ideal" cofacial pi-stack. Pitch inclinations translate adjacent molecules relative to one another in the direction of the long molecular axis, whereas roll inclinations translate the molecules along the short molecular axis. Thus, moderately large pitch distortions preserve pi-pi interactions between adjacent molecules, whereas roll translations greater than 2.5 A essentially destroy pi-pi overlap between adjacent molecules. The familiar herringbone packing is characterized by large roll distortions. It is shown that thiophenes tend to exhibit large roll translations, whereas thiazoles have small roll but large pitch translations. Substituted pentacenes tend to have both moderate pitch and roll distances. The relationship of molecular packing to transport properties is discussed.

Modeling the polymorphism of pentacene

Thin films of pentacene are known to crystallize in at least four different polymorphs. All polymorphs are layered structures that are characterized by their interlayer spacing d(001). We develop a model that rationalizes the size of the interlayer spacing in terms of intralayer shifts of the pentacene molecules along their long molecular axes. It explains the wide variety of interlayer spacings, without distorting the herringbone pattern that is characteristic of many acenes. Using two simple theoretical models, we attempt to relate the intralayer shifts with the dominant, although weak, interatomic interactions (van der Waals, weak electrostatic, and covalent). For two polymorphs, a consistent picture is found. A full understanding of the other two, substrate-induced, polymorphs probably requires consideration of interlayer interactions.