1
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Giri I, Chhetri S, John P J, Mondal M, Dey AB, Vijayaraghavan RK. Engineered solid-state aggregates in brickwork stacks of n-type organic semiconductors: a way to achieve high electron mobility. Chem Sci 2024; 15:9630-9640. [PMID: 38939134 PMCID: PMC11206358 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02339k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficient, economically viable n-type organic semiconductor materials suitable for solution-processed OFET devices with high electron mobility and ambient stability are scarce. Merging these attributes into a single molecule remains a significant challenge and a careful molecular design is needed. To address this, synthetic viability (achievable in fewer than three steps) and using cost-effective starting materials are crucial. Our research presents a strategy that meets these criteria using naphthalene diimide (NDI) core structures. The approach involves a simple synthesis process with a cost of $ 5-10 per gram for the final products. This paper highlights our success in scaling up the production using affordable known reagents, creating ambient condition solution-processed OFET devices with impressive electron mobility, on-off current ratio (1 cm2 V-1 s-1 and I on/I off ∼ 109) and good ambient stability (more than 100 h). We conducted a comprehensive study on EHNDIBr2, a material that demonstrates superior performance due to its unique supramolecular arrangement in its brickwork stack. This was compared with two similar structures to validate our findings. The superior performance of EHNDIBr2 is attributed to the effective interlocking of charge-hopping units within the NDI core in its brickwork stack. Our findings include detailed electronic, spectroscopic, and microscopic analyses of these layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrajit Giri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohanpur Kolkata 741246 India
| | - Shant Chhetri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohanpur Kolkata 741246 India
| | - Jesslyn John P
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohanpur Kolkata 741246 India
| | - Madalasa Mondal
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohanpur Kolkata 741246 India
| | - Arka Bikash Dey
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY Notkestr. 85 22607 Hamburg Germany
| | - Ratheesh K Vijayaraghavan
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohanpur Kolkata 741246 India
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2
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Dnyaneshwar Veer S, Chandrakant Wakchaure V, Asokan K, Dixit R, Goswami T, Saha R, Gonnade R, Ghosh HN, Santhosh Babu S. Oligothiophene-Ring-Strapped Perylene Bisimides: Functionalizable Coaxial Donor-Acceptor Macrocycles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202212934. [PMID: 36266975 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aesthetic designs from nature enable new knowledge to be gained and, at the same time, inspire scientific models. In this context, multicomponent macrocycles embody the advantage of precisely positioning the structural units to achieve efficient communication between them. However, the construction of a functionalizable macrocycle for ultrafast charge separation and stabilization has not been attempted. Herein, we report the synthesis, crystal structure, and transient absorption of a new functionalizable macrocycle consisting of an oligothiophene-ring-strapped perylene bisimide. Transient absorption results point to a sequential improvement in charge separation and stabilization from the macrocycle to the corresponding linear dimer and 2D polymer due to the unique design. Our macrocycle design with a supportive spatial arrangement of the donor and acceptor units will inspire the development of more complex synthetic systems with exciting electron-transfer and charge-separation features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sairam Dnyaneshwar Veer
- Organic Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
| | - Vivek Chandrakant Wakchaure
- Organic Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
| | - Kiran Asokan
- Organic Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India
| | - Ruchi Dixit
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India.,Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India
| | - Tanmay Goswami
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INST), Sector 81, Mohali, 411008, Punjab, India
| | - Ramchandra Saha
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INST), Sector 81, Mohali, 411008, Punjab, India
| | - Rajesh Gonnade
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India.,Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India
| | - Hirendra N Ghosh
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INST), Sector 81, Mohali, 411008, Punjab, India.,Radiation and Photochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Sukumaran Santhosh Babu
- Organic Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
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3
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Mathew J, Cassese D. Effects of morphology and charge transport of PDIF-CN2 /graphene TFT. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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4
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Liu K, Paulino V, Mukhopadhyay A, Bernard B, Kumbhar A, Liu C, Olivier JH. How to reprogram the excitonic properties and solid-state morphologies of π-conjugated supramolecular polymers. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:2703-2714. [PMID: 33491689 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp04819d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The development of supramolecular tools to modulate the excitonic properties of non-covalent assemblies paves the way to engineer new classes of semicondcuting materials relevant to flexible electronics. While controlling the assembly pathways of organic chromophores enables the formation of J-like and H-like aggregates, strategies to tailor the excitonic properties of pre-assembled aggregates through post-modification are scarce. In the present contribution, we combine supramolecular chemistry with redox chemistry to modulate the excitonic properties and solid-state morphologies of aggregates built from stacks of water-soluble perylene diimide building blocks. The n-doping of initially formed aggregates in an aqueous medium is shown to produce π-anion stacks for which spectroscopic properties unveil a non-negligible degree of electron-electron interactions. Oxidation of the n-doped intermediates produces metastable aggregates where free exciton bandwidths (ExBW) increase as a function of time. Kinetic data analysis reveals that the dynamic increase of free exciton bandwidth is associated with the formation of superstructures constructed by means of a nucleation-growth mechanism. By designing different redox-assisted assembly pathways, we highlight that the sacrificial electron donor plays a non-innocent role in regulating the structure-function properties of the final superstructures. Furthermore, supramolecular architectures formed via a nucleation-growth mechanism evolve into ribbon-like and fiber-like materials in the solid-state, as characterized by SEM and HRTEM. Through a combination of ground-state electronic absorption spectroscopy, electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry, microscopy, and modeling, we show that redox-assisted assembly provides a means to reprogram the structure-function properties of pre-assembled aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
| | - Victor Paulino
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
| | - Arindam Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
| | - Brianna Bernard
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
| | - Amar Kumbhar
- Chapel Hill Analytical and Nanofabrication Laboratory, Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina, 243 Chapman Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
| | - Jean-Hubert Olivier
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
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5
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Liu C, Liu K, Mukhopadhyay A, Paulino V, Bernard B, Olivier JH. Butadiyne-Bridged (Porphinato)Zinc(II) Chromophores Assemble into Free-Standing Nanosheets. Organometallics 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Kaixuan Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Arindam Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Victor Paulino
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Brianna Bernard
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Jean-Hubert Olivier
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Cox Science Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
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6
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Kim H, Reddy MR, Kim H, Choi D, Kim C, Seo S. Benzothiadiazole-Based Small-Molecule Semiconductors for Organic Thin-Film Transistors and Complementary-like Inverters. Chempluschem 2017; 82:742-749. [PMID: 31961523 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201700070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
New benzothiadiazole derivatives, 4,7-bis(5-phenylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (PT-BTD) and 4,7-bis[4-(thiophen-2-yl)phenyl]benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (TP-BTD), were synthesized and characterized as small-molecule organic semiconductors for organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) and complementary inverters. The thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of the new compounds were fully characterized. Vacuum-deposition and solution-shearing methods were used to fabricate thin films based on these compounds. Thin films based on PT-BTD exhibited p-channel characteristics with hole mobilities as high as 0.10 cm2 V-1 s-1 and current on/off ratios >107 for top-contact/bottom-gate OTFT devices. With an optimized blending ratio of PT-BTD and the representative n-channel semiconductor N,N'-1H,1H-perfluorobutyl dicyanoperylenediimide, bulk heterojunction ambipolar transistors were fabricated with balanced hole and electron mobilities of 0.10 and 0.07 cm2 V-1 s-1 , respectively. Furthermore, a complementary-like inverter was fabricated using ambipolar thin-film transistors, which showed a high voltage gain of 84.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyekyoung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - M Rajeshkumar Reddy
- Department of Chemistry, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungsug Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghee Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Choongik Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - SungYong Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea
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7
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Musumeci C, Wałęsa-Chorab M, Gorczyński A, Markiewicz G, Bogucki A, Świetlik R, Hnatejko Z, Jankowski W, Hoffmann M, Orgiu E, Stefankiewicz AR, Patroniak V, Ciesielski A, Samorì P. Generation of Low-Dimensional Architectures through the Self-Assembly of Pyromellitic Diimide Derivatives. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:1672-1678. [PMID: 28474013 PMCID: PMC5410650 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Small π-conjugated molecules can be designed and synthesized to undergo controlled self-assembly forming low-dimensional architectures, with programmed order at the supramolecular level. Such order is of paramount importance because it defines the property of the obtained material. Here, we have focused our attention to four pyromellitic diimide derivatives exposing different types of side chains. The joint effect of different noncovalent interactions including π-π stacking, H-bonding, and van der Waals forces on the four derivatives yielded different self-assembled architectures. Atomic force microscopy studies, corroborated with infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic measurements, provided complementary multiscale insight into these assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Musumeci
- Université
de Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Monika Wałęsa-Chorab
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Adam Gorczyński
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Markiewicz
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
- Centre
for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz
University, Umultowska
89c, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Andrzej Bogucki
- Institute
of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Mariana Smoluchowskiego
17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland
| | - Roman Świetlik
- Institute
of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Mariana Smoluchowskiego
17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Hnatejko
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Wojciech Jankowski
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Marcin Hoffmann
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Emanuele Orgiu
- Université
de Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Artur R. Stefankiewicz
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
- Centre
for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz
University, Umultowska
89c, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Violetta Patroniak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Artur Ciesielski
- Université
de Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Paolo Samorì
- Université
de Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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8
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Yang T, Mehta JS, Mativetsky JM. An air gap moderates the performance of nanowire array transistors. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:125204. [PMID: 28170350 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa5f0a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Solution-processed nanowires are promising for low-cost and flexible electronics. When depositing nanowires from solution, due to stacking of the nanowires, an air gap exists between the substrate and much of the active material. Here, using confocal Raman spectroscopy, we quantify the thickness of the air gap in transistors comprising organic semiconductor nanowires. The average air gap thickness is found to be unexpectedly large, being at least three times larger than the nanowire diameter, leading to a significant impact on transistor performance. The air gap acts as an additional dielectric layer that reduces the accumulation of charge carriers due to a gate voltage. Conventional determination of the charge carrier mobility ignores the presence of an air gap, resulting in an overestimate of charge carrier accumulation and an underestimate of charge carrier mobility. It is shown that the larger the air gap, the larger the mobility correction (which can be greater than an order of magnitude) and the larger the degradation in on-off current ratio. These results demonstrate the importance of minimizing the air gap and of taking the air gap into consideration when analyzing the electrical performance of transistors consisting of stacked nanowires. This finding is applicable to all types of stacked one-dimensional materials including organic and inorganic nanowires, and carbon nanotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Yang
- Materials Science and Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States of America
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9
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Zhang L, Pavlica E, Zhong X, Liscio F, Li S, Bratina G, Orgiu E, Samorì P. Fast-Response Photonic Device Based on Organic-Crystal Heterojunctions Assembled into a Vertical-Yet-Open Asymmetric Architecture. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1605760. [PMID: 28112837 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201605760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Crystalline dioctyl-3,4,9,10-perylenedicarboximide nanowires and 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene microplates are integrated into a vertical-yet-open asymmetrical heterojunction for the realization of a high-performance organic photovoltaic detector, which shows fast photoresponse, ultrahigh signal-to-noise ratio, and high sensitivity to weak light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Egon Pavlica
- Laboratory of Organic Matter Physics, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 11c, SI-5270, Ajdovšcˇina, Slovenia
| | - Xiaolan Zhong
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Fabiola Liscio
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (IMM), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Songlin Li
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Gvido Bratina
- Laboratory of Organic Matter Physics, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 11c, SI-5270, Ajdovšcˇina, Slovenia
| | - Emanuele Orgiu
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Paolo Samorì
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
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10
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Rekab W, Stoeckel MA, El Gemayel M, Gobbi M, Orgiu E, Samorì P. High-Performance Phototransistors Based on PDIF-CN2 Solution-Processed Single Fiber and Multifiber Assembly. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:9829-9838. [PMID: 27022976 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b01254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Here we describe the fabrication of organic phototransistors based on either single or multifibers integrated in three-terminal devices. These self-assembled fibers have been produced by solvent-induced precipitation of an air stable and solution-processable perylene di-imide derivative, i.e., PDIF-CN2. The optoelectronic properties of these devices were compared to devices incorporating more disordered spin-coated PDIF-CN2 thin-films. The single-fiber devices revealed significantly higher field-effect mobilities, compared to multifiber and thin-films, exceeding 2 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Such an efficient charge transport is the result of strong intermolecular coupling between closely packed PDIF-CN2 molecules and of a low density of structural defects. The improved crystallinity allows efficient collection of photogenerated Frenkel excitons, which results in the highest reported responsivity (R) for single-fiber PDI-based phototransistors, and photosensitivity (P) exceeding 2 × 10(3) AW(-1), and 5 × 10(3), respectively. These findings provide unambiguous evidence for the key role played by the high degree of order at the supramolecular level to leverage the material's properties toward the fabrication of light-sensitive organic field-effect transistors combining a good operational stability, high responsivity and photosensitivity. Our results show also that the air-stability performances are superior in devices where highly crystalline supramolecularly engineered architectures serve as the active layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wassima Rekab
- Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS , 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Marc-Antoine Stoeckel
- Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS , 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Mirella El Gemayel
- Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS , 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS , 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Emanuele Orgiu
- Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS , 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Paolo Samorì
- Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS , 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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11
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Barbarella G, Di Maria F. Supramolecular oligothiophene microfibers spontaneously assembled on surfaces or coassembled with proteins inside live cells. Acc Chem Res 2015; 48:2230-41. [PMID: 26234700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.5b00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
During the last few decades, multifunctional nano- and microfibers made of semiconducting π-conjugated oligomers and polymers have generated much interest because of a broad range of applications extending from sensing to bioelectronic devices and (opto)electronics. The simplest technique for the fabrication of these anisotropic supramolecular structures is to let the molecules do the work by spontaneous organization driven by the information encoded in their molecular structure. Oligothiophenes-semiconducting and fluorescent compounds that have been extensively investigated for applications in thin-film field-effect transistors and solar cells and to a lesser extent as dyes for fluorescent labeling of proteins, DNA, and live cells-are particularly suited as building blocks for supramolecular architectures because of the peculiar properties of the thiophene ring. Because of the great polarizability of sulfur outer-shell electrons and the consequent facile geometric deformability and adaptability of the ring to the environment, thiophene can generate multiple nonbonding interactions to promote non-covalent connections between blocks. Furthermore, sulfur can be hypervalent, i.e., it can accommodate more than the eight electrons normally associated with s and p shells. Hypervalent oligothiophene-S,S-dioxides whose oxygen atoms can be involved in hydrogen bonding have been synthesized. These compounds are amphiphilic, and some of them are able to spontaneously cross the membrane of live cells. Hypervalent nonbonding interactions of divalent sulfur, defined as weak coordination to a proximate nitrogen or oxygen, have also been invoked in the solid-state packing of many organic molecules and in the architecture of proteins. In this Account, we describe two different types of thiophene-based building blocks that can induce the spontaneous formation of nanostructured microfibers in very different environments. The first, based on the synthesis of "sulfur-overrich" hexamers and octamers, leads to surface-independent self-assembly of microfibers-helical or rodlike depending on the groups attached to the same identical inner core-that are crystalline, fluorescent, and conductive and display chirality despite the lack of chiral carbon atoms on the building blocks. Supramolecular polymorphic microfibers are also formed, and they are characterized by very different functional properties. The second, based on a rigid oligothiophene-S,S-dioxide, leads to coassembled protein-oligothiophene microfibers that are physiologically formed inside live cells. The oligothiophene-S,S-dioxide can indeed spontaneously cross the membrane of live cells and be directed toward the perinuclear region, where it is recognized and incorporated by specific peptides during the formation of fibrillar proteins without being harmful to the cells. Coassembled oligothiophene-protein microfibers are progressively formed through a cell-mediated physiological process. Thanks to the oligothiophene blocks, the microfibers possess fluorescence and charge-conduction properties. By means of fluorescence imaging, we demonstrated that various types of live cells seeded on these microfibers were able to internalize and degrade them, experiencing in turn different effects on their morphology and viability, suggesting a possible use of the microfibers as multiscale biomaterials to direct cell behavior. On the whole, our results show the great versatility of oligothiophene building blocks and allow us to foresee that their capabilities of spontaneous assembly in the most different environments could be exploited in much more exciting research fields than those explored to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Barbarella
- Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche (CNR-ISOF), Via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Maria
- Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche (CNR-ISOF), Via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Matematica e Fisica “Ennio De Giorgi”, Università del Salento, via Monteroni, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
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12
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Rauch V, Kikkawa Y, Koepf M, Hijazi I, Wytko JA, Campidelli S, Goujon A, Kanesato M, Weiss J. Trapping Nanostructures on Surfaces through Weak Interactions. Chemistry 2015; 21:13437-44. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201501767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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13
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Cebrián C, Natali M, Villa D, Panigati M, Mauro M, D'Alfonso G, De Cola L. Luminescent supramolecular soft nanostructures from amphiphilic dinuclear Re(I) complexes. NANOSCALE 2015; 7:12000-12009. [PMID: 26108470 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr01668a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Luminescent metallo-surfactants based on highly emissive dinuclear Re(I) complexes have been synthesized combining the peculiar photophysical behaviour of this class of neutral hydrophobic complexes with new properties imparted by hydrophilic chains anchored on the coordinated chromophoric ligand. In solution, the resulting neutral amphiphiles tend to self-assembly in soft structures. The aggregation properties have been thoroughly investigated in dioxane-water mixtures, where all the complexes assembly in globular-like supramolecular architectures with well-defined size (hydrodynamic diameter = 200-400 nm). The morphology of these nano-objects has been completely characterized with Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis, Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) and cryo-TEM to determine the size, polydispersity, and stability of the nanoparticles in relationship with the structure of the metallo-surfactants. The photophysical properties of both the isolated metal complexes and their aggregates have been investigated by means of UV-Vis absorption, steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. Noteworthy, the self-assembly properties of the reported luminescent rhenium metallo-amphiphiles can be modulated by solvent polarity. Even more importantly, such aggregation process yielded a small hypsochromic shift of the emission energy accompanied by a sizeable elongation of the excited-state lifetime and an enhancement of the photoluminescence quantum yield, reaching a remarkably high value of 0.20 despite the air-equilibrated aqueous condition. The presented findings endorse novel possibilities for the efficient use of soft-nanostructures based on metallo-amphiphiles in dual (electron and optical microscopy) bio-imaging applications and theranostics where the non-covalent nature of the intermolecular interactions would offer the powerful and unique possibility to reversibly assemble and disassemble imaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cebrián
- ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS, 8 rue Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
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Haruk AM, Mativetsky JM. Supramolecular Approaches to Nanoscale Morphological Control in Organic Solar Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:13381-406. [PMID: 26110382 PMCID: PMC4490500 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160613381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2015] [Revised: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Having recently surpassed 10% efficiency, solar cells based on organic molecules are poised to become a viable low-cost clean energy source with the added advantages of mechanical flexibility and light weight. The best-performing organic solar cells rely on a nanostructured active layer morphology consisting of a complex organization of electron donating and electron accepting molecules. Although much progress has been made in designing new donor and acceptor molecules, rational control over active layer morphology remains a central challenge. Long-term device stability is another important consideration that needs to be addressed. This review highlights supramolecular strategies for generating highly stable nanostructured organic photovoltaic active materials by design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Haruk
- Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Mativetsky
- Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
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