Engineering Thin Films of a Tetrabenzoporphyrin toward Efficient Charge-Carrier Transport: Selective Formation of a Brickwork Motif

An Unsymmetrical 5,15-Disubstituted Tetrabenzoporphyrin: Effect of Molecular Symmetry on the Packing Structure and Charge Transporting Property

Molecular design strategy to control the crystal structure of two-dimensional (2D) π-extended organic semiconductors has not been intensively explored. We synthesized an unsymmetric tetrabenzoporphyrin derivative (TIPS-Ph-BP) to demonstrate the effect of molecular symmetry on crystal packing. TIPS-Ph-BP formed an antiparallel slipped π-stacking and 2D herringbone-like structure. An unsymmetric structure would make 2D π-stacking more stable than a one-dimensional (1D) columnar structure to counteract steric and electronic imbalance in the crystal. As a result, TIPS-Ph-BP achieved the high hole mobility of 0.71 cm2 V-1 s-1.

Exploration of Alkyl Group Effects on the Molecular Packing of 5,15-Disubstituted Tetrabenzoporphyrins toward Efficient Charge-Carrier Transport

The high design flexibility of organic semiconductors should lead to diverse and complex electronic functions. However, currently available high-performance organic semiconductors are limited in variety; most of p-type materials are based on thienoacenes or related one-dimensionally (1D) extended π-conjugated systems. In an effort to expand the diversity of organic semiconductors, we are working on the development of tetrabenzoporphyrin (BP) derivatives as active-layer components of organic electronic devices. BP is characterized by its large, rigid two-dimensionally (2D) extended π-framework with high light absorptivity and therefore is promising as a core building unit of organic semiconductors for optoelectronic applications. Herein, we demonstrate that BP derivatives can afford field-effect hole mobilities of >4 cm² V^-1 s^-1 upon careful tuning of substituents. Comparative analysis of a series of 5,15-bis(n-alkyldimethylsilylethynyl)tetrabenzoporphyrins reveals that linear alkyl substituents disrupt the π-π stacking of BP cores, unlike the widely observed "fastener effect" for 1D extended π-systems. The n-octyl and n-dodecyl groups have the best balance between high solution processability and minimal π-π stacking disruption, leading to superior hole mobilities in solution-processed thin films. The resulting thin films show high thermal stability wherein the field-effect hole mobility stays above 1 cm² V^-1 s^-1 even after heating at 160 °C in air, reflecting the tight packing of large BP units. These findings will serve as a good basis for extracting the full potential of 2D extended π-frameworks and thus for increasing the structural or functional diversities of high-performance organic semiconductors.

Synthesis of 10,20-substituted tetrabenzo-5,15-diazaporphyrin copper complexes from soluble precursors

We report improved synthesis of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene(BCOD)-fused 5,15-diazaporphyrin and meso-substituted derivatives by metal-template aza-annulation reaction. The obtained compounds act as the soluble precursors of tetrabenzo-5,15-diazaporphyrin (TBDAP) by thermal conversion. The substituents at meso-positions make significant differences in the optical properties and morphology in the thin film upon thermal conversion.

Organic Heterojunctions Formed by Interfacing Two Single Crystals from a Mixed Solution

Organic heterojunctions are widely used in organic electronics and they are composed of semiconductors interfaced together. Good ordering in the molecular packing inside the heterojunctions is highly desired but it is still challenging to interface organic single crystals to form single-crystalline heterojunctions. Here, we describe how organic heterojunctions are formed by interfacing two single crystals from a droplet of a mixed solution containing two semiconductors. Based on crystallization of six organic semiconductors from a droplet on a substrate, two distinct crystallization mechanisms have been recognized in the sense that crystals form at either the top interface between the air and solution or the bottom interface between the substrate and solution. The preference for one interface rather than the other depends on the semiconductor-substrate pair and, for a given semiconductor, it can be switched by changing the substrate, suggesting that the preference is associated with the semiconductor-substrate molecular interaction. Furthermore, simultaneous crystallization of two semiconductors at two different interfaces to reduce their mutual disturbance results in the formation of bilayer single crystals interfaced together for organic heterojunctions. These single-crystalline heterojunctions exhibit ambipolar charge transport in field-effect transistors, with the highest electron mobility of 1.90 cm² V^-1 s^-1 and the highest hole mobility of 1.02 cm² V^-1 s^-1. Hence, by elucidating the interfacial crystallization events, this work should greatly harvest the solution-grown organic single-crystalline heterojunctions.

An Ethynylene-Bridged Pentacene Dimer: Two-Step Synthesis and Charge-Transport Properties

A rigid and planar ethynylene-bridged pentacene dimer (PenD) was synthesized from pentacenequinone in two steps, skipping the conventional stepwise approach. A brickwork motif in the single crystal shows two-dimensionally extended electronic interaction in the solid state. Highly crystalline dip-coated films exhibited average hole mobility of 0.24 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 , comparable to that of the single-crystal organic field-effect transistors. This discovery and understanding of the reaction for the facile synthesis of ethynylene-bridged π-conjugated systems enables to the synthesis of a wide range of organic semiconducting materials.