Polythiophene and oligothiophene systems modified by TTF electroactive units for organic electronics

Synthesis of 2-(Methylthio)-1,3-dithioles from 1,3-Dithiole-2-thiones: Important Building Blocks in Tetrathiafulvalene Chemistry

2-(Methylthio)-1,3-dithioles are important heterocyclic compounds used for the preparation of redox-active derivatives of tetrathiafulvalene as they serve as precursors for phosphonate esters that can be employed in Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination reactions. Here, we present a mild and less hazardous method than previous methods for converting readily accessible 1,3-dithiole-2-thiones into 2-(methylthio)-1,3-dithioles by methylation with trimethyl orthoformate and HBF4·Et2O and a subsequent reduction with NaBH4.

Influence of electrochemical co-deposition of bimetallic Pt-Pd nanoclusters on polypyrrole modified ITO for enhanced oxidation of 4-(hydroxymethyl) pyridine

Bimetallic Pt–Pd nanoparticles were dispersed on polypyrrole coated indium-tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate sheets (ITO-PET sheets). The excellent filming property of pyrrole gives a high porous uniform active area for the proper adsorption of bimetallic transition metal nanoparticles. Electrochemical behavior of the modified electrodes was determined using cyclic voltammetry and impedance studies. The physicochemical properties of the modified electrodes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. To study the electrochemical oxidation of 4-(hydroxymethyl) pyridine in the presence of sodium nitrate in aqueous acidic medium, the modified electrode was used. It is evident from the study that the modified electrode shows better electrochemical activity towards the oxidation of 4-(hydroxymethyl) pyridine.

Bimetallic Pt–Pd nanoparticles were dispersed on polypyrrole coated indium–tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate sheets (ITO-PET sheets).

EQCM Analysis of the Insertion Phenomena in a n-Doped Poly-Alkyl-Terthiophene With Regioregular Pattern of Substitution

In the present work, we have undertaken the study of the n-doping process in poly-3,3″-didodecyl-2,2':5',2″-terthiophene (poly-33″-DDTT) employing the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The present study aims at understanding how cathodic charge in n-doped poly-33″-DDTT is compensated. For this purpose, the in situ analysis of the variations of the polymeric mass has been considered. Poly-33″-DDTT was obtained as a thin coating onto a metallic substrate via the anodic coupling of the corresponding monomer 3,3″-didodecyl-2,2':5',2″-terthiophene (33″-DDTT). When subjected to electrochemical n-doping in the polarization interval -2.5 ≤ E _appl ≤ 0 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺, the films of poly-33″-DDTT varied their mass according to a mechanism of cations insertion during n-doping and cations extraction during polymer neutralization. In fact, the electrochemical doping of polythiophenes requires the accompanying exchange of charged species to maintain the electroneutrality within the structure of the polymer in all states of polarization. At the end of a full electrochemical cycle (consisting of the n-doping and the successive neutralization of poly-33″-DDTT), the polymer retains a fraction of the mass acquired during n-doping, thus manifesting the phenomena of mass trapping. The combined analysis of electrochemical and microgravimetric data suggests that poly-33″-DDTT in the n-doped state undergoes (or electrocatalyzes) uncontrolled electrochemical reactions that are not accompanied by mass variations.

Synthesis and structures of polyiodide radical cation salts of donors combining tetrathiafulvalene with multiple thiophene or oligo-thiophene substituents

The preparation and structures of the radical cation salts of a series of new TTF-based donors bearing thiophene or oligothiophene side chains with polyiodide counterions are described.

Synthesis and characterization of new D–π-A and A–π-D–π-A type oligothiophene derivatives

New conjugated oligothiophenes with different donor/acceptor architectures were synthesized, with potential applications in the field of organic electronics.

Broadband near-IR absorbing Au-dithiolene complexes bearing redox-active oligothiophene ligands

A series of three homoleptic, monoanionic gold dithiolene complexes of oligothiophene ligands which coordinate via a central thiophene-3,4-dithiolate chelate are presented. The oligomer chains are three, five and seven thiophenes long and the complexes display hybrid optoelectronic properties featuring characteristics of both the oligothiophene chains and the delocalised metal dithiolene centre. The properties of the complexes have been characterised using a variety of spectroscopic and electrochemical methods complemented by computational studies. Solid state spectroelectrochemistry has revealed that upon oxidation these complexes display intense and broad absorption across the visible spectrum. In attempting to produce nickel analogues of these materials a single crystal of a photo-oxidised nickel dithiolene complex has also been isolated.

Crystalline boron-linked tetraaminoethylene radical cations

Boron-linked tetraaminoethylene radical cations has been isolated.

Single-electron oxidation of neutral boryl-linked tetraaminoethylene derivatives 4 led to the formation of radical cations 4˙⁺, which have been isolated and fully characterized. X-ray diffraction analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and computational studies revealed that the unpaired electron is delocalized over the B₂N₄C₂ skeleton and the spin density mainly resides on the carbon and boron atoms.

Electro-optical Properties of Neutral and Radical Ion Thienosquaraines

Thienosquaraines are an interesting class of electroactive dyes that are useful for applications in organic electronics. Herein, the redox chemistry and electrochromic response of a few newly synthesized thienosquaraines are presented. These properties are compared to those of the commercial 2,4-bis[4-(N,N-diisobutylamino)-2,6-dihydroxyphenyl]squaraine. The stability of the radical ions formed in electrochemical processes strongly affects these properties, as shown by cyclic voltammetry, in situ spectroelectrochemistry, and quantum chemical calculations. Furthermore, all of the dyes show aggregation tendency resulting in panchromatic absorption covering the whole UV/Vis spectral range.

Interfacial Engineering for Enhanced Light Absorption and Charge Transfer of a Solution-Processed Bulk Heterojunction Based on Heptazole as a Small Molecule Type of Donor

In the present study, a solution-processed organic semiconductor based on indolocarbazole derivative (heptazole) is introduced as a p-type donor material for a bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic device. The heptazole has an optical band gap of 2.97 eV, and its highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels are compactable with the PC60BM to construct a donor-acceptor heterojuction for energy harvesting and transfer. When the bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic devices consisting of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/heptazole:PC60BM/Al with different blending ratio of heptazole:PC60BM were constructed, the cell with 1:1 blending ratio exhibited the best power conversion efficiency. Further, when an indoline organic dye (D149) was introduced as an interfacial modifier to the above donor/acceptor bulk heterojunction, the device demonstrated an enhanced overall power conversion efficiency from 1.26% to 2.51% hence demonstrating enhancement by the factor of 100%. The device was further characterized using electronic absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the photovoltage decay kinetics. These studies reveal that the enhanced power conversion efficiency of the device is due to the enhanced charge transfer with the complementary light absorption feature of the interfacial D149 dye molecules.