Modulating the Electronic and Solid-State Structure of Organic Semiconductors by Site-Specific Substitution: The Case of Tetrafluoropentacenes

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Thomas Geiger - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Simon Schundelmeier - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Thorsten Hummel - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Markus Stroebele - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Wolfgang Leis - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Michael Seitz - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Clemens Zeiser - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Luca Moretti - , Polytechnic University of Milan (Author)
  • Margherita Maiuri - , Polytechnic University of Milan (Author)
  • Giulio Cerullo - , Polytechnic University of Milan (Author)
  • Katharina Broch - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Joern Vahland - , Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonics Materials (DC-IAPP) (Author)
  • Karl Leo - , Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonics Materials (DC-IAPP) (Author)
  • Caecilia Maichle-Moessmer - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Bernd Speiser - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Holger F. Bettinger - , University of Tübingen (Author)

Abstract

The properties as well as solid-state structures, singlet fission, and organic field-effect transistor (OFET) performance of three tetrafluoropentacenes (1,4,8,11: 10, 1,4,9,10: 11, 2,3,9,10: 12) are compared herein. The novel compounds 10 and 11 were synthesized in high purity from the corresponding 6,13-etheno-bridged precursors by reaction with dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate at elevated temperatures. Although most of the molecular properties of the compounds are similar, their chemical reactivity and crystal structures differ considerably. Isomer 10 undergoes the orbital symmetry forbidden thermal [4+4] dimerization, whereas 11 and 12 are much less reactive. The isomers 11 and 12 crystallize in a herringbone motif, but 10 prefers pi-pi stacking. Although the energy of the first electric dipole-allowed optical transition varies only within 370 cm(-1) (0.05 eV) for the neutral compounds, this amounts to roughly 1600 cm(-1) (0.20 eV) for radical cations and 1300 cm(-1) (0.16 eV) for dications. Transient spectroscopy of films of 11 and 12 reveals singlet-fission time constants (91 +/- 11, 73 +/- 3 fs, respectively) that are shorter than for pentacene (112 +/- 9 fs). OFET devices constructed from 11 and 12 show close to ideal thin-film transistor (TFT) characteristics with electron mobilities of 2x10(-3) and 6x10(-2) cm(2) V-1 s(-1), respectively.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3420-3434
Number of pages15
JournalChemistry - A European Journal
Volume26
Issue number15
Publication statusPublished - 12 Mar 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85081708445

Keywords

Keywords

  • acenes, organic field-effect transistors, organic semiconductors, singlet fission, synthesis, FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS, THIN-FILM TRANSISTORS, SINGLET FISSION, CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE, EXCITON FISSION, PENTACENE, ACENES, MOBILITY, PERFLUOROPENTACENE