Benzimidazole Derivatives: Synthesis,Physical Properties,and n‐Type Semiconducting Properties

A series of new benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized by the solid‐state condensation and direct sublimation (SSC‐DS) method and their physical properties were investigated. The reaction yields and product stability were significantly affected by the identity of the diamine and anhydride substituents. On the other hand, the substituents of the benzimidazole ring allowed fine tuning of the emission maxima, fluorescence quantum yields, and redox potentials. The HOMO–LUMO levels were estimated by cyclic voltammetry in film on indium tin oxide (ITO) and compared with values obtained by other methods. The described benzimidazoles showed high crystallinity, which is attributed to a high planarity and interactions between carbon and heteroatoms. These compounds showed n‐type semiconducting behavior in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Optimized devices for fluorinated NTCBI (naphthalene tetracarboxylic bisbenzimidazole) showed respectable electron mobilities of ～10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1.     

ipso‐Arylative Ring‐Opening Polymerization as a Route to Electron‐Deficient Conjugated Polymers

ipso‐Arylative ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐bromo‐8‐aryl‐8H‐indeno[2,1‐b]thiophen‐8‐ol monomers proceeds to M_n up to 9 kg mol^?1 with conversion of the monomer diarylcarbinol groups to pendent conjugated aroylphenyl side chains (2‐benzoylphenyl or 2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl), which influence the optical and electronic properties of the resulting polythiophenes. Poly(3‐(2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl)thiophene) was found to have lower frontier orbital energy levels (HOMO/LUMO=?5.9/?4.0 eV) than poly(3‐hexylthiophene) owing to the electron‐withdrawing ability of the aryl ketone side chains. The electron mobility (ca. 2×10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1) for poly(3‐(2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl)thiophene) was found to be significantly higher than the hole mobility (ca. 8×10^?6 cm² V^?1 s^?1), which suggests such polymers are candidates for n‐type organic semiconductors. Density functional theory calculations suggest that backbone distortion resulting from side‐chain steric interactions could be a key factor influencing charge mobilities.     

Thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based Quinoidal Small Molecules: Synthesis,Characterization, Redox Behavior,and n‐Channel Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

We report the synthesis, characterization, redox behavior, and n‐channel organic field‐effect (OFET) characteristics of a new class of thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐diketopyrrolopyrrole‐based quinoidal small molecules 3 and 4 . Under ambient atmosphere, solution‐processed thin‐film transistors based on 3 and 4 exhibit maximum electron mobilities up to 0.22 and 0.16 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively, with on‐off current ratios (I_on/I_off) of more than than 10⁶. Cyclic voltammetry analysis showed that this class of quinoidal derivatives exhibited excellent reversible two‐stage reduction behavior. This property was further investigated by a stepwise reductive titration of 4 , in which sequential reduction to the radical anion and then the dianion were observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(1,4‐bis((E)‐2‐(3‐dodecylthiophen‐2‐yl)vinyl)benzene) derivatives

New amorphous semiconducting copolymers, poly(9,9‐dialkylfluorene)‐alt‐(3‐dodecylthienyl‐divinylbenzene‐3‐dodecylthienyl) derivatives (PEFTVB and POFTVB), were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The structure of copolymers was confirmed by H NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. The copolymers showed very good solubility in organic solvents and high thermal stability with high T_g of 178–185 °C. The weight average molecular weight was found to be 107,900 with polydispersity of 3.14 for PEFTVB and 76,700 with that of 3.31 for POFTVB. UV–vis absorption studies showed the maximum absorption at 428 nm (in solution) and 435 nm (in film) for PEFTVB and at 430 nm (in solution) and 436 nm (in film) for POFTVB. Photoluminescence studies showed the emission at 498 nm (in solution) and 557 nm (in film) for PEFTVB and at 498 nm (in solution) and 536 nm (in film) for POFTVB. The solution‐processed thin‐film transistors showed the carrier mobility of 2 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 for PEFTVB‐based devices and 2 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1 for POFTVB‐based devices. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3942–3949, 2010     

Thienoacene‐Fused Pentalenes: Syntheses,Structures, Physical Properties and Applications for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

Three soluble and stable thienoacene‐fused pentalene derivatives ( 1 – 3 ) with different π‐conjugation lengths were synthesized. X‐ray crystallographic analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed their unique geometric and electronic structures due to the interaction between the aromatic thienoacene units and antiaromatic pentalene moiety. As a result, they all possess a small energy gap and show amphoteric redox behaviour. Time dependent (TD) DFT calculations were used to explain their unique electronic absorption spectra. These new compounds exhibited good thermal stability and ordered packing in solid state and thus their applications in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) were also investigated. The highest field‐effect hole mobility of 0.016, 0.036 and 0.001 cm² V^?1 s^?1 was achieved for solution‐processed thin films of 1 – 3 , respectively.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction and Determination of Iodate and Periodate at Silicomolybdate‐Incorporated‐Glutaraldehyde‐ Cross‐Linked Poly‐L‐lysine Film Electrodes

The present work describes reduction of iodate (IO₃^?), and periodate (IO₄^?) at silicomolybdate‐doped‐glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked poly‐L ‐lysine (PLL‐GA‐SiMo) film coated glassy carbon electrode in 0.1 M H₂SO₄. In our previous study, we were able to prepare the PLL‐GA‐SiMo film modified electrode by means of electrostatically trapping SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4? mediator in the cationic film of PLL‐GA, and the voltammetric investigation in pure supporting indicated that the charge transport through the film was fast. Here, the electrocatalytic activity of PLL‐GA‐SiMo film electrode towards iodate and periodate was tested and subsequently used for analytical determination of these analytes by amperometry. The two electron reduced species of SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4? anion was responsible for the electrocatalytic reduction of IO₃^? at PLL‐GA‐SiMo film electrode while two and six electron reduced species were showed electrocatalytic activity towards IO₄^? reduction. Under optimized experimental conditions of amperometry, the linear concentration range and sensitivity are 2.5×10^?6 to 1.1×10^?2 M and 18.47 μA mM^?1 for iodate, and 5×10^?6 to 1.43×10^?4 M and 1014.7 μA mM^?1 for periodate, respectively.     

An A‐D‐A′‐D‐A Conjugated Molecule Entailing Diazapentalene Unit for an n‐Type Organic Semiconductor

Conjugated molecules with low lying LUMO levels are demanding for the development of air stable n‐type organic semiconductors. In this paper, we report a new A‐D‐A′‐D‐A conjugated molecule ( DAPDCV ) entailing diazapentalene (DAP) and dicyanovinylene groups as electron accepting units. Both theoretical and electrochemical studies manifest that the incorporation of DAP unit in the conjugated molecule can effectively lower the LUMO energy level. Accordingly, thin film of DAPDCV shows n‐type semiconducting behavior with electron mobility up to 0.16 cm²?V^?1?s^?1 after thermal annealing under N₂ atmosphere. Moreover, thin film of DAPDCV also shows stable n‐type transporting property in air with mobility reaching 0.078 cm²?V^?1?s^?1.     

Thiophene‐S,S‐dioxidized Indophenine: A Quinoid‐Type Building Block with High Electron Affinity for Constructing n‐Type Polymer Semiconductors with Narrow Band Gaps

Three thiophene‐S,S‐dioxidized indophenine (IDTO) isomers, 3 a (E,E,E), 3 b (Z,E,E), and 3 c (Z,E,Z), were synthesized by oxidation of an indophenine compound. 3 b and 3 c could be converted into the most‐stable 3 a by heating at 110 °C. An IDTO‐containing conjugated polymer, PIDTOTT, was prepared using 3 a as a comonomer through a Stille coupling reaction, and it possesses a narrow band gap and low energy levels. In organic field effect transistors (OFETs), PIDTOTT exhibited unipolar n‐type semiconductor characteristics with unexpectedly high electron mobility (up to 0.14 cm² V^?1 s^?1), despite its rather disordered chain packing.     

Electronic Properties and Field‐Effect Transistors of Thiophene‐Based Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Copolymers

Summary: The thiophene‐quinoxaline donor–acceptor conjugated copolymer poly[(thiophene‐2,5‐diyl‐alt‐(2,3‐diheptylquinoxaline‐5,8‐diyl)] (PTHQx) was explored as a semiconductor in thin‐film organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). A hole mobility of 3.6 × 10⁻³ cm² · V⁻¹ · s⁻¹ and an on/off current ratio of 6 × 10⁵ were observed in p‐channel OFETs made from spin‐coated PTHQx thin films. The electronic structures of PTHQx and a related thiophene‐thienopyrazine donor–acceptor copolymer were calculated by density functional theory. Atomic force microscopy of PTHQx thin films showed a polycrystalline grain morphology that varied with the substrate.

Output (left) and transfer (right) characteristics of a PTHQx (structure shown) organic field‐effect transistor.     

Electron Transport of Photoconductive n‐Type Liquid Crystals Based on a Redox‐Active Tetraazanaphthacene Framework

The preparation of two liquid crystals composed of a redox‐active tetraazanaphthacene (TANC) framework is reported. The materials form smectic A (SmA) thin‐film liquid‐crystalline (LC) phases over a wide temperature range. Cyclic voltammetry analysis revealed that LC TANCs behave as organic electron acceptors. The electron mobilities of the thin films were determined by time‐ of‐flight (TOF) measurements, which are the order of 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in the SmA LC phase. This value is two orders of magnitude larger than those of amorphous organic semiconductors. To the best of our knowledge, very few reports exist on the electron‐transporting behaviors of LC N‐heteroacene semiconductors.     

Synthesis,characterization, and organic field‐effect transistors study of conjugated D–A copolymers based on dialkylated naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene/naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]difuran and benzodiathiazole/benzoxadiazole

In this report, four donor–acceptor copolymers, P(NDT3‐BT), P(NDT3‐BO), P(NDF3‐BT), and P(NDF3‐BO), using 5,10‐didodecyl‐naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene (NDT3) or 5,10‐didodecyl‐naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]difuran (NDF3) as an electron‐rich unit and benzodiathiazole (BT) or benzoxadiazole (BO) as an electron‐deficient one, were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Detailed systematical investigation was developed for studying the effect of the S/O atoms on the optical, electrochemical, and morphological properties of the polymers, as well as the subsequent performance of the organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) fabricated from these copolymers. It was found that, compared with NDF3‐based P(NDF3‐BT)/P(NDF3‐BO), by replacing NDF3 with stronger aromatic NDT3, the resultant P(NDT3‐BT)/P(NDT3‐BO) show smaller lamellar distance with an increased surface roughness in solid state, and relatively higher hole mobilities are obtained. The hole mobilities of the four polymers based on OFETs varied from 0.20 to 0.32 cm² V^?1 s^?1 depending on their molecular structures, giving some valuable insights for the further design and development of a new generation of semiconducting materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2465–2476     

HOMO Stabilisation in π‐Extended Dibenzotetrathiafulvalene Derivatives for Their Application in Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

Three new organic semiconductors, in which either two methoxy units are directly linked to a dibenzotetrathiafulvalene (DB‐TTF) central core and a 2,1,3‐chalcogendiazole is fused on the one side, or four methoxy groups are linked to the DB‐TTF, have been synthesised as active materials for organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Their electrochemical behaviour, electronic absorption and fluorescence emission as well as photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer were studied. The electron‐withdrawing 2,1,3‐chalcogendiazole unit significantly affects the electronic properties of these semiconductors, lowering both the HOMO and LUMO energy levels and hence increasing the stability of the semiconducting material. The solution‐processed single‐crystal transistors exhibit high performance with a hole mobility up to 0.04 cm² V^?1 s^?1 as well as good ambient stability.     

Extended Conjugated Donor–Acceptor Molecules with E‐(1,2‐Difluorovinyl) and Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) Moieties toward High‐Performance Ambipolar Organic Semiconductors

Two diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)‐based donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated molecules, DPP‐F and DPP‐2F, which contain E‐(1,2‐difluorovinyl) moieties, are reported. The LUMO energies of DPP‐F and DPP‐2F were estimated to be ?3.49 and ?3.70 eV, respectively, based on their redox potentials and absorption spectral data; these values were clearly lowered because of the incorporation of electron‐withdrawing E‐(1,2‐difluorovinyl) moieties. Organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) with thin films of DPP‐F and DPP‐2F were successfully fabricated with conventional techniques. Based on the respective transfer and output characteristics measured in an inert atmosphere, thin films of DPP‐2F display ambipolar semiconducting behavior with hole and electron mobilities reaching 0.42 and 0.80 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively. The as‐prepared OFET of DPP‐2F already shows high hole and electron mobilities that are not influenced remarkably by thermal annealing. For thin films of DPP‐F, only p‐type semiconducting behavior was observed in both an inert atmosphere and air, and the hole mobility increased to 0.1 cm² V^?1 s^?1 after thermal annealing. XRD and AFM studies were performed with thin films of DPP‐F and DPP‐2F after annealing at different temperatures.     

Highly Air‐Stable Electron‐Transport Material for Ink‐Jet‐Printed OLEDs

A novel cross‐linkable electron‐transport material has been designed and synthesized for use in the fabrication of solution‐processed OLEDs. The material exhibits a low LUMO level of ?3.51 eV, a high electron mobility of 1.5×10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1, and excellent stability. An average 9.3 % shrinkage in film thickness was observed for the film after thermal curing. A maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 15.6 % (35.0 cd A^?1) was achieved for blue‐phosphorescent OLEDs by spin‐coating and 13.8 % (31.0 cd A^?1) for an ink‐jet‐printed device, both of which are better than the EQE of a control device prepared by vacuum‐deposition (see figure).     

Narrow band gap D–A copolymer of indacenodithiophene and diketopyrrolopyrrole with deep HOMO level: Synthesis and application in field‐effect transistors and polymer solar cells

A novel fused ladder alternating D–A copolymer, PIDT–DPP, with alkyl substituted indacenodithiophene (IDT) as donor unit and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as acceptor unit, was designed and synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed Stille‐coupling method. The copolymer showed good solubility and film‐forming ability combining with good thermal stability. PIDT–DPP exhibited a broad absorption band from 350 to 900 nm with an absorption peak centered at 735 nm. The optical band gap determined from the onset of absorption of the polymer film was 1.37 eV. The highest occupied molecular orbital level of the polymer is as deep as ?5.32 eV. The solution‐processed organic field‐effect transistor (OFETs) was fabricated with bottom gate/top contact geometry. The highest FET hole mobility of PIDT–DPP reached 0.065 cm² V^?1 s^?1 with an on/off ratio of 4.6 × 10⁵. This mobility is one of the highest values for narrow band gap conjugated polymers. The power conversion efficiency of the polymer solar cell based on the polymer as donor was 1.76% with a high open circuit voltage of 0.88 V. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the photovoltaic properties of alkyl substituted IDT‐based polymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Stable All‐Organic Radicals with Ambipolar Charge Transport

A series of neutral long‐lived purely organic radicals based on the stable [4‐(N‐carbazolyl)‐2,6‐dichlorophenyl]bis(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)methyl radical adduct (Cbz‐TTM) is reported herein. All compounds exhibit ambipolar charge‐transport properties under ambient conditions owing to their radical character. High electron and hole mobilities up to 10^?2 and 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively, were achieved. Xerographic single‐layered photoreceptors were fabricated from the radicals studied herein, exhibiting good xerographic photosensitivity across the visible spectrum.     

Synthesis and properties of azobenzene‐containing poly(1‐alkyne)s with different functional pendant groups

1‐Alkynes containing azobenzene mesogenic moieties [HC?C(CH₂)₉? O? ph? N?N? ph? O? R; R = ethyl ( 1 ), octyl ( 2 ), decyl ( 3 ), (S)‐2‐methylbutyl ( 4 ), or (S)‐1‐ethoxy‐1‐oxopropan‐2‐yl ( 5 ); ph = 1,4‐phenyl] were synthesized and polymerized in the presence of a Rh catalyst {(nbd)Rh⁺[B(C₆H5)₄]^?; nbd = 2,5‐norbornadiene} to yield a series of liquid‐crystalline polymers in high yields (e.g., >75%). These polymers had moderate molecular weights (number‐average molecular weight ≥ 12,000), high cis contents in the main chain (up to 83%), good thermal stability, and good solubility in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and dichloromethane. These polymers were thoroughly characterized by a combination of infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and two‐dimensional wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction techniques. The liquid‐crystalline behavior of these polymers was dependent on the tail group attached to the azobenzene structure. Poly‐ 1 , which had the shortest tail group, that is, an ethyl group, showed a smectic A mesophase, whereas poly‐ 2 , poly‐ 3 , and poly‐ 5 , which had longer or chiral tail groups, formed smectic C mesophases, and poly‐ 4 , which had another chiral group attached to the azobenzene structure, showed a chiral smectic C mesophase in both the heating and cooling processes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4532–4545, 2006     

Direct Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis of Hemoglobin Based on Nafion‐Room Temperature Ionic Liquids‐Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Composite Film

A robust and effective composite film combined the benefits of Nafion, room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) and multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was prepared. Hemoglobin (Hb) was successfully immobilized on glassy carbon electrode surface by entrapping in the composite film. Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of immobilized Hb were investigated in detail. A pair of well‐defined and quasi‐reversible redox peaks of Hb was obtained in 0.10 mol·L^?1 pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), indicating that the Nafion‐RTIL‐MWNTs film showed an obvious promotion for the direct electron transfer between Hb and the underlying electrode. The immobilized Hb exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H₂O₂. The catalysis current was linear to H₂O₂ concentration in the range of 2.0×10^?6 to 2.5×10^?4 mol·L^?1, with a detection limit of 8.0×10^?7 mol·L^?1 (S/N=3). The apparent Michaelis‐Menten constant (K_m^app) was calculated to be 0.34 mmol·L^?1. Moreover, the modified electrode displayed a good stability and reproducibility. Based on the composite film, a third‐generation reagentless biosensor could be constructed for the determination of H₂O₂.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of Rhodamine B dye‐bearing poly(isobutyl methacrylate‐co‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate) as a temperature‐sensing polymer film

To develop a novel temperature‐sensitive paint, methacrylamide monomers bearing Rhodamine B dye (two regioisomers, 3a and 3b ) were synthesized and polymerized with isobutyl methacrylate and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate to afford Rhodamine B‐pendant polymers 4a and 4b . The methacrylamide monomers 3a and 3b showed photophysical properties almost identical with those of Rhodamine B. The temperature sensitivity of the luminescence intensity of 3a and 3b was also similar to that of Rhodamine B. The polymers 4a and 4b have excellent solubility in nonpolar organic solvents and are suitable for application as paint. Films of polymers 4a and 4b showed temperature‐dependent luminescence, which is applicable for temperature‐sensing. The temperature sensitivity of the film of 4a was estimated to be ?0.37% °C^?1, and was independent of pressure. The film of 4b showed higher temperature sensitivity, but its temperature sensitivity was slightly pressure‐dependent. Hence, polymer 4a is expected to be superior for practical use in paints having temperature‐sensing functionality. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2876–2885, 2007     

Two‐Step direct arylation for synthesis of naphthalenediimide‐based conjugated polymer

A naphthalenediimide (NDI)‐based conjugated polymer was synthesized by a two‐step direct C‐H arylation sequence. In the first step, two ethylenedioxythiophene units were coupled to NDI by direct arylation. In the second step, the direct arylation polycondensation of the monomer, formed in the first step, with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene afforded the corresponding NDI‐based conjugated polymer ( PEDOTNDIF ) with molecular weight of 21,500 in 91% yield. The optical and electrochemical properties of the polymer were evaluated. The polymer showed ambipolar behavior in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). The electron mobility of PEDOTNDIF was estimated to be 2.3 × 10^?6 cm² V^?1 s^?1 using an OFET device with source‐drain (S‐D) Au electrodes. A modified OFET device with S‐D MgAg electrodes increased the electron mobility for PEDOTNDIF to 1.0 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1 due to the more suitable work function of these electrodes, which reduced the injection barrier to the semiconducting polymer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1401–1407