Synthesis and electronic properties of pentacene derivatives as promising n-type semiconductor candidates

Two pentacene derivatives 1 and 2 were synthesized from the Diels-Alder reactions of furan derivatives with 1,4-benzoquinone. They were characterized by the methods of ¹H — nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry (UV-VIS), photoluminescence (PL) spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The energy gaps of 1 and 2, taken directly from spectroscopic measurements, are broad as 2.72 and 2.46 eV, leading to blue and greenish blue photoluminescence, respectively. The LUMO and HOMO energy levels are −2.77 and −5.49 eV for 1, and −2.91 and −5.37 eV for 2, respectively. The low energy levels make both 1 and 2 good air-stabilities and promising n-type semiconductor candidates for use in organic electronics.     

Crystal structure of the Molybdenum(V) Diphosphate KMoP2O8 isotypic with KNbP2O8

A new molybdenum(V) diphosphate KMoP₂O₈ has been isolated. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of this phase has shown that it is isotypic with KNbP₂O₈. It crystallizes in the P2₁/n space group a = 5.0862(4), b = 11.720(1), c = 11.486(1) Å, β = 90.91(1)°. The structure of this phase is compared with those of other molybdenum(V) diphosphates. This tunnel structure is described in terms of [MP₂O₈]₈∞ ribbons running along ā, showing close relationships with the titanophosphate NaTiP₂O₇. The existence of one free apex for each MoO₆ octahedron and each P₂O₇ group, respectively, is emphasized, allowing a great flexibility of the structure.     

Effect of adsorption of vapours on the electrical conductivity of some polyene semiconductors: adsorption and desorption kinetics

The change in semiconductive properties of β-apo-8′-carotenal, astacene and methyl bixin on adsorption of various vapours on the crystallite surfaces has been studied at a constant sample temperature. The adsorption of vapours enhances the semiconductivity of the polyenes appreciably. This enhancement depends on the chemical nature and also on the pressure of the adsorbed vapour. The adsorption and desorption kinetics follow the modified Roginsky-Zeldovich relation. A two stage desorption process, the first stage of which gives a Lennard-Jones potential energy curve and is followed by a rate-determining transition over a potential energy barrier to the second stage of adsorption forming weakly bound complexes between the vapour molecules and the polyene crystallites, can explain satisfactorily the experimentally observed kinetic data.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of [Mg(HF)2](SbF6)2 and [Ca(HF)2](SbF6)2: new examples of HF acting as a ligand to metal centres

[Mg(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ and [Ca(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ monocrystals were grown from the corresponding hexafluoroantimonates(V) dissolved in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. [Mg(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ crystallizes in the space group Pnma (no. 62) with a=1249.1(4) pm, b=1230.2(4) pm, c=699.1(2) pm, V=1.0742(6) nm³, Z=4. Magnesium is octahedrally coordinated by six fluorine atoms from which two belong to two HF molecules. The structure can be represented by alternating rows of magnesium and antimony atoms running parallel to the c-axis. Magnesium atoms are connected by cis bridging Sb(2)F₆ units along the a-axis and by trans bridging Sb(1)F₆ units along the b-axis. In this way a three-dimensional network is formed.[Ca(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n (no. 14) with a=935.2(3) pm, b=1088.7(3) pm, c=1104.8(3) pm, β=106.697(5)°, V=1.0774(5) nm³, Z=4. The coordination sphere around the calcium atom consists of eight fluorine atoms which define the vertices of an Archimedean antiprism. The two HF molecules directly coordinate the calcium atom and their fluorine atoms are placed in the corners of different square faces of the Archimedean antiprism. The Ca-F(HF) distances are shorter than the Ca-F(Sb) distances. The Sb(1)F₆ and Sb(2)F₆ groups have four equatorial bridging fluorine atoms, while the Sb(3)F₆ groups have only two bridging trans F ligands. The Ca atoms in the [−1,0,1] plane are connected by equatorial F ligands of Sb(1)F₆ and Sb(2)F₆ units, forming a [Ca(SbF₆)⁺]_n layer. These layers are connected by trans bridging Sb(3)F₆ groups. HF molecules occupy the space between these layers and additionally contribute to the connection between the layers by hydrogen bonding.     

Design of organic semiconductors: tuning the electronic properties of pi-conjugated oligothiophenes with the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) building block

Hybrid oligothiophenes based on a various combinations of thiophene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) groups have been synthesized. UV/Vis absorption spectra show that the number and relative positions of the EDOT groups considerably affect the width of the HOMO-LUMO gap and the rigidity of the conjugated system. Analysis of the crystallographic structure of two hybrid quaterthiophenes confirms that insertion of two adjacent EDOT units in the middle of the molecule leads to a self-rigidification of the conjugated systems by intramolecular SO interactions. Cyclic voltammetry data shows that the first oxidation potential of the oligomers decreases with increasing chain length and increasing number of EDOT groups for a given chain length. Electrochemical studies and theoretical calculations show that the positions of the EDOT units in the conjugated chain control the potential difference (DeltaE(p)) between the first and second oxidation steps. Moving the EDOT groups from the outer to the inner positions of the conjugated system increases DeltaE(p). Theoretical calculations confirm that this phenomenon reflects an increase of the intramolecular coulombic repulsion between positive charges in the dication. A thin-film field-effect transistor was fabricated by vacuum sublimation of a pentamer with alternating thiophene-EDOT structure, and the hole mobility was determined.     

Cathodic deposition of ternary In+As+Sb alloys and formation of InAsxSb1−x

In+As+Sb alloys have been deposited onto Ni and Ti cathodes from tartaric acid solutions at pH 2. Homogeneous deposits of composition suitable for achieving InAs_xSb_1−x can be obtained from this medium. The As-to-Sb ratio can be controlled by properly selecting solution composition and deposition potential.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses show that formation of III–V compounds occurs at room temperature. In reacts preferentially with As rather than with Sb, but crystalline phases formed at room temperature are Sb-rich. After annealing the In+As+Sb alloys at 250°C, the composition calculated from cell parameters appears similar to that measured by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, suggesting that the entire deposit has been converted into the InAs_xSb_1−x crystalline phase.     

Spectral and thermal characterization of polyaniline–oxalic acid salt

Polyaniline–oxalic acid salts were prepared at 5 and 30°C by chemical polymerization of aniline using different concentration of oxalic acid. Polyaniline base was obtained from the corresponding polyaniline salt by dedoping using aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution. Conductivity measurements, elemental analysis, Infrared, electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance spectral, and thermogravimetric analysis were performed on the polyaniline salts and bases. Composition and the extent of dopant in polyaniline salt systems where determined. The value of composition of polyaniline: oxalic acid is 4: 1.6 and the polymer yield is around 66%. The value of conductivity, polymer yield and composition of polyaniline–oxalic acid salt is independent of concentration of oxalic acid used and also the synthesis temperature. The results are compared with polyaniline–hydrochloride salt prepared by chemical polymerization. The conductivity of polyaniline–oxalic acid salt is three orders of magnitude lower than that of polyaniline-hydrocholoride salt. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Speciation of arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry coupled with preconcentration system

A novel and simple flow-based method was developed for the simultaneous determination of As(III) and As(V) in freshwater samples. Two miniature columns with a solid phase anion exchange resin, placed on two 6-way valves were utilized for the solid-phase collection/concentration of arsenic(III) and arsenic(V), respectively. As(III) could be retained on the column after its oxidation to As(V) species with an oxidizing agent. The collected analytes were then sequentially eluted by 2 M nitric acid and introduced into ICP-AES. Potassium permanganate was examined as potential oxidizing agent for conversion of As(III) to As(V). The standard deviation of the analytical signals (peak height) for the replicate analysis (n = 5) of 0.5 μg l⁻¹ solution were 3 and 5% for As(III) and As(V), respectively. The limit of detection (3σ) for both As(III) and As(V) were 0.1 μg l⁻¹. The proposed system produced satisfactory results on the application to the direct analysis of inorganic arsenic species in freshwater samples.     

Complexation of Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd by DOC in some metal-impacted freshwater lakes: a comparison of approaches using electrochemical determination of free-metal-ion and labile complexes and a computer speciation model, WHAM V and VI

Complexation of Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in some freshwater lakes in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada, where they were impacted by effluents from a nearby copper smelter, was measured by kinetic and equilibrium methods using cathodic and anodic stripping voltammetry. The measured free-metal-ion and labile metal-complex concentrations were compared with the predictions made by a widely-used computer speciation model, the Windermere Humic Aqueous Model (WHAM): WHAM V and its improved version WHAM VI. If it is assumed that 65% of the DOC is “active”, i.e. behaving as isolated humic substances such as fulvic acid, both versions of WHAM are able to predict the labile and free-metal-ion concentrations of Ni, Zn, and Cd reasonably well; however, both underestimate the free-copper-ion concentration by one to two orders of magnitude. WHAM VI is generally better than or equal to WHAM V for successfully predicting most of the free-metal-ion concentrations. The modelled competition by Al(III) and Fe(III) in the lake surface waters showed that in most cases Cu(II) was most affected by this competition. WHAM VI predicts a larger effect from the Al(III) and Fe(III) competition than does WHAM V.     

New class of coordination compounds with noble gas fluorides as ligands to metal ions

A new class of coordination compounds of the type [Mⁿ⁺(L)_p](AF₆⁻)_n and [Mⁿ⁺(L)_r](BF₄⁻)_n, where M is Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd, Pb, lanthanides, A is P, As, Sb, Bi and L is XeF₂, XeF₄, XeF₆, KrF₂, was studied. A review of all known coordination compounds with L is XeF₂ is given: (a) synthetic routes for the preparation of these compounds; (b) analysis of their crystal structures (molecular, dimer, chain, double chain, layer, strongly interconnected double layers and three-dimensional network); (c) the influence of the ligand XeF₂ (small formula volume, linear, semi-ionic, charge of −0.5e on each F ligand); (d) the influence of the central metal ion; (e) the influence of the anions: AF₆⁻ and BF₄⁻ (the formula volume, Lewis basicity). On the basis of all properties of the metal ions, ligand and anions the obtained variety of the structures is analyzed.