Design and elaboration of organic molecules for high field-effect-mobility semiconductors

In this article, we focus on several high-mobility organic semiconductors so far reported, such as acenes, heteroacenes, and rylene diimides, in order to extract molecular and supramolecular factors, including molecular size, manner of π-extension, heteroatom, molecular shape, and substituent, which would enhance our understanding of the design strategy for the synthesis of molecules for high field-effect-mobility semiconductors.

After performing a detailed inspection of these organic semiconductors, we arrive at the conclusion that the construction of a two-dimensional (2D) electronic structure with large orbital overlaps in the solid state is the key.

This can be realized by tuning these molecular factors; for example, the use of linearly π-extended systems with fused aromatic ring structures, heteroatom incorporation, and the use of suitable substituents for 2D packing, such as herringbone or 2D bricklayer packing.

This article originally appeared in Synthetic Metals, 217, 2016, Pages 68–78.