Design strategies for organic semiconductors beyond the molecular formula

Organic semiconducting materials based on polymers and molecular systems containing an electronically delocalized structure are the basis of emerging optoelectronic technologies such as plastic solar cells and flexible transistors. For isolated molecules, guidelines exist that rely on the molecular...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature chemistry 2012-09, Vol.4 (9), p.699-704
Main Authors: Henson, Zachary B, Müllen, Klaus, Bazan, Guillermo C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Chemistry, Organic
Models, Molecular
Molecular Weight
Organic Chemicals - chemistry
Polymers
Polymers - chemistry
Semiconductors
Transistors
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Summary:Organic semiconducting materials based on polymers and molecular systems containing an electronically delocalized structure are the basis of emerging optoelectronic technologies such as plastic solar cells and flexible transistors. For isolated molecules, guidelines exist that rely on the molecular formula to tailor the frontier (highest occupied or lowest unoccupied) molecular orbital energy levels and optical absorption profiles. Much less control can be achieved over relevant properties, however, as one makes the transition to the ensemble behaviour characteristic of the solid state. Polymeric materials are also challenging owing to the statistical description of the average number of repeat units. Here we draw attention to the limitations of molecular formulae as predictive tools for achieving properties relevant to device performances. Illustrative examples highlight the relevance of organization across multiple length scales, and how device performances--although relevant for practical applications--poorly reflect the success of molecular design.
ISSN:1755-4330
1755-4349
DOI:10.1038/nchem.1422