Confronting positions: para-vs. meta-functionalization in triindole for p-type air-stable OTFTs

The 5,10,15-trihexyl-10,15-dihydro-5H-diindolo[3,2-a:3',2'-c]carbazole core, namely triindole, is well-known for its prominent hole-transporting properties and air stability. The functionalization of this core is also rather versatile, which allows the modulation of its properties by ancho...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Cuadrado Santolaria, Alba, Bujaldón Carbó, Roger, Fabregat Pallejà, Clara, Puigdollers i González, Joaquim|||0000-0002-1834-2565, Velasco Castrillo, Maria Dolores
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/405368
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/405368
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2024.107020
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Nanoelectronics
Organic electronics
OTFTs
p-type semiconductors
Triindole
Air-stable materials
Nanoelectrònica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria electrònica::Microelectrònica
Descripción
Sumario:The 5,10,15-trihexyl-10,15-dihydro-5H-diindolo[3,2-a:3',2'-c]carbazole core, namely triindole, is well-known for its prominent hole-transporting properties and air stability. The functionalization of this core is also rather versatile, which allows the modulation of its properties by anchoring targeted scaffolds to different positions, e.g. 3,8,13 (para with respect to the nitrogens), 2,7,12 (analogously meta) or the nitrogen heteroatoms. Therefore, triindole excels as a pivotal semiconductor to be exploited in long-lasting organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). This report aims to shed light on the effect of functionalizing whether para or meta positions with sulfurated moieties, in the pursuit of an enhanced performance in OTFTs. Remarkably, meta-substituted derivatives outshone their para- counterparts in terms of thermal, optical, intermolecular arrangement and semiconductor properties, claiming mobility values up to 2 × 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1 and a shelf lifetime beyond the analyzed period of 5 months. Analysis of the thin films by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIRXD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the meta-substitution also induces a higher degree of order and better morphology, further corroborating the potential of this structural approach.