Strong π-electron donors based on a self-rigidified 2,2′-bi(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene–tetrathiafulvalene hybrid π-conjugated system

Lest We Forget-The Importance of Heteroatom Interactions in Heterocyclic Conjugated Systems, from Synthetic Metals to Organic Semiconductors

The field of synthetic metals is, and remains, highly influential for the development of organic semiconductor materials. Yet, with the passing of time and the rapid development of conjugated materials in recent years, the link between synthetic metals and organic semiconductors is at risk of being forgotten. This review reflects on one of the key concepts developed in synthetic metals - heteroatom interactions. The application of this strategy in recent organic semiconductor materials, small molecules and polymers, is highlighted, with analysis of X-ray crystal structures and comparisons with model systems used to determine the influence of these non-covalent short contacts. The case is made that the wide range of effective heteroatom interactions and the high performance that has been achieved in devices from organic solar cells to transistors is testament to the seeds sown by the synthetic metals research community.

Combining Benzazolo-Oxazolidine Twins toward Multi-state Nonlinear Optical Switches

Molecular switches are chemical compounds exhibiting the possibility of reversible transformations between their different forms accompanied by a modification in their properties. Among these, switching of multi-addressable Benzazolo-OXazolidines (BOXs) from a closed form to an open form results in drastic modifications in their linear and nonlinear optical properties. Here, we target molecules containing two identical BOX units (DiBOX) connected by different π-conjugated linkers, and we combine synthesis, UV/visible absorption, and hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) measurements, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Three derivatives have been considered, which differ by the linker: (i) a bithiophene moiety (Bt), (ii) two 3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene (EDOT) units, and (iii) a triad composed of an EDOT-thiophene-EDOT sequence (TtO). As a matter of fact, these systems can adopt three states (CF-CF, POF-POF, and CF-POF) depending on the closed form (CF) or the protonated open form (POF) of each BOX unit. Despite chemical equivalence, stepwise switching of such systems under the addition of a chemical acid or an oxidant has been experimentally evidenced for two of them (DiBOX-Bt and DiBOX-TtO). Then, DFT calculations show that the first BOX opening leads to the formation of a push-pull π-conjugated segment, exhibiting a huge increase in the first hyperpolarizability (β) and a bathochromic shift with respect to the fully closed form. On the contrary, the second BOX opening induces not only a slight bathochromic shift but also a reduction in their β values conferring the great and uncommon abilities to modulate their linear and nonlinear properties over three discrete levels. Among these results, those on DiBOX-Bt agree with the experimental data obtained by HRS measurements and further shed light on their structure-property relationship.

Color-neutral, semitransparent organic photovoltaics for power window applications

Semitransparent organic photovoltaic cells (ST-OPVs) are emerging as a solution for solar energy harvesting on building facades, rooftops, and windows. However, the trade-off between power-conversion efficiency (PCE) and the average photopic transmission (APT) in color-neutral devices limits their utility as attractive, power-generating windows. A color-neutral ST-OPV is demonstrated by using a transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) anode along with a narrow energy gap nonfullerene acceptor near-infrared (NIR) absorbing cell and outcoupling (OC) coatings on the exit surface. The device exhibits PCE = 8.1 ± 0.3% and APT = 43.3 ± 1.2% that combine to achieve a light-utilization efficiency of LUE = 3.5 ± 0.1%. Commission Internationale d'eclairage chromaticity coordinates of (0.38, 0.39), a color-rendering index of 86, and a correlated color temperature of 4,143 K are obtained for simulated AM1.5 illumination transmitted through the cell. Using an ultrathin metal anode in place of ITO, we demonstrate a slightly green-tinted ST-OPV with PCE = 10.8 ± 0.5% and APT = 45.7 ± 2.1% yielding LUE = 5.0 ± 0.3% These results indicate that ST-OPVs can combine both efficiency and color neutrality in a single device.

Exploring the electrochromic properties of poly(thieno[3,2-b]thiophene)s decorated with electron-deficient side groups

Electron-deficient cyanophenyl side groups decrease the response time and drastically improve the stability of electrochromic polymers.

Bis-EDOT end capped by n-hexyl or n-hexylsulfanyl groups: the effect of the substituents on the stability of the oxidized states

Sulfur atoms of hexylsulfanyl groups stabilize the radical cation and dication states and prevent the σ-dimerization of the radical cation.

Effect of monomers’ structure on self-acid-assisted polycondensation for the synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and homopolythiophene

PEDOT and homopolythiophene were synthesized by self-acid-assisted polycondensation (SAAP) based on mono-halogen substituted thiophene derivative monomers. Our results reveal that substituted halogen (bromo or iodo) positions play an important role in SAAP.

Theoretical study of phenylene-thiophene oligomers: structure-properties relationship

Theoretical results including geometrical characteristics, electronic structures, photophysical parameters (lowest excitation energies, electron affinities (EAs), ionization potentials (IPs), maximum of absorption and emission) and vibrational modes of some new oligomers, based on phenylene-thiophene motives, are investigated using Density Functional Theory DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d) approach. The electronic and optical properties of phenylene-based derivatives can be tuned through the insertion of thiophene in the main oligomers backbone as well as the addition of alkoxy-substituent groups on 2 and 5 positions on phenylene groups. It can be noticed, that different conformational behaviors and steric effects take place. Then, an increase in conjugation length induces a decrease in the gaps energy and a bathochromic shift of absorption/emission spectra. Based on these computed results, which are consistent with the available experimental data, the correlation structure-properties is better understood, where these nanostructures show a great potential for opto-electronic devices.

Synthesis and characterization of platinum(II) di-ynes and poly-ynes incorporating ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) spacers in the backbone

A series of trimethylsilyl-protected di-alkynes incorporating 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) linker groups Me(3)Si-C≡C-R-C≡C-SiMe(3) (R = ethylenedioxythiophene-3,4-diyl 1a, 2,2'-bis-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-5,5'-diyl 2a, 2,2',5',2''-ter-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-5,5''-diyl 3a) and the corresponding terminal di-alkynes, H-C≡C-R-C≡C-H 1b-2b has been synthesized and characterized and the single crystal X-ray structure of 1a has been determined. CuI-catalyzed dehydrohalogenation reaction between trans-[(Ph)(Et(3)P)(2)PtCl] and the terminal di-alkynes 1b-2b in (i)Pr(2)NH/CH(2)Cl(2) (2:1 mole ratio) gives the Pt(II) di-ynes trans-[(Et(3)P)(2)(Ph)Pt-C≡C-R-C≡C-Pt(Ph)(Et(3)P)(2)] 1M-2M while the dehydrohalogenation polycondensation reaction between trans-[((n)Bu(3)P)(2)PtCl(2)] and 1b-2b (1:1 mole ratio) under similar reaction conditions affords the Pt(II) poly-ynes trans-[Pt(P(n)Bu(3))(2)-C≡C-R-C≡C-](n)1P-2P. The di-ynes and poly-ynes have been characterized spectroscopically and, for 1M and 2M, by single-crystal X-ray which confirms the "rigid rod" di-yne backbone. The materials possess excellent thermal stability, are soluble in common organic solvents and readily cast into thin films. Optical absorption spectroscopic measurements reveal that the EDOT spacers create stronger donor-acceptor interactions between the platinum(II) centres and conjugated ligands along the rigid backbone of the organometallic polymers compared to the related non-fused and fused oligothiophene spacers.

Electronic Properties and Reactivity of Short-Chain Oligomers of 3,4-Phenylenedioxythiophene (PheDOT)

The dimer and trimer of 3,4-phenylenedioxythiophene (PheDOT) have been synthesized. Unlike the parent systems based on 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), these compounds are quite stable under atmospheric conditions. The electronic absorption spectra of di- and tri-PheDOT exhibit a well-resolved vibronic fine structure indicative of self-rigidification of the conjugated structure by noncovalent intramolecular sulfur-oxygen interactions. Comparison of UV-visible data for the PheDOT oligomers with those of the corresponding EDOT oligomers reveals a faster decrease of the HOMO-LUMO gap with chain length for the former. Cyclic voltammetric data show that whereas PheDOT oxidizes at a lower potential than EDOT, the PheDOT dimer and trimer exhibit much higher oxidation potentials than their EDOT-based analogues. A comparative analysis of the electropolymerization of the three PheDOT-based systems shows that although PheDOT is very difficult to polymerize, its dimer and trimer can be readily electropolymerized. This unexpected increase of reactivity with chain extension is discussed with the aid of theoretical calculations.

Alternated Quinoid/Aromatic Units in Terthiophenes Building Blocks for Electroactive Narrow Band Gap Polymers. Extended Spectroscopic, Solid State, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Study

We report here the synthesis of three novel pi-conjugated heterocyclic mixed trimers that contain two electron-donating 3,4-ethylenedioxy-2-thienyl (EDOT) units covalently attached to a central proquinoid electron-accepting thienopyrazine moiety (two of these narrow-HOMO-LUMO gap D-A-D compounds also bear hexyl side chains attached either to the outermost alpha positions of the EDOT end rings or to the beta positions of the pyrazine fused ring). The modification of the terthiophene structure upon EDO, pyrazine, and hexyl substitutions has been treated in detail with spectroscopic and theoretical arguments. Solid-state properties reveal the occurrence of short intramolecular contacts between heteroatoms of adjacent rings. The analysis of the structure of the pi-conjugated backbone of each molecule is consistent with a partial quinoid-like pattern which partially reverts to be subtly more aromatic depending on the topology of the positive inductive effect of the hexyl chains. This quinoidization is a consequence of the appearance of a D(EDOT)-->A(PyT)<--D(EDOT) intramolecular charge transfer which further polarizes the structure. The same chemical concepts have been applied to address their electrochemical behavior. The three mixed trimers exhibit amphoteric properties due to the combination of electron acceptor and donor groups. Given their relative low HOMO-LUMO energy gap, these trimers promise to be good candidates for obtaining polymers with significant low energy gap combining electroactivity.

Design of Organic Semiconductors: Tuning the Electronic Properties of π-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.

Salts of extended tetrathiafulvalene analogues: relationships between molecular structure, electrochemical properties and solid state organisation

By considering the structures of many salts derived from extended TTF analogues, relationships between the molecular architecture of the donors with their electrochemical properties and their stacking mode in the salts are presented in this critical review. Three categories of donors corresponding to their extension modes have been considered. Firstly, for linearly extended TTFs the crucial role of the spacer in modifying the electrochemical properties and the packing mode in the salts is presented. Secondly, bidimentional extension of the donors obtained by linking several dithiafulvenyl units on a TTF core led to materials with increased dimensionality. Finally, the last class corresponds to the fusion, directly or across a benzene ring, of TTF frameworks. The former are the base of many salts with metallic behaviour. (148 references.).