The Larger Acenes: Versatile Organic Semiconductors

TLDR

Acenes, known for their unique π‑bond topology, have attracted intense study, and recent reports of impressive semiconductor properties in larger homologues have spurred new synthesis, functionalization, purification, and device fabrication methods, with high‑purity single‑crystal studies providing intrinsic property benchmarks for thin‑film research. The authors developed new functionalization strategies to enhance the solution processability of acenes. These strategies enabled synthesis of acenes larger than pentacene and facilitated study of their structure–property relationships.

Abstract

Acenes have long been the subject of intense study because of the unique electronic properties associated with their pi-bond topology. Recent reports of impressive semiconductor properties of larger homologues have reinvigorated research in this field, leading to new methods for their synthesis, functionalization, and purification, as well as for fabricating organic electronic components. Studies performed on high-purity acene single crystals revealed their intrinsic electronic properties and provide useful benchmarks for thin film device research. New approaches to add functionality were developed to improve the processability of these materials in solution. These new functionalization strategies have recently allowed the synthesis of acenes larger than pentacene, which have hitherto been largely unavailable and poorly studied, as well as investigation of their associated structure/property relationships.