Solution phase epitaxial self-assembly and high charge-carrier mobility nanofibers of semiconducting molecular gelators.
Trithienylenevinylenes having amide end functional groups form supramolecular gels in nonpolar solvents, comprised of self-assembled nanowires. These gels exhibit the unique property of solution phase epitaxy leading to the alignment of fibers on mica surface. FP-TRMC studies revealed high charge carrier mobility for xerogels from decane-chloroform whereas films obtained from chloroform solutions showed less mobility, highlighting the role of self-assembly and gelation on the electronic properties of semiconducting molecular gelators. This study opens the window for a new class of conducting gelators which may find wide application in organic electronic devices.
Photosciences and Photonics Group, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), CSIR, Trivandrum 695019, India.
Seelam
S
Prasanthkumar
Akinori
A
Saeki
Shu
S
Seki
Ayyappanpillai
A
Ajayaghosh