Laurens D. A. Siebbeles

Charge transport in columnar stacked triphenylenes: Effects of conformational fluctuations on charge transfer integrals and site energies

Values of charge transfer integrals, spatial overlap integrals and site energies involved in transport of positive charges along columnar stacked triphenylene derivatives are provided. These parameters were calculated directly as the matrix elements of the Kohn–Sham Hamiltonian, defined in terms of the molecular orbitals on individual triphenylene molecules. This was realized by exploiting the unique feature of the Amsterdam density functional theory program that allows one to use molecular orbitals on individual molecules as a basis set in calculations on a system composed of two or more molecules. The charge transfer integrals obtained in this way differ significantly from values estimated from the energy splitting between the highest occupied molecular orbitals in a dimer. The difference is due to the nonzero spatial overlap between the molecular orbitals on adjacent molecules. Calculations were performed on unsubstituted and methoxy- or methylthio-substituted triphenylenes. Charge transfer integrals and site energies were computed as a function of the twist angle, stacking distance and lateral slide distance between adjacent molecules. The variation of the charge transfer integrals and site energies with these conformational degrees of freedom provide a qualitative explanation of the similarities and differences between the experimental charge carrier mobilities in different phases of alkoxy- and alkylthio-substituted triphenylenes. The data obtained from the present work can be used as input in quantitative studies of charge transport in columnar stacked triphenylene derivatives.

Highly mobile electrons and holes on isolated chains of the semiconducting polymer poly(phenylene vinylene)

The nature of the charge carriers in ‘conducting’ polymers is of considerable interest at present,, largely on the basis of the technological potential of these materials for use as the semiconducting layer in field-effect transistors (FETs) and the emissive layer in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). One of the main outstanding questions concerns the relative importance of intra- versus inter-chain charge transfer in determining the overall rate of charge transport. Here we apply the pulse-radiolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity technique to dilute solutions of a soluble dialkoxy derivative of the semiconducting polymer poly(phenylene vinylene), PPV, by which means we determine the one-dimensional intra-chain mobilities of electrons and holes on isolated polymer chains free from inter-chain interactions. The values so obtained—0.5 and 0.2 cm2 V−1 s−1 respectively—are considerably larger than the mobilities measured previously for bulk PPV-based materials. This suggests that considerable improvement in the performance characteristics (in particular switching time and maximum current) of organic FET and LED devices should be possible if material purity and structural order can be better controlled.

Long-range orientation and atomic attachment of nanocrystals in 2D honeycomb superlattices

Nanoparticle lattices and surfaces The challenge of resolving the details of the surfaces or assemblies of colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles can be overcome if several characterization methods are used (see the Perspective by Boles and Talapin). Boneschanscher et al. examined honeycomb superlattices of lead selenide nanocrystals formed by the bonding of crystal faces using several methods, including high-resolution electron microscopy and tomography. The structure had octahedral symmetry with the nanocrystals distorted through “necking”: the expansion of the contact points between the nanocrystals. Zherebetskyy et al. used a combination of theoretical calculations and spectroscopic methods to study the surface layer of lead sulfide nanocrystals synthesized in water. In addition to the oleic acid groups that capped the nanocrystals, hydroxyl groups were present as well. Science, this issue p. 1377, p. 1380; see also p. 1340 Metal-chalcogenide nanocrystals undergo necking and large-scale atomic rearrangements when forming a surface lattice. [Also see Perspective by Boles and Talapin] Oriented attachment of synthetic semiconductor nanocrystals is emerging as a route for obtaining new semiconductors that can have Dirac-type electronic bands such as graphene, but also strong spin-orbit coupling. The two-dimensional (2D) assembly geometry will require both atomic coherence and long-range periodicity of the superlattices. We show how the interfacial self-assembly and oriented attachment of nanocrystals results in 2D metal chalcogenide semiconductors with a honeycomb superlattice. We present an extensive atomic and nanoscale characterization of these systems using direct imaging and wave scattering methods. The honeycomb superlattices are atomically coherent and have an octahedral symmetry that is buckled; the nanocrystals occupy two parallel planes. Considerable necking and large-scale atomic motion occurred during the attachment process.

Mechanism of charge transport in self-organizing organic materials

Currently there is great interest in the use of organic materials as the active component in opto-electronic devices such as field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and in nanoscale molecular electronics. Device performance is to a large extent determined by the mobility of charge carriers, which strongly depends on material morphology. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the relation between the mechanism of charge transport and chemical composition and supramolecular organization of the active organic material is essential for improvement of device performance. Self-assembling materials are of specific interest, since they have the potential to form well defined structures in which molecular ordering facilitates efficient charge transport. This review gives an overview of theoretical models that can be used to describe the mobility of charge carriers, including band theory for structurally ordered materials, tight-binding models for weakly disordered systems and hopping models for localized charges in strongly disordered materials. It is discussed how the charge transport parameters needed in these models; i.e. charge transfer integrals, site energies and reorganization energies, can be obtained from quantum chemical calculations. Illustrative examples of application of the theoretical methods to charge transport in self-assembling materials are discussed: columns of discotic molecules, stacks of oligo(phenylene-vinylene) molecules and strands of DNA base pairs. It is argued that the mobility of charge carriers along stacks of triphenylene and oligo(phenylene-vinylene) molecules can be significantly enhanced by improvement of molecular organization. According to calculations, the mobility of charge carriers along DNA strands is strongly limited by the large charge induced structural reorganization of the nucleobases and the surrounding water.

Functional organogels from highly efficient organogelator based on perylene bisimide semiconductor

A new n-type semiconducting perylene bisimide dye has been synthesized that gelates a broad variety of organic solvents to afford well-defined nano- and mesoscopic helical fibers and bundles.

Effect of structural dynamics on charge transfer in DNA hairpins.

We present a theoretical study of the positive charge transfer in stilbene-linked DNA hairpins containing only AT base pairs using a tight-binding model that includes a description of structural fluctuations. The parameters are the charge transfer integral between neighboring units and the site energies. Fluctuations in these parameters were studied by a combination of molecular dynamics simulations of the structural dynamics and density functional theory calculations of charge transfer integrals and orbital energies. The fluctuations in both parameters were found to be substantial and to occur on subpicosecond time scales. Tight-binding calculations of the dynamics of charge transfer show that for short DNA hairpins (<4 base pairs) the charge moves by a single-step superexchange mechanism with a relatively strong distance dependence. For longer hairpins, a crossover to a fluctuation-assisted incoherent mechanism was found. Analysis of the charge distribution during the charge transfer process indicates that for longer bridges substantial charge density builds up on the bridge, but this charge density is mostly confined to the adenine next to the hole donor. This is caused by the electrostatic interaction between the hole on the AT bridge and the negative charge on the hole donor. We conclude both that the relatively strong distance dependence for short bridges is mostly due to this electrostatic interaction and that structural fluctuations play a critical role in the charge transfer, especially for longer bridge lengths.

Photoconductivity of PbSe quantum-dot solids: dependence on ligand anchor group and length.

The assembly of quantum dots is an essential step toward many of their potential applications. To form conductive solids from colloidal quantum dots, ligand exchange is required. Here we study the influence of ligand replacement on the photoconductivity of PbSe quantum-dot solids, using the time-resolved microwave conductivity technique. Bifunctional replacing ligands with amine, thiol, or carboxylic acid anchor groups of various lengths are used to assemble quantum solids via a layer-by-layer dip-coating method. We find that when the ligand lengths are the same, the charge carrier mobility is higher in quantum-dot solids with amine ligands, while in quantum-dot solids with thiol ligands the charge carrier lifetime is longer. If the anchor group is the same, the charge carrier mobility is ligand length dependent. The results show that the diffusion length of charge carriers can reach several hundred nanometers.

Epitaxially Connected PbSe Quantum-Dot Films: Controlled Neck Formation and Optoelectronic Properties

Ligand exchange is a much-used method to increase the conductivity of colloidal quantum-dot films by replacing long insulating ligands on quantum-dot surfaces with shorter ones. Here we show that while some ligands indeed replace the original ones as expected, others may be used to controllably remove the native ligands and induce epitaxial necking of specific crystal facets. In particular, we demonstrate that amines strip lead oleate from the (100) surfaces of PbSe quantum dots. This leads to necking of QDs and results in cubic superlattices of epitaxially connected QDs. The number of amine head-groups as well as the carbon chain length of linear diamines is shown to control the extent of necking. DFT calculations show that removal of Pb(oleate)2 from (100) surfaces is exothermic for all amines, but the driving force increases as monoamines < long diamines < short diamines < tetramines. The neck formation and cubic ordering results in a higher optical absorption cross section and higher charge carrier mobilities, thereby showing that the use of the proper multidentate amine molecules is a powerful tool to create supercrystals of epitaxially connected PbSe QDs with controlled electronic coupling.

All-printed thin-film transistors from networks of liquid-exfoliated nanosheets

Printing nanosheet-network transistors Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and metal chalcogenides such as tungsten diselenide (WSe2) are attractive for use in low-cost thin-film transistors (TFTs) because they have high charge-carrier mobility. Kelly et al. printed TFTs from networks of exfoliated dispersions of 2D materials with graphene contacts, WSe2 as the semiconductor, and a boron nitride separator. Electrolytic gating with ionic liquids enabled higher operating currents than achieved with comparable organic TFTs. Science, this issue p. 69 Vertically stacked transistors made from printed networks of exfoliated nanosheets support high currents and on-off ratios. All-printed transistors consisting of interconnected networks of various types of two-dimensional nanosheets are an important goal in nanoscience. Using electrolytic gating, we demonstrate all-printed, vertically stacked transistors with graphene source, drain, and gate electrodes, a transition metal dichalcogenide channel, and a boron nitride (BN) separator, all formed from nanosheet networks. The BN network contains an ionic liquid within its porous interior that allows electrolytic gating in a solid-like structure. Nanosheet network channels display on:off ratios of up to 600, transconductances exceeding 5 millisiemens, and mobilities of >0.1 square centimeters per volt per second. Unusually, the on-currents scaled with network thickness and volumetric capacitance. In contrast to other devices with comparable mobility, large capacitances, while hindering switching speeds, allow these devices to carry higher currents at relatively low drive voltages.

Biosupramolecular Nanowires from Chlorophyll Dyes with Exceptional Charge‐Transport Properties

Conductive tubes: Self-assembled nanotubes of a bacteriochlorophyll derivative are reminiscent of natural chlorosomal light-harvesting assemblies. After deposition on a substrate that consists of a non-conductive silicon oxide surface (see picture, brown) and contacting the chlorin nanowires to a conductive polymer (yellow), they show exceptional charge-transport properties.