Tweaking Pentacene: A New Twist in Organic Semiconductors

Scientists are delving into a unique way to improve organic semiconductors by slightly altering their molecular structure. They did this by adding ethynyl groups to a compound called dihydrodiazapentacene, creating new molecules named 2a and 2b. These molecules look similar to their original forms, 1a and 1b, but function quite differently. X-ray crystallography confirmed their structures, showing that while their shape and stacking remains the same, their molecular orbitals—the parts that control how electrons move—change significantly. These changes could make electrons flow better, boosting performance. To test this, researchers built tiny electronic devices called OFETs using both the old and new molecules. The ones with 2a showed a notable increase in how well electrons could move, over twice as much as the devices with 1a. Plus, 2a has an added bonus: it’s visible light-friendly and more resistant to air and light, which could open up more uses in electronics.