Unlocking the Secrets of Organic Electronics: A New Way to Study Molecular Stacks

Organic electronics are a big deal. They can make devices that are flexible and light. But studying how these materials are arranged is tough. Normally, scientists use microscopes or X-rays. But this can be hard when the materials are complex or don't form nice crystals. Researchers found a new way to study these materials. They used a technique called solid-state NMR. This method can show how molecules stack together without needing perfect crystals. The study focused on a group of molecules called naphthalene diimides (NDIs). The scientists used two types of NMR techniques. One is called multiCP/MAS. The other is called HetCor. These methods can tell the difference between different ways the molecules stack. Each stacking pattern has a unique "fingerprint" in the NMR data. To make sense of the data, the researchers used a method called density functional theory (DFT). This helped them link the NMR results to the actual electronic effects of the stacking. This new approach is a big step forward. It can help study many different organic materials. Especially those that are complex or mixed with other materials. This could lead to better understanding and design of organic electronics.