Smectic liquid crystals based on hexaazatriphenylene: potential organic n-type semiconductor

Abstract

We report the synthesis of dibenzohexaazatriphenylene derivative DBHAT. The addition of electron-withdrawing groups on the dibenzohexaazatriphenylene core leads to a high electron-accepting capability. DBHAT exhibits reversible four-step reduction waves at half-wave potentials (E_1/2) of −0.42, −0.94, −1.35 and −1.80 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Furthermore, DBHAT is able to form a smectic liquid crystalline assembly over a wide temperature range. With strong dipole–dipole interactions, the smectic liquid crystals show extremely highly stabilized mesophases.