Electronic, redox and charge transport properties of an unusual hybrid structure: a bis(septithiophene) bridged by a fused tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)

Abstract

A hybrid tetrathiafulvalene–oligothiophene compound has been synthesised, in which the fulvalene unit is fused on both sides to an end-capped septithiophene oligomer. The compound (1) has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry and X-ray crystallography. The properties of this material are compared to the half-unit (9), which lacks the TTF core and contains only one septithiophene chain. In the case of the larger molecule, there are multiple and complex redox processes leading to the loss of 6–8 electrons per molecule. Charge generation layer time-of-flight measurements give maximum hole mobilities of ca. 1 × 10⁻⁵ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.