Ultraviolet circularly polarized light detection based on chiral BN-anthracene derivatives

Abstract

BN-embedded anthracenes with chiral 3,7-dimethyloctyl side chains (namely (S,S)- and (R,R)-DPBNA) have been synthesized as novel visible-blind ultraviolet-absorbing chiral materials for ultraviolet circularly polarized light (CPL) detection. Phototransistors with a p–n heterojunction configuration have been fabricated with (S,S)/(R,R)-DPBNA serving as the p-type photoactive layer and an achiral n-type polymer as the electron transport layer. Significant discrimination between left and right CPL has been observed under 365 nm CPL irradiation with an average photocurrent dissymmetry factor of 0.033, highlighting the potential of BN-embedded semiconductors for ultraviolet CPL detection.