Background

The development of novel and more efficient (opto)electronic devices has become the center of much focus in both chemistry and materials science, due to the profound effect they have on our lives. In this context, there has been an increased focus on novel organic and flexible electronics. In general, organic semiconductors, when compared to traditional Si and GaAs-based technologies, offer unique features such as tunable electronic structure and physicochemical properties via core functionalization, mechanical flexibility as well as variable optical band gaps and ability to be solution processed on a large scale with low cost. The introduction of some deformability in the organic semiconductor is a relevant goal that permits for example the fabrication of flexible and printed electronic materials. Critical to this goal is the development of more efficient organic semiconductors (OSCs) integrating excellent charge transport with efficient light emission properties. Also the availability of the precursors used to make them and their cheapness is also a very important consideration.

Technology Overview

Researchers have invented a series of novel lightweight pentacyclic imide compounds () with interesting optoelectronic and electrochemical properties. These compounds showed very good electrochemical properties with energy gaps, like for example, 2.60 eV and 2.54 eV, in the case of one compound, indicating that they are suitable OSC compounds. The compounds showed reasonable fluorescence efficiency in solution. The preliminary tests on OLEDs based on these compounds suggested good optolectronic applications. Reorganization energy and carrier mobility calculations confirmed the suitability of both compounds as OSC active components with a slight predominance for n-type semiconductor behavior. Work is on-going on the synthesis of further derivatives with potentially superior optoelectronic properties, charge mobilities and on improving their stability.

Further Details:

Ambipolar Pentacyclic Diamides with Interesting Electrochemical and Optoelectronic Properties, Carolina S. Marques, Hugo Cruz, Simon E. Lawrence, Sandra Gago, João P. Prates Ramalho, Luís C. Branco, Anthony J. Burke, ChemComm. 2020, 14893 – 14896. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CC04629A
Novas Moléculas Pequenas para Opto-eletrónica, Anthony J. Burke Ongoing, Química (Sociedade Portuguesa de Química)_._ 2021, 45 (160), 26 (editor; Vasco Bonífacio).

Stage of Development

TRL (Technology Readiness Level): 3/4.

The researcher’s objective is the development of an efficient OTFT and/or OLED device in the next 48 months.

Benefits

Small, lightweight compounds obtained from renewable resources and cheaply made.

Applications

Semiconductor industry;
Electronics industry;
Telecommunications
Fine chemicals.

Opportunity

The University is interested in both an exclusive or non-exclusive licensing agreement or a partner who will be involved in co-development and commercialization.

OptoElex: Novel Light-weight Pentacyclic Amide Compounds for Optoelectronic Applications

Patents

IP Status

Seeking