Polyaromatic hydrocarbons, abbreviated PAHs, play a central role in numerous (opto-)electronic applications, including chemical sensors, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and organic solar cells. Researchers are constantly exploring the possibility of replacing different elements, in addition to traditional carbon, to optimize the performance and versatility of the device. While the substitution of boron (B), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) and sulfur (S) has already undergone extensive research, the integration of phosphorus (P) in combination with nitrogen (N) remains a major challenge.
Prof. Jan J. Weigand and his research group at TUD Dresden University of Technology recently achieved a major breakthrough: “In our current research, we have developed an innovative method for the selective introduction of phosphorus and nitrogen atoms into polyaromatic systems. This method made it possible to synthesize a wide range of P/N-substituted compounds, the physicochemical properties of which were thoroughly investigated in collaboration with physicists from TUD. By combining material simulations and spectroscopic measurements, we were able to gain a fundamental understanding of the relationships between the structure and properties of the resulting compounds.”
The new method provides access to a well-known class of azaphospholes that were previously only available in a very cumbersome manner and mostly in very low yields. Therefore, they have not yet been considered for (opto-)electronic applications. "By deliberately combining phosphorus and nitrogen, we hope to be able to control the electronic and optical properties of these compounds in a way that was not possible before. This opens up exciting prospects for future applications in optoelectronics and beyond," adds Sebastian Reineke, head of the Light Emitting and Excitonic Organic Semiconductors (LEXOS) group at TUD.
Source: electronicproducts.com
