Deborah Romito, Dr. Elisa Fresta, Luca M. Cavinato, Prof. Dr. Hanspeter Kählig, Dr. Heinz Amenitsch, Laura Caputo, Yusheng Chen, Prof. Dr. Paolo Samorì, Prof. Dr. Jean-Christophe Charlier, Prof. Dr. Rubén D. Costa, Prof. Dr. Davide Bonifazi
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, e202202137
Abstract
This work describes the design and synthesis of a π-conjugated telluro[3,2-β][1]-tellurophene-based synthon that, embodying pyridyl and haloaryl chalcogen-bonding acceptors, self-assembles into nanoribbons through chalcogen bonds. The ribbons π-stack in a multi-layered architecture both in single crystals and thin films. Theoretical studies of the electronic states of chalcogen-bonded material showed the presence of a local charge density between Te and N atoms. OTFT-based charge transport measurements showed hole-transport properties for this material. Its integration as a p-type semiconductor in multi-layered CuI-based light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) led to a 10-fold increase in stability (38 h vs. 3 h) compared to single-layered devices. Finally, using the reference tellurotellurophene congener bearing a C−H group instead of the pyridyl N atom, a herringbone solid-state assembly is formed without charge transport features, resulting in LECs with poor stabilities (<1 h).
