Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 1157-1172.doi: 10.1007/s40242-025-5176-8

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Theoretical Study on Charge Transport Properties of a Series of "H-type" Acene Derivatives

SUN Xiaoqi1,2,3, WANG Jin1,3, JIN Hengyu3, ZHAO Qi3, GUO Jingfu3, REN Ai-Min1   

  1. 1. Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, P. R. China;
    2. Department of Physics, College of Science, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, P. R. China;
    3. School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, P. R. China
  • Received:2025-08-20 Accepted:2025-09-15 Online:2025-10-01 Published:2025-09-26
  • Contact: REN Ai-Min, E-mail: renam@jlu.edu.cn;GUO Jingfu, E-mail: guojf217@nenu.edu.cn E-mail:renam@jlu.edu.cn;guojf217@nenu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Jilin Province, China (Nos. 20240101167JC, 20240302015GX) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21473071, 21173099, 20973078).

Abstract: Linear fused acenes exhibit excellent charge transport properties but suffer from poor solubility and stability. This study investigates "H-type" acene derivatives to address the poor solubility and stability of linear acenes by Marcus theory and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The findings reveal that "H-type" conjugation enhances photostability, oxidative stability, and solubility compared to linear acenes, with series a exhibiting superior solubility. The reorganization energy decreases with molecular extension, following trends similar to linear acenes. Key electronic structure differences were identified: thiophene substitution (series b) localizes the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) on the bridging carbon atoms, while benzene substitution (series a) localizes it on the central acene core. Crucially, a strong correlation is established between the molecular structure parameter |ΔR| and crystal packing modes: |ΔR|<0.7 yields 1D/2D stacking; 0.7<|ΔR|<1.1 produces herringbone packing; and |ΔR|>1.1 leads to beneficial pitched π-stacking. Mobility calculations showed benzene-extended derivatives exhibit strong anisotropy. Thiophene expansion (b-3) reduces anisotropy, and benzothiophene (b-3*) improves the anisotropic mobility of molecules. This is attributed to favorable S···C interactions that suppress detrimental molecular slip. These results provide a critical theoretical framework for future development of "H-type" acene materials.

Key words: Acene derivative, Charge transport, Molecular stacking