Transition metal-catalysed molecular n-doping of organic semiconductors

Electron doping of organic semiconductors is typically inefficient, but here a precursor molecular dopant is used to deliver higher n-doping efficiency in a much shorter doping time. Chemical doping is a key process for investigating charge transport in organic semiconductors and improving certain (opto)electronic devices(1-9). N(electron)-doping is fundamentally more challenging than p(hole)-doping and typically achieves a very low doping efficiency (eta) of less than 10%(1,10). An efficient molecular n-dopant should simultaneously exhibit a high reducing power and air stability for broad applicability(1,5,6,9,11), which is very challenging. Here we show a general concept of catalysed n-doping of organic semiconductors using air-stable precursor-type molecular dopants. Incorporation of a transition metal (for example, Pt, Au, Pd) as vapour-deposited nanoparticles or solution-processable organometallic complexes (for example, Pd-2(dba)(3)) catalyses the reaction, as assessed by experimental and theoretical evidence, enabling greatly increased eta in a much shorter doping time and high electrical conductivities (above 100 S cm(-1); ref. (12)). This methodology has technological implications for realizing improved semiconductor devices and offers a broad exploration space of ternary systems comprising catalysts, molecular dopants and semiconductors, thus opening new opportunities in n-doping research and applications(12, 13).

Yang, ChiyuanLinköpings universitet,Laboratoriet för organisk elektronik,Tekniska fakulteten(Swepub:liu)chiya01 (author)
Zhang, XianheSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Motta, AlessandroUniv Roma La Sapienza, Italy; UdR Roma, Italy (author)
Feng, KuiSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Xia, YuFlexterra Corp, IL 60077 USA (author)
Shi, YongqiangSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Wu, ZiangDepartment of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea (author)
Yang, KunSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Chen, JianhuaSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Liao, QiaoganSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Tang, YuminSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Sun, HuiliangSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Woo, Han YoungKorea Univ, South Korea (author)
Fabiano, Simone,1985-Linköpings universitet,Laboratoriet för organisk elektronik,Tekniska fakulteten(Swepub:liu)simfa84 (author)
Facchetti, AntonioLinköpings universitet,Laboratoriet för organisk elektronik,Tekniska fakulteten,Flexterra Corp, IL 60077 USA; Northwestern Univ, IL 60208 USA; Northwestern Univ, IL 60208 USA(Swepub:liu)antfa16 (author)
Guo, XugangSouthern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R China (author)
Southern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Peoples R ChinaLaboratoriet för organisk elektronik (creator_code:org_t)

In:NatureLondon, United Kingdom : Nature Publishing Group599:7883, s. 67-730028-08361476-4687

By the author/editor: Guo, Han; Yang, Chiyuan; Zhang, Xianhe; Motta, Alessandr ...; Feng, Kui; Xia, Yu; show more...; Shi, Yongqiang; Wu, Ziang; Yang, Kun; Chen, Jianhua; Liao, Qiaogan; Tang, Yumin; Sun, Huiliang; Woo, Han Young; Fabiano, Simone, ...; Facchetti, Anton ...; Guo, Xugang; show less...

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NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Condensed Matter ...

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