Rylene and Related Diimides for Organic Electronics

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 268 - 284
• Main Authors: Zhan, Xiaowei, Facchetti, Antonio, Barlow, Stephen, Marks, Tobin J., Ratner, Mark A., Wasielewski, Michael R., Marder, Seth R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 11.01.2011; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Diimide; Electric Power Supplies; Electron mobility; Electronics; Electronics - methods; Imides - chemistry; organic electronics; organic field-effect transistors; organic photovoltaics; organic semiconductors; Photovoltaic cells; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; rylene diimides; Semiconductor devices; Solar cells; Transistors; Transistors, Electronic
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201001402

Organic electron‐transporting materials are essential for the fabrication of organic p‐n junctions, photovoltaic cells, n‐channel field‐effect transistors, and complementary logic circuits. Rylene diimides are a robust, versatile class of polycyclic aromatic electron‐transport materials with excellent thermal and oxidative stability, high electron affinities, and, in many cases, high electron mobilities; they are, therefore, promising candidates for a variety of organic electronics applications. In this review, recent developments in the area of high‐electron‐mobility diimides based on rylenes and related aromatic cores, particularly perylene‐ and naphthalene‐diimide‐based small molecules and polymers, for application in high‐performance organic field‐effect transistors and photovoltaic cells are summarized and analyzed. Electronic devices based on organic materials offer the potential of low‐cost processing on flexible substrates when compared to traditional inorganic semiconductors. Rylene diimides have recently shown promise as potential alternatives to the fullerenes as acceptors in photovoltaic devices, exhibiting power conversion efficiencies that are amongst the highest achieved for all‐polymer fullerene‐free systems. This article reviews their development for both transistor and solar cell applications.