Conjugated Oligomers Combining Fluorene and Thiophene Units : Towards Supramolecular Electronics

Conjugated oligomers, used as models for fluorene-thiophene copolymers, are compared in terms of the microscopic morphology of thin deposits and the optical properties. The AFM images and the solid-state absorption and emission spectra are interpreted in line with the structural data, in terms of the assembly of the conjugated molecules. The compound with a terthiophene central unit and fluorene end-groups shows well-defined monolayer-by-monolayer assembly into micrometer-long strip-like structures, with a crystalline herringbone-type organization within the monolayers. Polarized confocal microscopy indicates a strong orientation of the crystalline domains within the stripes. In contrast, the compound with a terfluorene central unit and thiophene end groups forms no textured aggregates. The difference in behavior between the two compounds most probably originates from their different capability of forming densely-packed assemblies of ${\pi-pi}$ interacting molecules. These assemblies are used as active elements in organic field effect transistors designed by using soft lithography technique.