Solid-state order is a key parameter to tune charge carrier mobility in organic transistor materials. We recently introduced a universal crystal engineering core, to control the solid-state order of appended chromophores, and demonstrated simple trimeric systems with mobility < 10 cm2/ Vs. We are now exploring new pendant chromophores, to determine both the scope of compounds suitable to our crystal engineering modifier, and whether we can further tune charge transport based on heteroatom manipulation. Concurrently, we are developing a new crystal engineering strategy that eliminates the use of the carbon-carbon triple bond. The inherent flexibility of this type of bond leads to substantial freedom of motion along the long axis of the chromophore in the solid state, which we suspect increases transport disruptions due to the associated dynamic disorder. The new approach required the development of novel silapyrenes, and requires a new set of rules to determine how the size and shape of the silyl group influences the solid-state order of the chromophore. For this project, I will discuss how intermolecular electronic coupling is influenced by the inclusion of a pyrene core in the middle of an 'interrupted' acene.
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