We present the synthesis and characterization of a fused-ring compound, dithieno[2,3-d:2',3'-d']thieno[3,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (pentathienoacene, PTA). In contrast to pentacene, PTA has a larger band gap than most semiconductors used in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and therefore is expected to be stable in air. The large pi-conjugated and planar molecular structure of PTA would also form higher molecular orders that are conductive for carrier transport. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy experiments on its films show that the molecules stack in layers with their long axis upright from the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests that there are no chemical bonds at the PTA/Au interface. OFETs based on the PTA have been constructed, and their performances as p-type semiconductors are also presented. A high mobility of 0.045 cm(2)/V s and an on/off ratio of 10(3) for a PTA OFET have been achieved, demonstrating the potential of PTA for application in future organic electronics.

A series of bipolar transport host materials: 2,5‐bis(2‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (o‐CzOXD) (1), 2,5‐bis(4‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (p‐CzOXD) (2), 2,5‐bis(3‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (m‐CzOXD) (3) and 2‐(2‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl)‐5‐(4‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (op‐CzOXD) (4) are synthesized through simple aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions. The incorporation of the oxadiazole moiety greatly improves their morphological stability, with Td and Tg in the range of 428–464 °C and 97–133 °C, respectively. The ortho and meta positions of the 2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole linked hybrids (1 and 3) show less intramolecular charge transfer and a higher triplet energy compared to the para‐position linked analogue (2). The four compounds exhibit similar LUMO levels (2.55–2.59 eV) to other oxadiazole derivatives, whereas the HOMO levels vary in a range from 5.55 eV to 5.69 eV, depending on the linkage modes. DFT‐calculation results indicate that 1, 3, and 4 have almost complete separation of their HOMO and LUMO levels at the hole‐ and electron‐transporting moieties, while 2 exhibits only partial separation of the HOMO and LUMO levels possibly due to intramolecular charge transfer. Phosphorescent organic light‐emitting devices fabricated using 1–4 as hosts and a green emitter, Ir(ppy)3 or (ppy)2Ir(acac), as the guest exhibit good to excellent performance. Devices hosted by o‐CzOXD (1) achieve maximum current efficiencies (ηc) as high as 77.9 cd A−1 for Ir(ppy)3 and 64.2 cd A−1 for (ppy)2Ir(acac). The excellent device performance may be attributed to the well‐matched energy levels between the host and hole‐transport layers, the high triplet energy of the host and the complete spatial separation of HOMO and LUMO energy levels.

To develop sensitive and selective CNchemosensors, a new imidazole-functionalized polyfluorene (P1) was designed and obtained conveniently, the fluorescence of which could be completely quenched by Cu 2+ ions at the concentration as low as 0.20 ppm in diluted solutions. By utilizing the much higher stability constant of the complex of CNand Cu 2+ , the quenched fluorescence of the solution of P1 by Cu 2+ ions could recover upon the addition of trace CNanions, with the detection limit down to 0.31 ppm, making P1 a novel, sensitive and selective cyanide probe.

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