The study of organic semiconductors towards device applications

• Main Author: Forgie, John
• Published: University of Strathclyde 2010
• Subjects: 540
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.605879

In recent years, the use of novel organic conjugated materials as semiconductors in electronic devices has become a continuingly growing and interesting field of research; the attraction derives from the ability of the materials to be easily manipulated and tailored to suit the desired outcome. Organic semiconductors have tunable band gaps and redox properties that can be influenced through variation of the substituents; accompanying this with the ease and reduced cost of processability required for these materials, it makes them very favourable for device fabrication. Organic semiconductors have found use in devices such as electrochromics, light emitting diodes, field effect transistors, photovoltaics, and sensors. In this thesis, the synthesis and characterisation of many compounds suitable for the aforementioned applications are reported. Chapter two is the characterisation of monomers and polymers based on the incorporation of tetrathianaphthalene and its open and cyclic forms. Chapter three is the study of conjugated monomers and polymers, containing BODIPY in the main chain, towards the use in photovoltaic devices. Chapter four reports on unusual extended conjugated architectures, the first section is the characterisation of two new dendralene compounds that adopt two different conformers in solution and solid state and the second section reports on a new series of diindenothienothiophene based materials with interesting electrochemical and photophysical properties. In chapter five, a series of compounds that contain a benzobisthiazole core are investigated and in chapter six, the development of two new biological sensors are discussed.