Baharfar Mahroo, Hillier Andrew C, Mao Guangzhao
School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.
Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, U.S. DOE and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
Adv Mater. 2024 Oct;36(42):e2406083. doi: 10.1002/adma.202406083. Epub 2024 Jul 24.
Supramolecular assemblies, formed through electronic charge transfer between two or more entities, represent a rich class of compounds dubbed as charge-transfer complexes (CTCs). Their distinctive formation pathway, rooted in charge-transfer processes at the interface of CTC-forming components, results in the delocalization of electronic charge along molecular stacks, rendering CTCs intrinsic molecular conductors. Since the discovery of CTCs, intensive research has explored their unique properties including magnetism, conductivity, and superconductivity. Their more recently recognized semiconducting functionality has inspired recent developments in applications requiring organic semiconductors. In this context, CTCs offer a tuneable energy gap, unique charge-transport properties, tailorable physicochemical interactions, photoresponsiveness, and the potential for scalable manufacturing. Here, an updated viewpoint on CTCs is provided, presenting them as emerging organic semiconductors. To this end, their electronic and chemical properties alongside their synthesis methods are reviewed. The unique properties of CTCs that benefit various related applications in the realms of organic optoelectronics, catalysts, and gas sensors are discussed. Insights for future developments and existing limitations are described.
通过两个或多个实体之间的电荷转移形成的超分子组装体，代表了一类丰富的化合物，被称为电荷转移复合物（CTCs）。它们独特的形成途径源于CTC形成组分界面处的电荷转移过程，导致电荷沿着分子堆叠离域，使CTCs成为固有的分子导体。自CTCs被发现以来，大量研究探索了它们的独特性质，包括磁性、导电性和超导性。它们最近被认识到的半导体功能激发了在需要有机半导体的应用方面的最新进展。在这种背景下，CTCs提供了一个可调节的能隙、独特的电荷传输性质、可定制的物理化学相互作用、光响应性以及可扩展制造的潜力。在此，提供了一个关于CTCs的更新观点，将它们视为新兴的有机半导体。为此，对它们的电子和化学性质以及合成方法进行了综述。讨论了CTCs的独特性质，这些性质有利于在有机光电子学、催化剂和气体传感器领域的各种相关应用。描述了对未来发展的见解和现有局限性。
