Enforced one-dimensional photoconductivity in core-cladding hexabenzocoronenes

Nano Lett. 2006 Dec;6(12):2838-41. doi: 10.1021/nl0620233.

Abstract

Photoconductivity in contorted hexabenzocoronene liquid crystals is found to be exclusively one-dimensional. Spectroscopic measurements and density functional theory support the existence of two pi-systems attributed to a low-energy radialene-core and higher energy out-of-plane alkoxyphenyl rings. Persistent photocurrents, measured as a function of field, channel length, and intensity, fit a stretched exponential characteristic of intracolumnar transport, restricted through the radialene-core by the alkoxyphenyl-cladding. Bimolecular recombination is enhanced with increasing carrier concentration by the system's one-dimensionality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.