Crystal structures and transistor properties of phenyl-substituted tetrathiafulvalene derivatives

The crystal structures, thin-film properties, and field-effect transistor (FET) characteristics of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives with two phenyl groups are systematically investigated. The highest mobility, 0.11 cm(2) V-1 s(-1), is observed in biphenyl-substituted TTF (1). The correlation between the crystal structures and the FET properties demonstrates that good transistor properties are associated with two-dimensional intermolecular interaction, which is achieved when the molecules are standing nearly perpendicular to the substrate. Since these TTF derivatives are strong electron donors, the use of a metallic charge-transfer salt (TTF)(TCNQ) as the source and drain electrodes has resulted in a considerable reduction of the off current (TCNQ: tetracyanoquinodimethane).