Solution Phase Epitaxial Self-Assembly and High Charge-Carrier Mobility Nanofibers of Semiconducting Molecular Gelators

Trithienylenevinylenes having amide end functional groups form supramolecular gels in nonpolar solvents, comprised of self-assembled nanowires. These gels exhibit the unique property of solution phase epitaxy leading to the alignment of fibers on mica surface. FP-TRMC studies revealed high charge carrier mobility for xerogels from decane-chloroform whereas films obtained from chloroform solutions showed less mobility, highlighting the role of self-assembly and gelation on the electronic properties of semiconducting molecular gelators. This study opens the window for a new class of conducting gelators which may find wide application in organic electronic devices.