Modified perylene molecular conductors

We report recent results on modified perylene molecular conductors, derived from 1,2,7,8-tetrahydrodicyclopenta-(cd-lm)perylene (CPP) and from perylothiophene, (PeT) with the counter-ions I3− and Ni(mnt)2− (mnt = maleonitriledithiolate), with general formula CPP2(I3)1-δ and PeT3[Ni(mnt)2]2, respectively. Single crystals of CPP2(I3)1-δ, appear in two different morphologies, and the crystal structures consist of regular stacks of CPP molecules and one-dimensional disordered chains of I3− located in channels between four CPP stacks. The different crystal morphologies exhibit different physical properties which are related to different degrees of iodine content and ordering. An important feature of these materials, when compared to the well known perylene-iodine complexes is the fact that the bulky -CH2-CH2- groups attached to the perylene molecular architecture interact with the triiode anions locking them in a stable composition. The transport, ESR and magnetic properties of these modified perylene molecular conductors are reported in detail.