Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal semiconductors for water-solution processable organic electronics

TL;DR

This paper introduces lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals as a new class of water-processable semiconductors for organic electronics, demonstrating their anisotropic conductivity and potential for low-cost, scalable device fabrication.

Contribution

It presents lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals as a novel, water-soluble material class for organic electronics with promising anisotropic conductive properties.

Findings

LCLCs form ordered aggregates in water that retain structure upon deposition.

Dried LCLC films exhibit anisotropic semiconductor-like conductivity.

Field-effect mobility of 0.03 cm^2 V^(-1) s^(-1) measured along aggregates.

Abstract

We propose lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) as a distinct class of materials for organic electronics. In water, the chromonic molecules stack on top of each other into elongated aggregates that form orientationally ordered phases. The aligned aggregated structure is preserved when the material is deposited onto a substrate and dried. The dried LCLC films show a strongly anisotropic electric conductivity of semiconductor type. The field-effect carrier mobility measured along the molecular aggregates in unoptimized films of LCLC V20 is 0.03 cm^2 V^(-1) s^(-1). Easy processibility, low cost, and high mobility demonstrate the potential of LCLCs for microelectronic applications.