Organic π‐Conjugated Molecules: From Nature to Artificial Applications. Where are the Boundaries?

Abstract

Natural or nature-inspired molecules play a key role in many modern applications as they may imitate nature in the efficiency with which it works in a different spectrum of biological processes. One of the biggest challenges today is to make efficient use of renewable energy sources, that are lagging behind conventional technologies on a global scale. One form of this renewable energy is solar energy which can be garnered by organic photovoltaics (OPV). The golden wave of OPV can be observed with the advent of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). Chemical derivatizations, low band gap, broad absorption and sufficient stability, predetermine them for the successful construction of functional devices. The review summarizes some important aspects of the use of natural and nature-inspired materials, their design, and use for NFAs, and light power conversion efficiency. We also discuss some photocatalytic applications as a contribution to green renewable energy and solar-fuels production.

Substrate and pH‐dependent homogeneous electrocatalysis using riboflavin for oxygen reduction

“…[ 23,24 ] great scientific effort is made for synthesizing variations of flavin analogs with tailored properties for applications as organic semiconductors. [ 25–27 ]…”

“…Nevertheless, similar to the work of Kormányos et al [23,24] great scientific effort is made for synthesizing variations of flavin analogs with tailored properties for applications as organic semiconductors. [25][26][27] In the field of electrocatalytic ORR, the choice of electrode material is crucial, due to the high catalytic effects of many carbon-based electrode materials themselves. [28,29] Besides boron-doped diamond, all graphitic carbon electrode materials are reported to show significant ORR forming H 2 O 2 in a potential range similar to organic carbonyl-bearing electrocatalysts.…”

Hydrogen-Bonding Trends in a Bithiophene with 3- and/or 4-Pyridyl Substituents

“…Interest in organic semiconductors has increased in recent decades due in part to their easily tunable optoelectronic properties (like optical gap and absorption coefficient), − potential for inexpensive production, and solution processability . Both polymeric and molecular-based materials have been used in a variety of applications, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), photovoltaics, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and radiation detectors. − In each of these applications, charge-carrier transport is a critical feature for the success, or failure, of the organic semiconductor. − A simple descriptor that implies the potential capability of an organic semiconductor to effectively transport charge carriers is the intermolecular electronic coupling among constituent molecular building blocks . Focusing on highly crystalline molecular packing arrangements, developing molecular structures and processing protocols that result in molecules with large degrees of both cofacial overlap of planar π-conjugated backbones and overlap of the neighboring molecule’s π molecular orbitals has been a driving force behind the discovery of several important classes of molecular semiconductors. − Predicting precisely which molecular substitution patterns will crystallize in specific patterns (e.g., brickwork, slip-stack, or herringbone) is difficult and may be complicated by complex phase behavior and/or crystal polymorphism .…”

Supramolecular Nanostructures Based on Perylene Diimide Bioconjugates: From Self-Assembly to Applications

“…Over the last decades, biological macromolecules have been continuously harnessed as building blocks for the construction of (nano)structures with atomic-scale precision. Owing to their biocompatibility, functionality, and ability to undergo self-assembly, the conjugation of biological macromolecules to organic self-assembling molecules with interesting (photo)chemical properties has supported the construction of hybrid supramolecular architectures [ 3 , 4 ]. Of such small organic molecules, the family of perylene diimide (PDI; perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimide) dyes has attracted tremendous attention.…”