Self-assembled nanolayers of conjugated silane with pi-pi interlocking

The packing of electronic molecules into planar structures and an ensured pi-pi interaction within the plane are preferred for efficient organic transistors. Thin films of organic electronics are exemplar, but the widely adopted molecular design and associated fabrication lead to limited ordering in multistack construction motifs. Here we demonstrate self-assembled nanolayers of organic molecules having potential electronic utility using an amphiphilic silane as a building block. Unlike a cross-linked (tetrahedral) configuration found in conventional siloxane networks, a linear polymer chain is produced following silane polycondensation. As a result, hydrophobic branches plus a noncovalent pi-pi interlocking between the molecules promote planar packing and continuous stacking along the surface normal. In contrast to conventional pi-pi stacking or hydrogen bonding pathways in a fibrous construct, multistacked nanolayers with coexisting pi-pi and herringbone interlocking can provide unmatched properties and processing convenience in molecular electronics.