New Organic Functional Material "Picene"

Picene (1), whose benzene rings are condensed in a w-shaped, is an aromatic hydrocarbon compound. Recently, Kubozono et al. have reported an efficiency modification of Field-effect transistors (FETs) with 1. Applying 1 into the active layer of FETs resulted in the field-effect mobility value (μ value) being measured 1.1 cm²V^-1s^-1. Furthermore, the μ value is improved up to 1.75 cm²V^-1s^-1 after exposure to O₂ atmosphere for 70 hours. This result showed that the modified FET is an O₂-assisted devise, as well as having stability against O₂.¹⁾ In addition, Kubozono et al. have also reported the superconductivity of 1 which was intercalated with alkaline metals, such as potassium and rubidium. The T_c (superconducting transition temperature) was 18 K (–255 °C) when 1 was doped with 3.3 equivalents of potassium (based on 1). This value is the highest one ever for simple and typical organic compounds.²⁾