Scientists Develop New Stable Long-Lasting Carbon-Based Molecule

Chemists from the University of Oregon have successfully synthesized a new stable long-lasting-carbon-based molecule that can survive repeated survive transition from magnetic biradical state, to a fully-bonded magnetic closed state, or vice versa without decomposing.

According to the researchers, the new molecule has the ability to change its bonding patterns depending on the situation. When heated, the bonding pattern of the molecule changes to magnetic biradical state. On the other hand, the bonding pattern changes to fully-bonded magnetic closed state at room temperature.

For decades, the instability of synthetic biradical hydrocarbon has been hampering the semiconducting properties of the carbon-based molecule in a heated state. In order to prevent this, researchers needs to control the electron spin of byradical hydrocarbon.

"Potentially our approach could help to make organic solar cells more efficient than silicon solar cells, but that's probably far in the future," said Gabriel E. Rudebusch, a doctoral student at University of Oregon and the paper's lead author in a statement.

"Our synthesis is rapid and efficient. We easily can make a gram of this compound, which is very stable when exposed to oxygen and heat. This stability has been almost unheard of in the literature about biradical compounds."

The new compound, dubbed as diindenoanthracene, or DIAn, has hydrocarbon anthracene, which has three linearly fused hexagonal benzene rings, in combination with two five-membered pentagonal rings. The five-membered pentagonal rings gives the molecule its ability to accept electrons or give up electrons.

"This means DIAn can move both negative and positive charges, which is an essential property for useful devices such as transistors and solar cells," explained co-author Michael M. Haley, who holds the UO's Richard M. and Patricia H. Noyes Professorship in Chemistry, in a press release. "The unique features of DIAn are essential if these molecules are to have a use in the real world."

The molecule can also be heated up to 150 degree Celsius and return it to room temperature repeatedly without having decomposition when interacts with oxygen.

The detailed proof-of-principle paper was published in the journal Nature Chemistry.