Multifunctional organic semiconductors are highly demanded to develop integrated optoelectronic devices. Particularly, organic light-emitting transistors (OLETs), embodying the smallest possible integration of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and field-effect transistors (OFETs), tremendously simplify the structure of active matrix displays.

Though considerable efforts have been devoted to the design and synthesis of such materials, until now, very few molecular systems can compromise charge transporting and solid state emission.

Recently, Professor DONG Huanli and collaborators from Institute of Chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with Professor HU Wenping from Tianjin University developed a strategy via aromatic extension at 2,6- positions of anthracene to achieve 2,6-di(2-naphthyl)anthracene (dNaAnt), which was synthesized through three simple steps in a total yield of 40.5%.

Photophysical characterization revealed that dNaAnt crystals, grown by physical vapor transport method, adopt J-aggregated mode in the solid state as a balanced strategy for excellent charge transporting and efficient solid state emission.

dNaAnt single crystals were demonstrated to combine the high mobility of 12.3 cm²V^-1s^-1 and strong photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 29.2%. OLETs based on dNaAnt single crystals were constructed, distributing outstanding balanced ambipolar charge transporting property (μh = 1.10 cm²V^-1s^-1, μe = 0.87 cm²V^-1s^-1) and spatially controllable emission.

This study was published in J. Am. Chem. Soc., and selected as the cover paper. The results showed that dNaAnt is an excellent candidate for integrated optoelectronic applications and proved that aromatic extension at 2,6- positions of anthracene is an elegant strategy toward the combination of excellent charge transporting and efficient solid state emission.