Construction of oriented thin film via C–F⋯H–C intermolecular interaction

Highly ordered spin-coating films of a conjugated molecule, trans-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostilbene were fabricated on quartz substrate by making use of the C–F–––H noncovalent intermolecular interaction, whose strength is as high as that of hydrogen bond. The C–F–––H–O interactions are strong enough to drive the molecules in the foundation layer erecting over the substrate and the C–F–––H–C interactions between adjacent molecules maintain such a molecular orientation in the subsequent layers. X-diffraction patterns and polarized raman spectral data confirmed the ordered structure in the spin-coating films.