AuI⋯AuI interaction induced semiconducting microwires with photo- and vapor-responsive properties

Organic semiconducting microwires can be self-assembled from a trinuclear gold(I) complex Au3I(MeNCOMe)3 (Au3A3) based on extended intermolecular AuI⋯AuI interactions by a simple solution method. High mobility (0.23 cm2 V−1 s−1) of the microwires measured in ambient conditions by organic field-effect transistor (OFET) devices was achieved, vapor and photo responsive conductive characteristics with great sensibility, reversibility and rapid response were also revealed. The AuI⋯AuI interaction based structure of the Au3A3 microwires can broaden the scope of nano- and micro-scale organic semiconductors and will be valuable for the future design and synthesis of new organic semiconducting materials and also have potential in the fields of chemo-sensing and photo detectors.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Au3A3 microwires were assembled based on intermolecular AuI⋯AuI interactions. ► We fabricated organic field-effect transistor (OFET) devices with the wires. ► The microwires devices exhibited high hole mobility (0.23 cm2 V−1 s−1). ► The microwires showed vapor-/photo-switchable conductive characteristics.