Transistor application and intercalation chemistry of π-conjugated hydrocarbon molecules

In this chapter, field-effect transistors (FETs) are reported using π- conjugated hydrocarbon molecules (polycyclic hydrocarbons). The π-channel FET properties are recorded for the FETs using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Currently, the highest field-effect mobility (μ) that polycyclic hydrocarbon FETs reach is 21 cm² V^-1 s^-1 for 3,10-ditetradecylpicene, which is one of phenacene-type molecules. Thus, the recent FETs of polycyclic hydrocarbons show excellent FET characteristics, suggesting that the materials are promising as active layers for future practical organic FET devices. In this chapter, the recent advancement of the FETs using polycyclic hydrocarbons are reported completely, in particular the FETs using extended π-conjugated hydrocarbon molecules, such as phenacene, and the FETs using fullerene molecules are also reported. Furthermore, intercalation chemistry of the π-conjugated hydrocarbon molecules is reported, which facilitates realization of novel physical properties, such as superconductivity and ferromagnetism.