Integrated System Built for Small-Molecule Semiconductors via High-Throughput Approaches

Abstract

High-throughput synthesis of solution-processable structurallyvariable small-molecule semiconductors is both an opportunity anda challenge. A large number of diverse molecules provide a possibilityfor quick material discovery and machine learning based on experimentaldata. However, the diversity of the molecular structure leads to thecomplexity of molecular properties, such as solubility, polarity,and crystallinity, which poses great challenges to solution processingand purification. Here, we first report an integrated system for thehigh-throughput synthesis, purification, and characterization of moleculeswith a large variety. Based on the principle "Like dissolveslike," we combine theoretical calculations and a robotic platformto accelerate the purification of those molecules. With this platform,a material library containing 125 molecules and their optical-electronicproperties was built within a timeframe of weeks. More importantly,the high repeatability of recrystallization we design is a reliableapproach to further upgrading and industrial production.