Molecular and Organic Electronics

Molecular and organic electronics harness carbon-based materials—ranging from single molecules and conjugated polymers to supramolecular assemblies—to perform charge transport, light emission, detection and energy conversion. Conjugated backbones, defined by alternating single and double bonds, allow π-electron delocalisation that underpins semiconducting behaviour. By tailoring donor–acceptor motifs, side-chain substituents and non-covalent interactions, researchers control energy levels, absorption spectra and film morphology. These materials are processed from solution or by low-temperature vapour techniques onto flexible substrates, enabling lightweight, large-area devices. Key applications include organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), solar cells and biosensors. The global drive towards energy-efficient, printed and wearable electronics has stimulated advances in charge mobility, operational stability and scalable manufacturing of next-generation organic devices.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A quantitative molecular descriptor of intramolecular non-covalent interaction has been established to predict reorganisation energies in organic semiconductors. By correlating simple geometric parameters with computed interaction energies, this approach inversely links non-covalent strength to photo-excited state reorganisation, guiding the design of high-mobility polymers and small molecules. Another study has demonstrated conformational engineering via backbone twist control in π-conjugated oligomers. By varying tether length to impose defined dihedral angles, researchers tuned chiral optical responses and exciton delocalisation, revealing additive and antagonistic effects of backbone length and twist on absorption and emission profiles. More recently, electron energy-loss spectroscopy combined with modelling uncovered exceptionally broad exciton bands in donor–acceptor molecular crystals. Tailored functional groups and precise crystal packing produce highly anisotropic exciton dispersion across the visible to near-infrared, suggesting routes to directed exciton transport channels in photonic and light-harvesting materials.

Research from all publishers

Open-shell organic radicals derived from poly(3,4-dioxythiophene) have been synthesised to achieve ultra-wide UV-vis-NIR absorption and record photothermal conversion efficiencies. The radical character, stabilised by backbone design, extends light harvesting into the NIR and supports efficient thermal generation under solar irradiation. A high-throughput polymer library approach has identified a gram-scale donor polymer for non-fullerene organic photovoltaics, achieving over 15 % power conversion efficiency (PCE) by optimising side-chain architecture and simplifying synthesis. Complementing these advances, reviews of post-polymerisation functionalisation have highlighted reactions such as nucleophilic aromatic substitution, cycloaddition and halogenation–cross-coupling. These methods enable precise grafting of functional groups onto conjugated backbones without altering molecular weight, offering pathways to tune optoelectronic properties for sensing, bioelectronics and photonic applications.

Molecular and Organic Electronics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular and organic electronics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

π-Conjugation: Alternating single and double bonds in an organic backbone that permit electron delocalisation and semiconducting behaviour.

Donor–Acceptor System: A molecular architecture combining electron-rich (donor) and electron-deficient (acceptor) units to modulate bandgap and charge separation.

Bulk Heterojunction: A nanostructured blend of donor and acceptor phases in organic photovoltaics that facilitates exciton dissociation and charge transport.

Exciton: A bound electron–hole pair generated by photon absorption in organic semiconductors, which must reach an interface to separate into free charges.

Charge-Transfer State: An intermediate state at a donor–acceptor interface where electron and hole are partially separated, influencing voltage losses and recombination.

Reorganisation Energy: The energy required to relax molecular geometry during charge transfer, affecting mobility and emission efficiency.

Non-Covalent Interaction (NCI): Weak forces such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking or dipole interactions that govern molecular packing and optoelectronic properties.

References

1. A molecular descriptor of intramolecular noncovalent interaction for regulating optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Controlling the helicity of π-conjugated oligomers by tuning the aromatic backbone twist. Nature Communications (2022).
3. Directed exciton transport highways in organic semiconductors. Nature Communications (2023).
4. Open‐shell Poly(3,4‐dioxythiophene) Radical for Highly Efficient Photothermal Conversion. Advanced Science (2024).
5. A polymer library enables the rapid identification of a highly scalable and efficient donor material for organic solar cells. Materials Horizons (2023).
6. Post-polymerisation approaches for the rapid modification of conjugated polymer properties. Materials Horizons (2022).