Tuning of the magnetism in a polyaromatic molecular semi-conductor

An heterocyclic polyaromatic molecular semi-conductor, at the crossroads of molecular polyaromatichydrocarbons (PAHs) and conducting polymers (CPs), was obtained by electrochemical synthesis in organic media. The behavior of the material investigated by in situ electrochemical-ESR measurements reveals that it possesses the advantages of both classes of materials. It can be processed easily into electroactive and adhesive thin layers, like CPs, and is able to accept one spin per charge, like paramagnetic molecular salts. It is shown that the spin concentration can be accurately and reversibly tuned by controlling the material potential at room temperature. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.