SIOC 中文
ACS
Adv search

Acta Chimica Sinica >

0 1 - 1

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6023/A26050162

Review

Research Progress of Monolayer Molecular Crystal Materials and Devices

  • Fan Yanwei ,
  • Jiang Lang
Expand
  • Hebei University of Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin 300130, China

Received date: 2026-05-14

  Online published: 2026-07-10

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. T2225028, 22475219)、Chinese Academy of Sciences (the Strategic Priority Research Program of Sciences (Nos. XDB0520200)).

Fold

Abstract

The construction of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) serves as a crucial technical underpinning for realizing the core concept of molecular devices proposed in the 1970s. Early fabrication of molecular devices relied primarily on SAMs bonded to substrates via covalent linkages, with monolayer transistors being their typical representative. Nevertheless, random molecular disorder, grain boundaries and structural defects intrinsically generated during self-assembly introduce abundant interfacial charge traps, severely suppressing carrier hopping transport and greatly restricting the improvement of carrier mobility, photoelectric responsiveness and overall device performance. In recent years, monolayer molecular crystals (MMCs) have demonstrated excellent charge transport properties due to their combination of the ultra-thin thickness characteristic of SAMs and the long-range ordered molecular arrangement typical of single crystals. They have gradually emerged as highly attractive building blocks for constructing optoelectronic devices and studying the physics of charge transport, exhibiting significant structural advantages and broad application prospects in various types of high-performance optoelectronic devices. When organic semiconductors are precisely thinned down to monolayer thickness, their atomically flat exposed surfaces can act as an ideal research platform to intuitively evaluate the practical effects of multiple optimization strategies, including contact resistance reduction, photoresponse modulation, and gas sensing sensitivity improvement. This structural feature provides a crucial research carrier to deeply decipher the microscopic intrinsic charge transport mechanism inside organic semiconductors, helping researchers gain fundamental molecular-scale insights into carrier migration, trapping and recombination behaviors. This paper systematically reviews the evolutionary development of MMCs, summarizes their core structural and optoelectronic merits and typical application scenarios in high-performance organic devices, and comprehensively analyzes the intrinsic material limitations and environmental stability challenges that severely restrict their practical utilization. Corresponding targeted future research directions are also proposed, which are expected to provide valuable theoretical references and technical guidance, and further facilitate the in-depth exploration and scalable industrialized applications of high-performance monolayer molecular electronic materials.

Key words： self-assembled monolayers; monolayer molecular crystals; organic field-effect transistors; optoelectronic devices; sensor

Cite this article

Fan Yanwei , Jiang Lang . Research Progress of Monolayer Molecular Crystal Materials and Devices[J]. Acta Chimica Sinica, 0 : 1 -1 . DOI: 10.6023/A26050162

References

[1] Aviram A.; Ratner M. A. Chem. Phys. Lett.1974, 29, 277.
[2] Reed M. A.; Zhou. C.; Muller C. J.; Burgin T. P.; Tour J. M. Science1997, 278, 252.
[3] Fan Y.; Liu J.; Hu W.; Liu Y.; Jiang L. J. Mater. Chem. C.2020, 8, 13154.
[4] Dinelli F.; Murgia M.; Levy P.; Cavallini M.; Biscarini F.; de Leeuw, D. M. Phys. Rev. Lett.2004, 92,116802.
[5] Huang J.; Sun J.; Katz H. E. Adv. Mater.2008, 20, 2567.
[6] Bumm L. A.; Arnold J. J.; Cygan M. T.; Dunbar T. D.; Burgin T. P.; Jones II L.; Allara D. L.; Tour J. M.; Weiss P. S. Science1996, 271, 1705.
[7] Liu X.; Li B.; Han M.; Zhang X.; Chen J.; Dai S. Acta Chim. Sinica2024, 82, 348 (in Chinese).
(刘雪朋, 李博桐, 韩明远, 张先付, 陈建林, 戴松元, 化学学报, 2024, 82, 348)
[8] Casalini S.; Bortolotti C. A.; Leonardi F.; Biscarini F. Chem. Soc. Rev.2017, 46, 40.
[9] Smits E. C. P.; Mathijssen S. G. J.; van Hal P. A.; Setayesh S.; Geuns T. C. T.; Mutsaers K. A. H. A.; Cantatore E.; Wondergem H. J.; Werzer O.; Resel R. Nature2008, 455, 956.
[10] Defaux M.; Gholamrezaie F.; Wang J.; Kreyes A.; Ziener U.; Anokhin D. V.; Ivanov D. A.; Moser A.; Neuhold A.; Salzmann I.; Resel R.; de Leeuw D. M.; Meskers S. C. J.; Moeller M.; Mourran. Adv. Mater.2012, 24, 973.
[11] Mathijssen S. G.; Smits E. C.; van Hal P. A.; Wondergem H. J.; Ponomarenko S. A.; Moser A.; Resel R.; Bobbert P. A.; Kemerink M.; Janssen R. A.; de Leeuw, D. M. Nat. Nanotechnol.2009, 4, 674.
[12] Chen Z.; Li X.; Qin S.; He H.; Li Y.; Yuan M.; Meng L.; Li, Y. Sci. China Chem. 2025, 68, 6020.
[13] Jiang L.; Dong H.; Meng Q.; Li H.; He M.; Wei Z.; He Y.; Hu W. Adv.Mater. 2011, 23, 2059.
[14] Jiang L.; Jiang L.; Liu J.; Shi Y.; Zhu D.; Zhang h.; Hu Y.; Yu J.; Hu W. J. Mater. Chem. C.2019, 7, 3436.
[15] He D.; Zhang Y.; Wu Q.; Xu R.; Nan H.; Liu J.; Yao J.; Wang Z.; Yuan S.; Li Y.; Shi Y.; Wang J.; Ni Z.; He L.; Miao F.; Song F.; Xu H.; Watanabe K.; Taniguchi T.; Xu J.-B.; Wang X. Nat. Commun.2014, 5, 5162.
[16] He D.; Qiao J.; Zhang L.; Wang J.; Lan T.; Qian, J,; Li Y.; Shi Y.; Yang C.; Wei Lan.; Luis K. Ono.; Qi. Y.; Xu J.; Wei. Ji.; Wang X. Sci. Adv.2017, 3, e1701186.
[17] Guo Y.; Li K.; Zou D.; Li Y.; Yan L.; He Z.; Zou T.; Huang B.; Chan P. K. L. Adv. Electron. Mater.2024, 10, 2300570.
[18] Smits E. C. P.; Mathijssen S. G. J.; van Hal P. A.; Setayesh S.; Geuns T. C. T.; Mutsaers K. A. H. A.; Cantatore E.; Wondergem H. J.; Werzer O.; Resel R.; Kemerink M.; Kirchmeyer S.; Muzafarov A. M.; Ponomarenko S. A.; de Boer B.; Blom P. W. M.; de Leeuw, D. M. Nature2008, 455, 956.
[19] Li H.; Li Y.; Li H.; Brédas, J.-L. Adv. Funct. Mater.2017, 27, 1605715.
[20] Huang J.; Sun J.; Katz, H. E., Adv. Mater.2008, 20, 2567.
[21] Xiang D.; Wang X.; Jia C.; Lee T.; Guo X. Chem. Rev.2016, 116, 4318.
[22] Tulevski G. S.; Miao Q.; Fukuto M.; Abram R.; Ocko B.; Pindak R.; Steigerwald M. L.; Kagan C. R.; Nuckolls C. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2004, 126, 15048.
[23] Guo X.; Myers M.; Xiao S.; Lefenfeld M.; Steiner R.; Tulevski G. S.; Tang J.; Baumert J.; Leibfarth F.; Yardley J. T.; Steigerwald M. L.; Kim P.; Nuckolls C. PNAS.2006, 103, 11452.
[24] Wang Z.; Khalid H.; Li B.; Li Y.; Yu X.; Hu W.Acta Chim. Sinica 2019, 77, 1031 (in Chinese).
(王紫嫣, Khalid, Hira, 李柏力, 李瑶, 于曦, 胡文平,化学学报, 2019, 77, 1031.)
[25] Halik M.; Hirsch A. Adv. Mater.2011, 23, 2689.
[26] He P.; Tu Z.; Zhao G.; Zhen Y.; Geng H.; Yi Y.; Wang Z.; Zhang H.; Xu C.; Liu J.; Lu X.; Fu X.; Zhao Q.; Zhang X.; Ji D.; Jiang L.; Dong H.; Hu W. Adv. Mater.2014, 27, 825.
[27] Jiang L.; Hu W.; Wei Z.; Xu W.; Meng H. Adv. Mater.2009, 21, 3649.
[28] Shi Y.; Jiang L.; Liu J.; Tu Z.; Hu Y.; Wu Q.; Yi Y.; Gann E.; McNeill C. R.; Li H.; Hu W.; Zhu D.; Sirringhaus H. Nat. Commun.2018, 9, 2933.
[29] Xiao M.; Liu J.; Liu C.; Han G.; Shi Y.; Li C.; Zhang X.; Hu Y.; Liu Z.; Gao X.; Cai Z.; Liu J.; Yi Y.; Wang S.; Wang D.; Hu W.; Liu Y.; Sirringhaus H.; Jiang, L. Nat. Commun.2021, 12, 2774.
[30] Zeng J.; He D.; Qiao J.; Li Y.; Sun Li.; Li W.; Xie J.; Gao S.; Pan L.; Wang P.; Xu Y.; Li Yun.; Qiu H.; Shi Y.; Xu J.; Ji W.; Wang X.; Nat Commun.2023, 14, 324.
[31] Wang X.; Li S.; Sheng Q.; Liu Z.; Peng B.; Li, H., ACS. Materials. Lett. 2024, 6 , 4240.
[32] Zhang Y.; Qiao J.; Gao S.; Hu F.; He D.; Wu B.; Yang Z.; Xu B.; Li Y.; Shi Y.; Ji W.; Wang P.; Wang X.; Xiao M.; Xu H.; Xu J.-B.; Wang X. Phys. Rev. Lett.2016, 116, 016602.
[33] Peng B.; Huang S.; Zhou Z.; Chan P. K. L. Adv. Funct. Mater.2017, 27, 1700999.
[34] Peng B.; Cao K.; Lau A. H. Y.; Chen M.; Lu Y.; Chan P. K. L. Adv. Mater.2020, 32, 2002281.
[35] Yamamura A.; Fujii H.; Ogasawara H.; Nordlund D.; Takahashi O.; Kishi Y.; Ishii H.; Kobayashi N.; Niitsu N.; Blülle B.; Okamoto T.; Wakabayashi Y.; Watanabe S.; Takeya J. Commun. Phys.2020, 3, 20.
[36] Makita T.; Yamamura A.; Tsurumi J.; Kumagai S.; Kurosawa T.; Okamoto T.; Sasaki M.; Watanabe S.; Takeya J. Sci. Rep.2020, 10, 4702.
[37] Luo Z.; Peng B.; Zeng J.; Yu Z.; Zhao Y.; Xie J.; Lan R.; Ma Z.; Pan L.; Cao K.; Lu Y.; He D.; Ning H.; Meng W.; Yang Y.; Chen X.; Li W.; Wang J.; Pan D.; Tu X.; Huo W.; Huang X.; Shi D.; Li L.; Liu M.; Shi Y.; Feng X.; Chan P. K.L. Nat. Commun. 2021,12, 1928.
[38] Chen M.; Peng B.; Sporea R. A.; Podzorov V.; Chan P. K. L. Small. Sci.2022, 2, 2100115.
[39] Liu J.; Yu Y.; Liu J.; Li T.; Li C.; Zhang J.; Hu W.; Liu Y.; Jiang L. Adv. Mater.2022, 34, 2107574.
[40] Sheng Q.; Peng B.; Ji C.; Li H. Adv. Mater.2023, 35, 2304736.
[41] Cao M.; Zhang C.; Cai Z.; Xiao C.; Chen X.; Yi K.; Yang Y.; Lu Y.; Wei D. Nat. Commun.2019, 10, 756.
[42] Li H.; Shi. Y.; Han G.; Liu J.; Zhang Jing.; Li, C. Liu J.; Yi Y.; Li Tao.; Gao X.; Di C.; Huang Jia.; Che Y.; Wang Dong.; Hu W.; Liu Y.; Jiang L. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2020, 59, 4380.
[43] Qiu F.; Liu J.; Zhang H.; Li H.; Liu J.; Shi X.; Li C.; Shi Y.; Hu Y.; Guo Y.; Gao X.; Ai S.; Jiang, L. Adv. Electron. Mater. 2020, 6, 2000579.
[44] Deegan R. D.; Bakajin O. B.; Dupont T. F.; Huber G.; Nagel S. R.; Witten T. A.; Nature1997, 389, 827.
[45] Wang Q.; Yang F.; Zhang Y.; Chen M.; Zhang X.; Lei S.; Li R.; Hu W. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2018, 140, 5339.
[46] Becerril H. A.; Roberts M. E.; Liu Z.; Locklin J.; Bao Z. Adv. Mater.2008, 20, 2588.
[47] Yamamura A.; Watanabe S.; Uno M.; Mitani M.; Mitsui C.; Tsurumi J.; Isahaya N.; Kanaoka Y.; Okamoto T.; Takeya J. Sci. Adv.2018, 4, eaao5758.
[48] Zhang Y.; Luo Z.; Hu F.; Nan H.; Wang X.; Ni Z.; Xu J.; Shi Y.; Wang X. Nano. Res. 2017, 10, 1336.
[49] Gibney E.; Nature2015, 522, 274.
[50] Jiang H.; Tan K. J.; Zhang K. K.; Chen X.; Kloc C.; J. Mater. C.2011, 21, 4771.
[51] Huang Y-E.; Wang X.; Hu P.; Qi X.; Huang X.; Kloc C.; Wu X.; Du K. Nanoscale.2020, 12, 6227.
[52] Darmawan P.; Minari T.; Xu Y.; Li S. L.; Song H.; Chan M.; Tsukagoshi K. Adv. Funct. Mater.2012, 22, 4577.
[53] Fu L.; Leng B.; Li Y.; Gao X. Chinese. Chem. Lett.2016, 27, 1319.
[54] Fu B.; Wang C.; Sun Y.; Yao J.; Wang Y.; Ge F.; Yang F.; Liu Z.; Dang Y.; Zhang X.; Shao X.; Li R.; Hu W. Adv. Mater.2019, 31, 1901437.
[55] Wang C.; Ren X.; Xu C.; Fu B.; Wang R.; Zhang X.; Li R.; Li H.; Dong H.; Zhen Y.; Lei S.; Jiang L.; Hu W. Adv. Mater.2018, 30, 1706260.
[56] García de Arquer, F. P.; Armin A.; Meredith P.; Sargent E. H.; Nat. Rev. Mater.2017, 2, 116100.
[57] Lin Y.; Li Y.; Zhan, X. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2012, 41, 4245.
[58] Baeg K.-J.; Binda M.; Natali D.; Caironi M.; Noh Y.-Y. Adv. Mater.2013, 25, 4267.
[59] Kufer D.; Konstantatos G. ACS.Photonics. 2016,3, 2197.
[60] Britnell L.; Ribeiro R. M.; Eckmann A.; Jalil R.; Belle B. D.; Mishchenko A.; Kim Y.-J.; Gorbachev R. V.; Georgiou T.; Morozov S. V. Science2013, 340, 1311.
[61] Yao J.; Zhang Y.; Tian X.; Zhang X.; Zhao H.; Zhang X.; Jie J.; Wang X.; Li R.; Hu, W. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 16082.
[62] Hua Z.; Yang B.; Zhang J.; Hao D.; Guo P.; Liu J.; Jiang L.; Huang Jia. Nano. Res.2022, 15, 7639.
[63] Liu X.; Luo X.; Nan H.; Guo H.; Wang P.; Zhang L.; Zhou M.; Yang Z.; Shi Y.; Hu W.; Ni Z.; Qiu T.; Yu Z.; Xu J.-B.; Wang X. Adv. Mater.2016, 28, 5200.
[64] Wu X.; Mao S.; Chen J.; Huang J. Adv. Mater.2018, 30, 1705642.
[65] Chen H.; Dong S.; Bai M.; Cheng N.; Wang H.; Li M.; Du H.; Hu S.; Yang Y.; Yang T.; Zhang F.; Gu L.; Meng S.; Hou S.; Guo X. Adv.Mater. 2015,27, 2113.
[66] Meng Q.; Zhang, F., Zang Y.; Huang D.; Zou Y.; Liu J.; Zhao G.; Wang, Z; Ji D.; Di C.; Hu W.; Zhu D. J. Mater. Chem. C.2014, 2, 1264.
Options
Outlines

/

〈 〉