"Chemists' Colorful Breakthrough: Organic Molecules with Potential for Light-Emitting Diodes"

MIT chemists have developed a method to synthesize stable acenes, chains of fused carbon-containing rings that emit different colors of light. Acenes have unique optoelectronic properties that make them useful as semiconductors and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The researchers used a ligand called carbodicarbenes to stabilize the acenes, allowing them to be positively charged and improving their stability. By varying the length and chemical groups attached to the carbodicarbenes, the researchers created acenes that emit red, orange, yellow, green, or blue light. The stable acenes could have applications in imaging, light-emitting devices, and solar cells.