Two-Dimensional Copper Iodide-Based Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Semiconductors: Synthesis, Structures, and Optical and Transport Properties

A group of copper iodide-based hybrid semiconductors with the general formula of 2D-CuI(L)0.5 (L = organic ligands) are synthesized and structurally characterized. All compounds are two-dimensional (2D) networks made of one-dimensional (1D) copper iodide staircase chains that are interconnected by bidentate nitrogen-containing ligands. Results from optical absorption and emission experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that their photoluminescence (PL) can be systematically tuned by adjusting the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies of the organic ligands. Charge carrier transport measurements were carried out for the first time on single crystals of selected 2D-CuI(L)0.5 structures, and the results show that they possess p-type conductivity with a Hall mobility of ∼1 cm2 V–1 s–1 for 2D-CuI(pm)0.5 and 0.13 cm2 V–1 s–1 for 2D-CuI(pz)0.5, respectively. These values are comparable to or higher than the mobilities of typical highly luminescent organic semiconductors. This work suggests that robust, high-dimensional copper iodide hybrid semiconductors are promising candidates to be considered as a new type of emissive layer for light-emitting diode (LED) devices.