P‐Type Low‐Molecular‐Weight Hydrogelators

As the use of low‐molecular‐weight gelators (LMWGs) as components in single and multicomponent systems for optoelectronic and solar cell applications increases, so does the need for more functional gelators. There are relatively few examples of p‐type gelators that can be used in such systems. Here, the synthesis and characterization of three amino‐acid‐functionalized p‐type gelators based on terthiophene, tetrathiafulvalene, and oligo(phenylenevinylene) are described. The cores of these molecules are already used as electron donors in optoelectronic applications. These newly designed molecules can gel water to form highly organized structures, which can be dried into thin films that show p‐type behavior. The gelation of three dipeptide‐functionalized terthiophene, tetrathiafulvalene, and oligo(phenylenevinylene)‐based molecules is carried out. All are able to act as p‐type materials in both the dried solution and xerogel. The terthiophene gel and xerogel have a radical cation species in air that is stabilized by the gelation of the molecules.