Tetracene

For the initiating explosive, see tetrazene.

Tetracene, also called naphthacene, benz[b]anthracene and 2,3-benzanthracene, is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. It has the appearance of a pale yellow powder.

Tetracene is used as a sensitiser in chemoluminescence.

It is a molecular organic semiconductor, used in OFETs and OLEDs. In May 2007, researchers from two Japanese universities, Tohoku University in Sendai, and Osaka University, have reported an ambipolar light-emitting transistor made of a tetracene single crystal [1]. Ambipolar means that the electric charge is transported by both, positively charged molecular cations and negatively charged molecular anions. Tetracene can be also used as a gain medium in dye lasers. Jan Hendrik Schön during his time at Bell Labs (1997-2002) claimed to have developed an electrically pumped laser based on tetracene. However his results could not be reproduced and it is considered scientific fraud.

Tetracene is the four ringed member of the series of acenes, the previous one being anthracene (tricene) and the next one being pentacene.