Transient photoconductivity in a discotic hexagonal plastic crystal

Charge-carrier transport in organic materials is the fundamental phys ical process behind devices such as laser printers. Charge-carrier mobility data are presented for hexabutyloxytriphenylene (H4T), which exhibits an unusually high charge-carrier mobility, which can be traced to the formation of a plastic discotic phase. The Figure shows the normal discotic hexagonal texture with six-fold symmetry observed for H4T at 144 degrees C; this symmetry disappears at lower temperatures (see also the cover).