Si(C≡C)4-Based Single-Crystalline Semiconductor: Diamond-like Superlight and Superflexible Wide-Bandgap Material for the UV Photoconductive Device.

A wide-bandgap SiC4 semiconductor with low density and high elasticity has been designed and characterized by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and first-principles calculations. The through-space conjugation among the d orbitals of Si and the π* orbitals of ethynyl moieties can remarkably enhance the photoconductivity. This new-type superlight and superflexible semiconductor is predicted to have unique electronic, optical, and mechanical properties, and it is a quite promising material for the high-performance UV optoelectronic devices suitable for various practical demands in a complex environment.