Excitation localization/delocalization induced intramolecular singlet fission in cyclopentadithiophene-based quinoidal derivatives

作者:Wen, Jin*; Zhou, Jie; Li, Xuesi; Lv, Meng; Huang, Jun; Li, Zheng; Zhang, Boyuan; Wang, Ming; Chen, Jinquan; Zhu, Meifang
来源:Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2023, 25(43): 29698-29708.
DOI:10.1039/d3cp02588h

摘要

Two triplet excitons are generated through an ultrafast photophysical process, namely singlet fission (SF), providing a solution for efficient solar energy usage. In this work, we provide an effective guideline for designing SF materials by adjusting the planarity in cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) derivatives. A practical strategy is proposed for tuning the quinoidal-biradical resonance structures by varying the electron push-pull groups of CPDTs for SF. The localized, delocalized, and intermediate charge-transfer excited configurations are predicted in the singlet excited state via computational simulations, which is further confirmed by ultrafast spectroscopy. Deduced from the potential energy surfaces in the low-lying excited states and transient absorption, the delocalized excited state is formed in 2.1 ps via postulated intramolecular SF in a polar solvent, followed by the ultrafast formation of the free triplet state with a lifetime of 6.8 ps. In comparison with different cross-conjugated chromophores, it is found that the increase in the charge separation could enhance the triplet-pair generation for iSF. We expect that by introducing symmetry-breaking modifications in the electronic configurations and adjusting the separation between the push-pull groups of CPDTs, it should be possible to prolong the duration of the free triplet state by preventing recombination within the triplet-pair excited configuration. @@@ Two triplet excitons are generated through an ultrafast photophysical process, namely singlet fission (SF), providing a solution for efficient solar energy usage. We provide an effective guideline for designing SF materials by adjusting planarity in cyclopentadithiophene derivatives.

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