1
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Mencaroni L, Elisei F, Marrocchi A, Spalletti A, Carlotti B. Intramolecular Singlet Fission Coupled with Intermolecular Triplet Separation as a Strategy to Achieve High Triplet Yields in Fluorene-Based Small Molecules. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3442-3453. [PMID: 38544417 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
In this work, detailed experimental proof and in-depth analysis of the singlet fission (SF) mechanism, operative in fluorene-based small molecules, are carried out by employing advanced time-resolved spectroscopies with nanosecond and femtosecond resolution. The investigation of the effect of solution concentration and solvent viscosity together with temperature and excitation wavelength demonstrates INTRAmolecular formation of the correlated triplet pair followed by INTERmolecular independent triplet separation via a "super-diffusional" triplet-triplet transfer process. This unconventional INTRA- to INTERmolecular SF may be considered an "ideal" mechanism. Indeed, intramolecular formation of the correlated triplet pair is here interestingly proved for small molecules rather than large multichromophoric systems, allowing easy synthesis and processability while maintaining good control over the SF process. On the other hand, the intermolecular triplet separation may be exploited to achieve high triplet quantum yields in these new SF small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Mencaroni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology and CEMIN, University of Perugia, via dell'Elce di sotto n.8, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Fausto Elisei
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology and CEMIN, University of Perugia, via dell'Elce di sotto n.8, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Assunta Marrocchi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology and CEMIN, University of Perugia, via dell'Elce di sotto n.8, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Anna Spalletti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology and CEMIN, University of Perugia, via dell'Elce di sotto n.8, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Benedetta Carlotti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology and CEMIN, University of Perugia, via dell'Elce di sotto n.8, Perugia 06123, Italy
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2
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Hayasaka R, Sakai H, Fuki M, Okamoto T, Khan R, Higashi M, Tkachenko NV, Kobori Y, Hasobe T. The Effect of Torsional Motion on Multiexciton Formation through Intramolecular Singlet Fission in Ferrocene-Bridged Pentacene Dimers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202315747. [PMID: 38179830 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
A series of ferrocene(Fc)-bridged pentacene(Pc)-dimers [Fc-Ph(2,n)-(Pc)2 : n=number of phenylene spacers] were synthesized to examine the tortional motion effect of Fc-terminated phenylene linkers on strongly coupled quintet multiexciton (5 TT) formation through intramolecular singlet fission (ISF). Fc-Ph(2,4)-(Pc)2 has a relatively small electronic coupling and large conformational flexibility according to spectroscopic and theoretical analyses. Fc-Ph(2,4)-(Pc)2 exhibits a high-yield 5 TT together with quantitative singlet TT (1 TT) generation through ISF. This demonstrates a much more efficient ISF than those of other less flexible Pc dimers. The activation entropy in 1 TT spin conversion of Fc-Ph(2,4)-(Pc)2 is larger than those of the other systems due to the larger conformational flexibility associated with the torsional motion of the linkers. The torsional motion of linkers in 1 TT is attributable to weakened metal-ligand bonding in the Fc due to hybridization of the hole level of Pc to Fc in 1 TT unpaired orbitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Hayasaka
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Hayato Sakai
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Masaaki Fuki
- Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- CREST, JST, Honcho 4-1-8, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Okamoto
- Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- CREST, JST, Honcho 4-1-8, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Ramsha Khan
- Chemistry and Advanced Materials Group, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720, Tampere, Finland
| | - Masahiro Higashi
- Department of Complex Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Nikolai V Tkachenko
- Chemistry and Advanced Materials Group, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720, Tampere, Finland
| | - Yasuhiro Kobori
- Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- CREST, JST, Honcho 4-1-8, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Taku Hasobe
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
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3
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Purdy M, Budden P, Fallon K, Gannett CN, Abruña HD, Zeng W, Friend R, Musser AJ, Bronstein H. Re-Thinking Dimer Design Principles with Indolonaphthyridine Intramolecular Singlet Fission. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301547. [PMID: 37377132 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Singlet fission is a phenomenon that could significantly improve the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Indolonaphthyridine thiophene (INDT) is a photostable singlet fission material that could potentially be utilised in singlet fission-based photovoltaic devices. This study investigates the intramolecular singlet fission (i-SF) mechanism of INDT dimers linked via para-phenyl, meta-phenyl and fluorene bridging groups. Using ultra-fast spectroscopy the highest rate of singlet fission is found in the para-phenyl linked dimer. Quantum calculations show the para-phenyl linker encourages enhanced monomer electronic coupling. Increased rates of singlet fission were also observed in the higher polarity o-dichlorobenzene, relative to toluene, indicating that charge-transfer states have a role in mediating the process. The mechanistic picture of polarisable singlet fission materials, such as INDT, extends beyond the traditional mechanistic landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Purdy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Peter Budden
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Kealan Fallon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Cara N Gannett
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Héctor D Abruña
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Weixuan Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Richard Friend
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Andrew J Musser
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Hugo Bronstein
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Baker Lab, 122, E Ave, Ithaca, NY, USA
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4
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Majumder K, Mukherjee S, Panjwani NA, Lee J, Bittl R, Kim W, Patil S, Musser AJ. Controlling Intramolecular Singlet Fission Dynamics via Torsional Modulation of Through-Bond versus Through-Space Couplings. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:20883-20896. [PMID: 37705333 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Covalent dimers, particularly pentacenes, are the dominant platform for developing a mechanistic understanding of intramolecular singlet fission (iSF). Numerous studies have demonstrated that a photoexcited singlet state in these structures can rapidly and efficiently undergo exciton multiplication to form a correlated pair of triplets within a single molecule, with potential applications from photovoltaics to quantum information science. One of the most significant barriers limiting such dimers is the fast recombination of the triplet pair, which prevents spatial separation and the formation of long-lived triplet states. There is an ever-growing need to develop general synthetic strategies to control the evolution of triplets following iSF and enhance their lifetime. Here, we rationally tune the dihedral angle and interchromophore separation between pairs of pentacenes in a systematic series of bridging units to facilitate triplet separation. Through a combination of transient optical and spin-resonance techniques, we demonstrate that torsion within the linker provides a simple synthetic handle to tune the fine balance between through-bond and through-space interchromophore couplings that steer iSF. We show that the full iSF pathway from femtosecond to microsecond timescales is tuned through the static coupling set by molecular design and structural fluctuations that can be biased through steric control. Our approach highlights a straightforward design principle to generate paramagnetic spin pair states with higher yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanad Majumder
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Soham Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Naitik A Panjwani
- Berlin Joint EPR Lab, Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität, Berlin, Berlin 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jieun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Robert Bittl
- Berlin Joint EPR Lab, Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität, Berlin, Berlin 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Woojae Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Satish Patil
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Andrew J Musser
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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5
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Kefer O, Ahrens L, Han J, Wollscheid N, Misselwitz E, Rominger F, Freudenberg J, Dreuw A, Bunz UHF, Buckup T. Efficient Intramolecular Singlet Fission in Spiro-Linked Heterodimers. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:17965-17974. [PMID: 37535495 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
We investigate intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) of spiro-linked azaacene heterodimers by time-resolved spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Combining two different azaacenes through a nonconjugated linker using condensation chemistry furnishes azaacene heterodimers. Compared to their homodimers, iSF quantum yields are improved at an extended absorption range. The driving force of iSF, the energy difference ΔEiSF between the S1 state and the correlated triplet pair 1(TT), is tuned by the nature of the heterodimers. iSF is exothermic in all of the herein studied molecules. The overall quantum yield for triplet exciton formation reaches approximately 174%. This novel concept exploits large energy differences between singlet electronic states in combination with spatially fixed chromophores, which achieves efficient heterogeneous iSF, if the through-space interaction between the chromophores is minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oskar Kefer
- Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Ahrens
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jie Han
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Wollscheid
- Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Erik Misselwitz
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Rominger
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan Freudenberg
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Dreuw
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uwe H F Bunz
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tiago Buckup
- Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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6
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Mencaroni L, Alebardi M, Elisei F, Škorić I, Spalletti A, Carlotti B. Unveiling the double triplet nature of the 2Ag state in conjugated stilbenoid compounds to achieve efficient singlet fission. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:21089-21099. [PMID: 37527269 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02805d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
In this investigation, the excited-state evolution in a series of all-trans stilbenoid compounds, displaying a low-lying dark singlet state of 2Ag-like symmetry nearly degenerate with the bright 1Bu state, was unveiled by employing advanced ultrafast spectroscopies while probing the effect of solvent polarizability. Together with the dual emission, femtosecond transient absorption and broadband fluorescence up-conversion disclosed the double nature of the 2Ag-like state showing both singlet features, a lifetime typical of a singlet and the ability to emit, and a triplet character, exhibiting a triplet-like absorption spectrum. The ultrafast formation (in hundreds of femtoseconds) from the non-relaxed upper singlet state led to the identification of 2Ag as the correlated triplet pair of singlet fission. The spectral difference obtained by comparison of transient absorption peaks of the 2Ag (1TT) and the triplet states was found to be in remarkable agreement with the observed triplet yield and the 1(TT) separation rate constant. Indeed, this spectral shift provided an experimental method to gain qualitative insight into the ease of separation of the 1(TT) and the relative SF efficiency. The highly conjugated polyene-like structures enable the ultrafast formation of the double triplet, but then the large binding energy prevents the triplet separation and thus the effective completion of singlet fission. Even though thermodynamically feasible for all the investigated stilbenoids according to TD-DFT calculations, singlet fission resulted to occur efficiently in the case of 1-(pyridyl-4-ylethenyl)-4-(p-nitrostyryl)benzene and nitro-styrylfuran with the triplet yield reaching 120% and 140%, respectively, triggered by their greatly enhanced intramolecular charge transfer character relative to the other compounds in the series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Mencaroni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via elce di sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Martina Alebardi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via elce di sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Fausto Elisei
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via elce di sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Irena Škorić
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anna Spalletti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via elce di sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Benedetta Carlotti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via elce di sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
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7
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Pensack RD, Purdum GE, Mazza SM, Grieco C, Asbury JB, Anthony JE, Loo YL, Scholes GD. Excited-State Dynamics of 5,14- vs 6,13-Bis(trialkylsilylethynyl)-Substituted Pentacenes: Implications for Singlet Fission. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2022; 126:9784-9793. [PMID: 35756579 PMCID: PMC9210346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Singlet fission is a process in conjugated organic materials that has the potential to considerably improve the performance of devices in many applications, including solar energy conversion. In any application involving singlet fission, efficient triplet harvesting is essential. At present, not much is known about molecular packing arrangements detrimental to singlet fission. In this work, we report a molecular packing arrangement in crystalline films of 5,14-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-substituted pentacene, specifically a local (pairwise) packing arrangement, responsible for complete quenching of triplet pairs generated via singlet fission. We first demonstrate that the energetic condition necessary for singlet fission is satisfied in amorphous films of the 5,14-substituted pentacene derivative. However, while triplet pairs form highly efficiently in the amorphous films, only a modest yield of independent triplets is observed. In crystalline films, triplet pairs also form highly efficiently, although independent triplets are not observed because triplet pairs decay rapidly and are quenched completely. We assign the quenching to a rapid nonadiabatic transition directly to the ground state. Detrimental quenching is observed in crystalline films of two additional 5,14-bis(trialkylsilylethynyl)-substituted pentacenes with either ethyl or isobutyl substituents. Developing a better understanding of the losses identified in this work, and associated molecular packing, may benefit overcoming losses in solids of other singlet fission materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Pensack
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Geoffrey E. Purdum
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Samuel M. Mazza
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Christopher Grieco
- Department
of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - John B. Asbury
- Department
of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - John E. Anthony
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Yueh-Lin Loo
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Andlinger
Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton
University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Gregory D. Scholes
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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