We are reporting the optical study of two types of poly (3-thienylene vinylene) (PTV) derivatives with linear and bulk side chain configurations. The first one, poly(3-dodecylthienylenevinylene) with controlled regioregularity (PTV-CR) with an alkyl side group, showed a high degree of crystallinity, whereas the second one, imide-PTV with an electron deficient imide side group, is amorphous. Continuous wave-photoinduced absorption revealed different features of the long-lived triplet absorptions, with the geminately generated triplet–triplet pair in imide-PTV bearing more intrachain characteristics with fast recombination kinetics (<10 μs). On the other hand, the isolated triplet in PTV-CR generated by intersystem crossing had more interchain characteristics with slow recombination kinetics (ms). The decay of the triplet–triplet pair in imide-PTV is monomolecular even at a high pump intensity of 240 mW/cm2, whereas the isolated triplets in PTV-CR recombine bimolecularly at a very low pump intensity of 10 mW/cm2. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, doping induced absorption, and various dependences of the photoinduced absorption spectrum have corroborated the finding that reduced interchain interaction favors the formation of a correlated triplet–triplet pair, a precursor to two independent triplets formed via fission.
Recently, excellent solar cell device performances have been achieved with solution-processed small-molecule donor materials. Small molecules have well defined structures and thus allow better control of self-assembly in the solid state. However, the easy formation of H-type aggregates and lack of strong interactions between nanodomains could limit charge transport, device performance, and long-term stability. We have recently explored the synthesis of ring-protected small molecules (with rings surrounding the center of the molecules), studied the intermolecular interactions in solution and solid state, and conducted preliminary solar cell device fabrications. It has been found that the molecules behave very differently from conventional flat small molecules in both solution and solid states. Proton NMR study of solutions of different concentrations revealed the presence of strong intermolecular interactions as a result of absence or shortage of open-ended alkyl side chains; however, such strong interactions do not lead to precipitation of the molecules even at high concentrations. Excellent films are routinely obtained from the neat small molecules despite the much reduced number of solubilizing groups. The New findings strongly suggest that ring protection is an effective strategy to avoid Haggregation and maintain strong pi-pi interactions simultaneously. Such materials are expected to form head-tail selfassemblies that will open new possibilities for small molecule organic materials. Conceptually, thin films of such materials are potentially more isotropic in charge transport than conventional small molecule and polymer films, a property desirable for photovoltaics and some other optoelectronic applications.
Antiparallel interaction among dipolar chromophores is the dominant force in the solid state of conventional EO chromophores (long and flat). This interaction is responsible for the formation of acentric aggregates and prevents electro-optic coefficient from scaling with chromophore concentration. Antiparallel interaction can be selectively attenuated by attaching bulky groups to the middle part of chromophore. However, it is synthetically challenging to provide sufficient steric protection without causing severe reduction of chromophore concentration. In this paper, we will present the synthesis and characterization of atom-economic ring protection of chromophores against H-aggregation and show the effect of ring protection on optical properties of the chromophores in solution and film.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.