A theoretical investigation of low energy band gap polymers: polythiophene systems

Recently, the organic synthesis and electronic device applications of π-conjugated polymer-based materials with low energy band gap (below 2 eV) and high values of incident photon to current efficiency have been presented. In the present study, the physical properties of polythiophene (PTH) and its derivative systems (PTs) were investigated as π-conjugated low energy band gap polymers. Density functional theory with periodic boundary condition (PBC), the B3LYP functional, and the 6-31G(d) basis set was applied to determine their geometric and electronic structures and corresponding energies (E _HOMO, E _LUMO, and E _g = E _LUMO ? E _HOMO) from the monomer of thiophene and its derivatives for one-dimensional (1D) extension to polymer. The effects of 3-substitution in PTs including electron-donating (CH₃–, C₆H₁₃–, OH–, Cl–, OCH₃–, and CHO–) and electron-withdrawing groups (Cl–, CHO–, CN–, NO₂–, CF₃–, and COOH–) compared with PTH were investigated. According to the calculation results, PTs with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents should exhibit red- and blue-shifts, respectively, compared with PTH. These calculation results show good agreement with experimental data and provide further information for molecular design considerations.     

Effects of substituent and solvent on the structure and spectral properties of maleimide derivatives

The maximum absorption wavelength , emission wavelength (λ_em) and the related oscillator strength (f) of the maleimides in the ground and first excited states were calculated by using the DFT, CIS and the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods, where the molecular structures were optimized by DFT/B3LYP/6-31G^* calculation. Solvent effects on the maleimides were examined using the PCM simulation at DFT/B3LYP level with the 6-31G^* basis set. For N-substituted maleimide, the substituent gives only a slight influence on the maleimide chromophore, while planar conformation of PhMLH leads to the improvement in π-delocalization from substituent to maleimide unit. For 3,4-substituted maleimide, the steric repulsion between substituent and maleimide chromophore influences the extent of π-delocalization and the molecular conformation. The calculated and λ_em of maleimides are in good agreement with the experimental data. In the gas phase, both absorption and emission peaks are red-shift as compared to the non-substituted maleimide. Under solvent environment, the more planar conformation of PhMLH shows a blue-shift in the calculated and λ_em as compared with other N-substituted maleimides. For 3,4-substituted maleimides, the effect of substitution produces the most significant spectral red-shift as compared to other maleimides.     

Investigation of photophysical properties of mer-tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum (III) and its derivatives: DFT and TD-DFTcalculations

Optimized structures and photophysical properties of mer- and fac-Alq₃ have been generated by using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). Investigating the substitution effect in the Alq₃ derivatives, the role of the electron-donating (CH₃- and NH₂-) and electron-withdrawing (F-, CN-, NO₂- and phenyl-) groups with 2- to 7-substitution have been analyzed. According to the calculation results, the 4- and 5- substituted Alq₃ exhibit an apparent spectral shift relative to the non-substituted Alq₃. The HOMO, LUMO, E_g (the energy gap between LUMO and HOMO), (maximum absorption wavelength) and f (the relative oscillator strength) of mer-Alq₃ with the 4- or 5-phenyl substitution on the quinoline ligand in the ground electronic state were calculated by using the DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d) and TD-DFT methods. 5-phenyl substituted mer-Alq₃ with an electron-donating substituent showed an increase in the π-delocalization as compared to the 4-phenyl substituted mer-Alq₃ derivatives. Similarly, 4-phenyl substituted mer-Alq₃ with electron-withdrawing substituents also exhibits increased π-delocalization in the pyridine ring as compared to the non-substituted Alq₃. Replacing the CH group at the 4, 5 and 4,5 positions of the quinoline ligand of mer-Alq₃ with the aza group (nitrogen atom) gives three Alq₃ analogous: AlX₃, Al(NQ)₃ and Al(NX)₃; the calculated energy gap E_g of these derivatives decreases in the order Al(NQ)₃>Al(NX)₃>AX₃. Four quinoline with group III metals Mq₃ complexes were investigated for the photophysical properties; the calculated energy gap E_g decreases in the order Tlq₃>Inq₃>Gaq₃>Alq₃. The photophysical properties of 4-hydroxy-8-methyl-1,5-naphthyridine (mND) chelated with group III metals (MmND₃ complexes) were investigated also; their calculated E_g have the opposite order as those of Mq₃ complexes.     

Theoretical study of 5,10-diphenylindeno[2,1-a]indene (DPI) dyes for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC)

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Six D-DPI-A (D-π-A) dyes combining various arylamine electron donors (diphenylamine and triphenylamine moieties) with a fixed π-linker (DPI) and a...     

Electronic and photophysical properties of the bend D–T–A–T–D derivatives for small-molecule organic photovoltaic (SM-OPV) solar cells: a DFT and TD-DFT investigation

A series of D–T–A–T–D derivatives (D, electron-donating moiety; T, π-conjugated linker; A, electron-acceptor moiety) with seven electron donor moieties and various electron abilities are designed to investigate the influence of the donor on photophysical properties for small-molecule organic photovoltaic solar cells. The 4,8-dimethoxybenzodithiophene (D₁), triphenyldsramine (D₂), 4-methoxy-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-phenylaniline (D₃), 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene (D₄), 9-methyl-9H-carbazole (D₅), 4-methyl-4H-dithieno-pyrrole (D₆), and 4,4-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta-dithiophene (D₇) are adopted as the electron donor moiety. The BDTC (buta-1,3-diene-1,1,4,4-tetracarbonitrile) is used for the A moiety, and the thiophene (T) is used for the π-conjugated linker. The optimized structure of D–T–A–T–D derivatives exhibits the bend molecular conformation due to the steric effect within the A moiety. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies of these derivatives are dependent on the electron donating ability of D, which influences the open-circuit voltage and driving force. Reorganization energy suggests that these derivatives are good hole-transporting type materials. Projected density of state analysis demonstrates that in the HOMO, the electron density distribution is delocalized on the terminal D and T moieties, while in the LUMO, the electron density distribution is localized mainly on the A moiety. The maximum absorption peak, which has relatively high light harvesting efficiency, is due to the π to π* transition and can be tuned by the electron-donating ability and the resonance energy of the D moiety. The bend D₆–T–A–T–D₆/D₇–T–A–T–D₇ derivatives with D moiety of 4-methyl-4H-dithieno-pyrrole (D₆) and 4,4-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta-dithiophene (D₇) are good candidates as electron donor materials for SM-OPV.