Atomistic mechanism of charge separation upon photoexcitation at the dye-semiconductor interface for photovoltaic applications

Charge separation in excited states upon visible light absorption is a central process in photovoltaic solar cell applications. Employing state-of-the-art first principles calculations based on time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), we simulate electron-hole dynamics in real time and illustrate the microscopic mechanism of charge separation at the interface between organic dye molecules and oxide semiconductor surfaces in dye-sensitized solar cells. We found that electron-hole separation proceeds non-adiabatically on an ultrafast timescale <100 fs at an anthocyanin/TiO(2) interface, and it is strongly mediated by the vibrations of interface Ti-O bonds, which anchor the dye onto the TiO(2) surface. The obtained absorption spectrum and electron injection timescale agree with experimental measurements.     

有机染料敏化剂JK16和JK17的几何结构、电子结构及相关性质

运用密度泛函理论中的杂化泛函B3LYP研究了高效太阳能电池新型染料敏化剂JK16和JK17的几何结构、电子结构、极化率和超极化率, 并用含时密度泛函理论(TDDFT)研究了电子吸收谱. 基于含时密度泛函理论计算结果和实验结果的定性符合, 指认了在可见和近紫外区的吸收属于π→π*跃迁. 计算结果还表明JK16和JK17激发能最低的三个跃迁都与光诱导电荷转移过程有关, 而且二-二甲基芴氨基苯并噻吩基团对光电转换过程的敏化起主要作用, 发生于染料敏化剂JK16、JK17和TiO2界面之间的电荷转移是由染料分子激发态向半导体导带的电子注入过程. 此外, 通过对JK16和JK17的比较, 分析了亚乙烯基对几何结构、电子结构和谱学特性的影响.     

Geometry,Electronic Structure,and Related Properties of Dye Sensitizer： 3,4-bis[1- （carboxymethyl）-3-indolyl]- 1 H-pyrrole-2,5-dione

The geometry, electronic structure, polarizability and hyperpolarizability of dye sensitizer 3,4-bis[1-（carboxymethyl）-3-indolyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione （BIMCOOH） were studied using density functional theory （DFT） with hybrid functional B3LYP, and the electronic absorption spectra were investigated using semi-empirical quantum chemical method ZINDO-1 and time-dependent DFT （TDDFT）. The results of natural bond orbital suggest that the natural charges of the dione, indole, and acetic groups are about 0.15e, -0.29e, and 0.44e, respectively. The calculated isotropic polarizability, polarizability anisotropy invariant and hyperpolarizability are 305.4, 188.3, and 1155.4 a.u., respectively. The electronic absorption spectral features in visible and near-UV region were assigned to the π→π^＊ transition due to the qualitative agreement between the experiment and the TDDFT calculations, and the transitions of the excited states 9-11 related to photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer processes. The analysis of electronic structure and UV-Vis absorption indicates that the indole groups primarily contributed sensitization of photo-to-currency conversion processes, and the interracial electron transfer between semiconductor TiO2 electrode and dye sensitizer BIMCOOH are electron injection processes from excited states of the dyes to the semiconductor conduction band.     

Physical, photophysical and structural properties of ruthenium(II) complexes containing a tetradentate bipyridine ligand

The focus of this report is the synthesis and properties of two new analogues of ruthenium(ii) tris-bipyridine, a monomer and dimer. The complexes contain the ligand 6,6'-(ethan-1,2-diyl)bis-2,2'-bipyridine (O-bpy) which contains two bipyridine units bridged in the 6,6' positions by an ethylene bridge. Crystal structures of the two complexes formulated as [Ru(bpy)(O-bpy)](PF6)2 and [(Ru(bpy)2)2(O-bpy)](PF6)4 reveal structures of lower symmetry than D3 which affects the electronic properties of the complexes as substantiated by density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The HOMO lies largely on the ruthenium center; the LUMO spreads its electron density over the bipyridine units, but not equally in the mixed O-bpy-bpy complexes. Calculated Vis/UV spectra using TDDFT methods agree with experimental spectra. The lowest lying triplet excited state for [Ru(bpy)(O-bpy)](PF6)2 is 3MC resulting in a low emission quantum yield and a large chloride ion photosubstitution quantum yield.     

Structural and spectral properties of 4-bromo-1-naphthyl chalcones: a quantum chemical study

The structural and optical properties of 4-bromo-1-naphthyl chalcones (BNC) have been studied by using quantum chemical methods. The density functional theory (DFT) and the singly excited configuration interaction (CIS) methods were employed to optimize the ground and excited state geometries of unsubstituted and substituted BNC with different electron withdrawing and donating groups in both gas and solvent phases. Based on the ground and excited state geometries, the absorption and emission spectra of BNC molecules were calculated using the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method. The solvent phase calculations were performed using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The geometrical parameters, vibrational frequencies, and relative stability of cis- and trans-isomers of unsubstituted and substituted BNC molecules have been studied. The results from the TDDFT calculations reveal that the substitution of electron withdrawing and electron donating groups affects the absorption and emission spectra of BNC.     

Pigment Yellow 101: A showcase for photo-initiated processes in medium-sized molecules

Pigment Yellow 101 (P.Y.101) is a fluorescent yellow pigment which exhibits a surprisingly rich photochemistry of several competing reaction pathways as revealed by recent time-resolved femtosecond experiments. Our elaborate quantum chemical investigations employing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) show that the observed fluorescence competes with excited state intramolecular proton transfer and trans–cis isomerization processes. Moreover, the experimentally observed spectral features of the complicated excited state dynamics can be assigned to stable trans-diol, trans-keto and cis-diol, cis-keto isomers on the ground and excited state surfaces. Still, due to its molecular size P.Y.101 poses a challenge to electronic structure theory and many problems occur in particular with respect to the excited state calculations. Thus, P.Y.101 serves also as an educative example for which TDDFT yields a reasonable vertical electronic spectrum, but fails in the prediction of excited state structures, when standard GGA or hybrid functionals with low fractions of Hartree–Fock exchange are employed. This failure is attributed to the charge-transfer failure of TDDFT.     

An integrated computational tool for the study of the optical properties of nanoscale devices: application to solar cells and molecular wires

We present a combined computational strategy for the study of the optical properties of nanoscale systems, using a combination of codes and techniques based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and its Time Dependent extension (TDDFT). In particular, we describe the use of Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations for the study of nanoscale devices and show the integration of the obtained results with available quantum chemistry codes for the calculation of TDDFT excitation energies, including solvation effects by continuum solvation models. We review some prototypical applications of this integrated computational strategy, ranging from the interaction of dye sensitizers with TiO₂ nanoparticles, of interest in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells, to transition metal molecular wires exceeding 3 nm length.     

Optical properties and delocalization of excess negative charges on oligo(phenylenevinylene)s: a quantum chemical study

A quantum chemical study of the electronic structure of negatively charged phenylenevinylene (PV) oligomers and methoxy-substituted derivatives is presented. The geometries of the PV oligomers were optimized using density functional theory. The geometry deformations are found to be delocalized along the entire oligomer chain without indication of polaron formation. The optical absorption spectra of the negatively charged PVs were calculated using both time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and the singly excited configuration interaction method with an intermediate neglect of differential overlap reference wave function (INDO/s-CIS). The available experimental optical absorption energies are reproduced by the calculations. Introduction of methoxy substituents reduces the transition energies, while this does not have a strong effect on the charge distribution along the chain. DFT calculations yield a more delocalized excess negative charge than that of INDO/s-CIS calculations.     

Geometric and chelation influences on the electronic structure and optical properties of tetra(carboxylic acid)phenyleneethynylene dyes

A quantum-chemical study on the consequences of geometric modification and chelation on the electronic structure and optical properties of a tetra(carboxylic acid)phenyleneethynylene dye, of interest for chemical sensing applications, is presented. Rotation within the central biphenylene and complexation with divalent metal ions--in particular Cu2+--lead to notable changes in the absorption and emission profiles. Calculations at both the density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock (HF) levels are used to evaluate geometric potential energy surfaces for rotation within the central biphenylene unit; HF coupled with configuration interaction singles (HF-CIS) is used to investigate the first excited state of the dye. Time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations are employed to assess changes in optical absorption and fluorescence as a function of geometry and chelation.     

Excited States of Xanthene Analogues: Photofragmentation and Calculations by CC2 and Time‐Dependent Density Functional Theory

Action spectroscopy has emerged as an analytical tool to probe excited states in the gas phase. Although comparison of gas‐phase absorption properties with quantum‐chemical calculations is, in principle, straightforward, popular methods often fail to describe many molecules of interest—such as xanthene analogues. We, therefore, face their nano‐ and picosecond laser‐induced photofragmentation with excited‐state computations by using the CC2 method and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Whereas the extracted absorption maxima agree with CC2 predictions, the TDDFT excitation energies are blueshifted. Lowering the amount of Hartree–Fock exchange in the DFT functional can reduce this shift but at the cost of changing the nature of the excited state. Additional bandwidth observed in the photofragmentation spectra is rationalized in terms of multiphoton processes. Observed fragmentation from higher‐lying excited states conforms to intense excited‐to‐excited state transitions calculated with CC2. The CC2 method is thus suitable for the comparison with photofragmentation in xanthene analogues.     

Acid-base properties of the N3 ruthenium(ii) solar cell sensitizer: a combined experimental and computational analysis

We report a combined spectro-photometric and computational investigation of the acid-base equilibria of the N3 solar cell sensitizer [Ru(dcbpyH(2))(2)(NCS)(2)] (dcbpyH(2) = 4,4'-dicarboxyl-2,2' bipyridine) in aqueous/ethanol solutions. The absorption spectra of N3 recorded at various pH values were analyzed by Single Value Decomposition techniques, followed by Global Fitting procedures, allowing us to identify four separate acid-base equilibria and their corresponding ground state pK(a) values. DFT/TDDFT calculations were performed for the N3 dye in solution, investigating the possible relevant species obtained by sequential deprotonation of the four dye carboxylic groups. TDDFT excited state calculations provided UV-vis absorption spectra which nicely agree with the experimental spectral shapes at various pH values. The calculated pK(a) values are also in good agreement with experimental data, within <1 pK(a) unit. Based on the calculated energy differences a tentative assignment of the N3 deprotonation pathway is reported.     

Computational Assessment of MLCT versus MC Stabilities in First-to-Third-Row d6 Pseudo-Octahedral Transition Metal Complexes

An accurate modeling of metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT) and metal-centered (MC) excited state energies is key to predict the photoinduced response in transition metal complexes (TMCs). Herein, the importance of the ground state and excited state reference geometries is addressed for three-prototype d⁶ pseudo-octahedral TMCs, each displaying a different potential energy landscape of MLCT versus MC relative stabilities. Several functionals are used within the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), as well as multireference wave-function theory (MS-CASPT2), applied to [Mn(im)(CO)₃(phen)]⁺, [Ru(im)₂(bpy)₂]²⁺, and [Re(im)(CO)₃(phen)]⁺, (im: imidazole, bpy: bypiridine, phen: phenantroline). The results revel that TDDFT is robust except when using B3LYP functional for first-row d⁶ TMCs. In contrast, MS-CASPT2 calculations are strongly biased in those cases with competitive MLCT/MC states. The results reinforce the reliability of B3LYP to describe the excited states in d⁶ TMCs, but question the validity of assessing the density functional theory (DFT)/TDDFT performance via direct comparison with MS-CASPT2 performed at the same DFT reference geometry as a standard strategy. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

有机染料敏化太阳电池中激发态弛豫和电子注入的超快光谱研究

为了实现窄能隙有机光敏剂的理性设计,有必要全面理解发生在二氧化钛/染料/电解质复杂界面的激发态演化动力学。本文通过构建分别以苯并噻二唑-苯甲酸(BTBA)和吡啶并噻二唑-苯甲酸(PTBA)为电子受体的有机给受体染料,借助超快瞬态吸收光谱测量与理论模拟,我们发现在实际的二氧化钛/染料/电解质界面存在激发态多步弛豫与多态电子注入的过程。密度泛函理论及含时密度泛函理论计算表明,二氧化钛表面的光激发产生的"热"激发态染料分子会通过分子片段间的扭转运动发生显著的多步结构弛豫,最终形成共轭骨架具有醌式结构、更加平面化的平衡构型。通过对飞秒瞬态吸收光谱进行目标分析,我们发现相对于以苯并噻二唑-苯甲酸为电子受体的染料,以吡啶并噻二唑-苯甲酸为电子受体的染料呈现出较慢的电子注入速率与较短的激发态寿命,导致总的电子注入产率较低,给出了基于该染料所制备的太阳电池的外量子产率峰值低的原因。     

A comparative study on the photochemistry of two bipyridyl derivatives: [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diamine and [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diol.

The two isoelectronic bipyridyl derivatives, [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diamine and [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diol, are experimentally known to undergo very different excited-state double-proton-transfer processes, which result in fluorescence quantum yields that differ by four orders of magnitude. Herein, density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations are used to study the double-proton-transfer processes in the ground and first singlet pi-->pi* excited state. The quantum-chemistry calculations indicate 1) the existence of only one energy minimum in the ground electronic state corresponding to reactants (thus avoiding the possibility of a fast fluorescent relaxation process from the photoproducts region), 2) an endoergic process of the complete double proton transfer, and 3) the presence of a conical intersection in the excited intermediate region of [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diamine. These facts explain the very low fluorescence quantum yield in [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diamine compared to [2,2'-bipyridyl]-3,3'-diol.     

The role of the beta-ionone ring in the photochemical reaction of rhodopsin

Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations on the photoabsorption process of the 11-cis retinal protonated Schiff base (PSB) chromophore show that the Franck-Condon relaxation of the first excited state of the chromophore involves a torsional twist motion of the beta-ionone ring relative to the conjugated retinyl chain. For the ground state, the beta-ionone ring and the retinyl chain of the free retinal PSB chromophore form a -40 degrees dihedral angle as compared to -94 degrees for the first excited state. The double bonds of the retinal are shorter for the fully optimized structure of the excited state than for the ground state suggesting a higher cis-trans isomerization barrier for the excited state than for the ground state. According to the present TDDFT calculations, the excitation of the retinal PSB chromophore does not primarily lead to a reaction along the cis-trans torsional coordinate at the C11-C12 bond. The activation of the isomerization center seems to occur at a later stage of the photo reaction. The results obtained at the TDDFT level are supported by second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) and approximate singles and doubles-coupled cluster (CC2) calculations on retinal chromophore models; the MP2 and CC2 calculations yield for them qualitatively the same ground state and excited-state structures as obtained in the density functional theory and TDDFT calculations.     

Calculated structural and electronic interactions of the ruthenium dye N3 with a titanium dioxide nanocrystal

Structural and electronic properties of a small anatase TiO2 nanocrystal sensitized by the ruthenium dye N3 (Ru(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)2(NCS)2) have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) with support from Hartree-Fock (HF) and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations. Significant structural adjustments of both the dye and the nanocrystal are predicted to be induced by the strain imposed by the simultaneous formation of multiple dye-surface bonds. Electronic properties of the combined dye-nanocrystal system have also been calculated, including information about interfacial orbital mixing and the lowest excited singlet states. Ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer processes across the dye-nanoparticle interface in dye-sensitized solar cells are finally discussed in view of estimated electronic coupling strengths. The calculations predict injection times on the order of 10 fs for MLCT excitations to the ligand pi* levels that interact most strongly with the TiO2 conduction band, and an order of magnitude increase in the injection times for excitations to dye levels with poor spatial or energetic overlaps with the substrate conduction band.     

Study of the Photochemical Properties and Conical Intersections of [2,2′‐Bipyridyl]‐3‐amine‐3′‐ol

The two isoelectronic bipyridyl derivatives [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3,3′‐diamine and [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3,3′‐diol are experimentally known to undergo very different excited‐state double‐proton‐transfer processes, which result in fluorescence quantum yields that differ by four orders of magnitude. In a previous study, these differences were explained from a theoretical point of view, because of topographical features in the potential energy surface and the presence of conical intersections (CIs). Here, we analyze the photochemical properties of a new molecule, [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3‐amine‐3′‐ol [BP(OH)(NH₂)], which is, in fact, a hybrid of the former two. Our density functional theory (DFT), time‐dependent DFT (TDDFT), and complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations indicate that the double‐proton‐transfer process in the ground and first singlet π→π* excited state in BP(OH)(NH₂) presents features that are between those of their “parents”. The presence of two CIs and the role they may play in the actual photochemistry of BP(OH)(NH₂) and other bipyridyl derivatives are also discussed.     

Highlighting the role of the medium in DFT analysis of the photophysical properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridine-type complexes

In order to test the pertinence of the density functional theory to interpret the photophysical properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridine-type complexes, DFT and TDDFT calculations are performed both on the isolated molecule and in solution media described by the dielectric-like polarized continuum model (PCM). This study is focused on three isoelectronic complexes: [Ru(bpy)(2)(PhenImHPh)](2+) (II), where PhenImHPh represents the 2-(3,5-ditertbutylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligand, as well as [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImPh)]+ (I), and [Ru(bpy)(2)(PhenImH2Ph)](3+) (III), obtained by changing the protonic state of the imidazole ring. The structural and electronic properties of the ground and lowest triplet states are fully characterized in vacuo and in water solution, and the absorption spectra in the visible region are also investigated by TDDFT. The theoretical data are compared to the electrochemistry, UV-visible, and photophysical experiments to assess the validity and limits of each type of calculation. The choice of the functional is also discussed.     

Electronic transitions involved in the absorption spectrum and dual luminescence of tetranuclear cubane [Cu4I4(pyridine)4] cluster: a density functional theory/time-dependent density functional theory investigation

We present a combined density functional theory (DFT)/time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) study of the geometry, electronic structure, and absorption and emission properties of the tetranuclear "cubane" Cu4I4py4 (py = pyridine) system. The geometry of the singlet ground state and of the two lowest triplet states of the title complex were optimized, followed by TDDFT excited-state calculations. This procedure allowed us to characterize the nature of the excited states involved in the absorption spectrum and those responsible for the dual emission bands observed for this complex. In agreement with earlier experimental proposals, we find that while in absorption the halide-to-pyridine charge-transfer excited state (XLCT*) has a lower energy than the cluster-centered excited state (CC*), a strong geometrical relaxation on the triplet cluster-centered state surface leads to a reverse order of the excited states in emission.     

A theoretical study on the ground and excited state behaviors of TTBC related carbocyanine dyes

The effects of functional groups on the benzimidazole rings, length of the conjugated chain and alkyl groups bonded to the nitrogen atoms on the ground and excited state behaviors of the 1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-5,5′,6,6′-tetrachlorobenzimidazolocarbocyanine (TTBC or JC-1) have been analyzed via quantum chemical methods. DFT and TDDFT with B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory were used for the ground and excited state calculations, respectively. It has been found that TTBC has a very rigid geometry; no significant effect of functional groups has been predicted either as donor or acceptor on its optimum structure. However, the length of alkyl groups changes the structure of the molecule. It is possible to increase λ_max of TTBC based carbocyanine dye with NH₂, butyl/propyl and increasing polymethine chain length.