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Title: Substituent effects on the geometric and electronic properties of tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ): A theoretical study.

Journal Article · · Molecular Simulation, 39(5):350-356

Electron acceptors are classes of molecules that are important in organic devices as they help to improve the conductivity of organic semiconducting molecules by forming p-type complexes or anion radical complexes. These molecules can be doped into hole transporting materials to provide good ohmic contact with the anode and to improve the carrier density of the hole transport layer. This results in organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) with low driving voltages and high power efficiencies. In this study we investigate a series of TCNQ derivatives with substituents expected to facilitate the electron acceptor capabilities of the quinones using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). As expected, the cyano substitution stabilizes both HOMO and LUMO energy levels, and increases the adiabatic electron affinity of the dopants. The stabilization effect on the LUMO levels is greater and as a result the narrowing of the HOMO-LUMO gap is seen. This fact was further confirmed by TD-DFT studies, energy of the computed S1 ← S0 transition red shifted upon CN substitution. However, perturbation to the ground state geometry is negligible and all anionic structures exhibits aromatization independent of substitution. Our study suggests that the substituted derivatives reported herein show promise as conductivity dopants

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1074303
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-86292; 30795; BT0301000
Journal Information:
Molecular Simulation, 39(5):350-356, Vol. 39, Issue 5; ISSN 0892--7022
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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