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Charge Separation Mechanisms in Ordered Films of Self-Assembled Donor–Acceptor Dyad Ribbons

Journal Article · · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Orthogonal attachment of polar and nonpolar side-chains to a zinc porphyrin-perylenediimide dyad (ZnP-PDI, 1a) is shown herein to result in self-assembly of ordered supramolecular ribbons in which the ZnP and PDI molecules form segregated $$π$$-stacked columns. Following photoexcitation of the ordered ribbons, ZnP+•-PDI–• radical ion pairs form in <200 fs and subsequently produce a 30 ± 3% yield of free charge carriers that live for about 100 μs. Elongating the side chains on ZnP and PDI in 1b enhances the order of the films, but does not result in an increase in free charge carrier yield. In addition, this yield is independent of temperature, free energy of reaction, and the ZnP-PDI distance in the covalent dyad. These results suggest that the free charge carrier yield in this system is not limited by a bound charge transfer (CT) state or promoted by a vibronically hot CT state. Instead, it is likely that π-stacking of the segregated donors and acceptors within the ribbons results in delocalization of the charges following photoexcitation, allowing them to overcome Coulombic attraction and generate free charge carriers.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-99ER14999
OSTI ID:
1399126
Journal Information:
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 39 Vol. 9; ISSN 1944-8244
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

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