Density functional theory study of neutral and oxidized thiophene oligomers
- School of Physics Science and Technology and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for NSLSCS, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023 (China)
- Computational Materials Science Center and School of Physics, Astronomy and Computational Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 (United States)
The effect of oxidation on the energetics and structure of thiophene (Th) oligomers is studied with density functional theory at the B3PW91/6-311++G(d,p) level. Neutral n-Th oligomers (2 < n < 13) are gently curved planar chains. Ionization potential and electron affinity results show that n-Th oligomers are easier to be oxidized as their chain length increases. Oxidation states +2, +4, +6, and +8 are energetically stable in 12-Th. Upon oxidation the conjugated backbone of 12-Th switches from extended benzenoid phase to quinoid phase localized on groups of monomers regularly spaced along the chain. Oxidized states +2, +4, +6, and +8 of 12-Th display two +1e localized at the ends of their chains only because of the finite size of the chains. In 12-Th this end-effect extends over the two terminal monomers forming a positive-negative charge duet. This peculiar charge localization makes n-Th oligomers different from other conducting polymers with similar structure, such as polypyrrole. The spectrum of single-electron molecular states of oxidized 12-Th displays two localized single-electron states in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap per +2 oxidation state. Oligothiophene 12-Th doped with F atoms at 1:2 concentration presents a charge transfer of 3.4 e from oligomer to dopants that increases to 4.8 e in the presence of solvent. The charge distribution in these F-doped oligomers is similar to the +4 oxidation state of 12-Th. It is predicted that dopants produce an enhanced charge transfer localized in the proximity of their locations enhancing the formation of bipolarons in the central part of the oligomer chain.
- OSTI ID:
- 22251449
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 139, Issue 18; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Oligomers and Chains of Poly(benzodifurandione) (PBDF), A Highly Conducting n-Type Polymer
EPR study of polarons in a conducting polymer with nondegenerate ground states: Alkali metal complexes of poly (p-phenylene) and phenylene oligomers