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Title: Electronic Delocalization, Vibrational Dynamics and Energy Transfer in Organic Chromophores

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

The efficiency of materials developed for solar energy and technological applications depends on the interplay between molecular architecture and light-induced electronic energy redistribution. The spatial localization of electronic excitations is very sensitive to molecular distortions. Vibrational nuclear motions can couple to electronic dynamics driving changes in localization. The electronic energy transfer among multiple chromophores arises from several distinct mechanisms that can give rise to experimentally measured signals. Atomistic simulations of coupled electron-vibrational dynamics can help uncover the nuclear motions directing energy flow. Through careful analysis of excited state wave function evolution and a useful fragmenting of multichromophore systems, through-bond transport and exciton hopping (through-space) mechanisms can be distinguished. Such insights are crucial in the interpretation of fluorescence anisotropy measurements and can aid materials design. Finally, this Perspective highlights the interconnected vibrational and electronic motions at the foundation of nonadiabatic dynamics where nuclear motions, including torsional rotations and bond vibrations, drive electronic transitions.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1414116
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--17-23765
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 8; ISSN 1948-7185
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (8)

Coherent exciton-vibrational dynamics and energy transfer in conjugated organics journal June 2018
Coherent exciton-vibrational dynamics and energy transfer in conjugated organics journal June 2018
Exciton localization in excited-state dynamics of a tetracene trimer: a surface hopping LC-TDDFTB study journal January 2018
First-principles quantum simulations of exciton diffusion on a minimal oligothiophene chain at finite temperature journal January 2020
The symmetrical quasi-classical approach to electronically nonadiabatic dynamics applied to ultrafast exciton migration processes in semiconducting polymers journal July 2018
Benchmark ab initio calculations on intermolecular structures and the exciton character of poly( p -phenylenevinylene) dimers journal January 2020
Signatures of Strong Vibronic Coupling Mediating Coherent Charge Transfer in Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy journal August 2019
Resonance Energy Transfer: From Fundamental Theory to Recent Applications journal July 2019

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