Singlet Fission: Progress and Prospects in Solar Cells

Planarity and Length of the Bridge Control Rate and Efficiency of Intramolecular Singlet Fission in Pentacene Dimers

Singlet fission (SF) improves the power conversion efficiency of optoelectronic devices by converting high-energy photons into two triplet excitons. SF dynamics and efficiency (Φ) are controlled by various factors. Here, the effect of planarity and length of the bridge in pentacene dimers on the intramolecular SF (iSF) process was investigated by synthesizing the dimers connected by bridges having fluorene (FL-PD, planar), methyl-substituted biphenyl (MBP-PD, twisted), and diphenyl acetylene (DPA-PD, longer) groups and characterizing their excited-state relaxation dynamics using nanosecond and femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Transient absorption studies reveal that iSF dynamics of FL-PD having a planar bridge are ∼787 times faster (187 ps) and exhibit higher Φ (198%) by feasible electronic coupling, compared to MBP-PD possessing a twisted bridge showing a low Φ of ∼16%. However compared to FL-PD, iSF dynamics of DPA-PD with an increase of bridge length are slower by an order (1.09 ns) and show comparable Φ of 185% through extended conjugation. Thus, the planarity and length of the bridge in pentacene dimers control the rate and efficiency of the iSF process.

Direct, Mediated, and Delayed Intramolecular Singlet Fission Mechanism in Donor-Acceptor Copolymers

Donor-acceptor (D-A) extended copolymers have shown great potential to be exploited for intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) because of their modular tunability and intrinsic ability to incorporate low-lying charge-transfer (CT) and a triplet-pair (¹TT) states. While the SF mechanism has been widely debated in homo- and heterodimers, little is known about the singlet splitting process in A-D-A copolymer trimers. Unlike traditional two-site SF, the process of iSF in D-A copolymers involves three molecular units consisting of two A's and one D following an A-D-A polymeric chain. This scenario is, therefore, different from that of the homodimer analogues in terms of which states (if any) may drive the SF process. In this work, we identify how singlet splitting occurs in prototypical iSF D-A copolymer poly(benzodithiophene-alt-thiophene-1,1-dioxide) by means of wave packet propagations on the basis of the linear vibronic coupling model Hamiltonian. Our results reveal that three different mechanisms drive the S₁ → ¹TT population transfer via antisymmetric and symmetric vibrational motion, including two favorable mechanisms of direct and mediated interactions, as well as a parasitic decay pathway that potentially delays the process. Remarkably, we uncover the interplay between an upper state of marked multiexcitonic character and a low-lying CT state in balancing the splitting efficiency, which anticipates their major role in defining future guidelines for the molecular design of D-A copolymers for iSF.

Bridge Resonance Effects in Singlet Fission

A major benefit of intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) materials, in which through-bond interactions mediate triplet pair formation, is the ability to control the triplet formation dynamics through molecular engineering. One common design strategy is the use of molecular bridges to mediate interchromophore interactions, decreasing electronic coupling by increasing chromophore-chromophore separation. Here, we report how the judicious choice of aromatic bridges can enhance chromophore-chromophore electronic coupling. This molecular engineering strategy takes advantage of "bridge resonance", in which the frontier orbital energies are nearly degenerate with those of the covalently linked singlet fission chromophores, resulting in fast iSF even at large interchromophore separations. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we investigate this bridge resonance effect in a series of pentacene and tetracene-bridged dimers, and we find that the rate of triplet formation is enhanced as the bridge orbitals approach resonance. This work highlights the important role of molecular connectivity in controlling the rate of iSF through chemical bonds and establishes critical design principles for future use of iSF materials in optoelectronic devices.

Diboron- and Diaza-Doped Anthracenes and Phenanthrenes: Their Electronic Structures for Being Singlet Fission Chromophores

We used quantum chemistry methods at the levels of mixed-reference spin-flip time-dependent density functional theory and multireference perturbation theory to study diboron- and diaza-doped anthracenes and phenanthrenes. This class of structures recently surged as potential singlet fission chromophores. We studied electronic structures of their excited states and clarified the reasons why they satisfy or fail to satisfy the energy criteria for singlet fission chromophores. Many studied structures have their S₁ states not dominated by HOMO → LUMO excitation, so they cannot be described using the conventional two site model. This is attributed to frontier orbital energy shifts induced by the doping and different charge-transfer energies in different one-electron singlet excitations or, in other words, different polarizations of hole and/or particle orbitals in their S₁ and T₁ states. There is a mirror relation between the orbital energy shifts induced by diboron- and diaza-dopings, which together with alternant hydrocarbon pairings of occupied and unoccupied orbitals, leads to more mirror relations between the excited states of the two types of doped structures.

Theoretical Molecular Design of Phenanthrenes for Singlet Fission by Diazadibora-Substitution

Based on the valence configuration interaction (VCI) model and quantum chemical calculations, we theoretically investigate the potential of diazadibora-substituted phenanthrenes [(BN)₂-phenanthrenes] as novel singlet fission (SF) chromophores. (BN)₂-substitution to phenanthrene is performed to exhibit a captodative effect, which is found to enhance both diradical character and exchange integral. These enhanced parameters induced by (BN)₂-substitution are shown to bring energetically favorable SF with high triplet excitation energies. In order to reveal the relationship between diradical character and positions replaced by (BN)₂, analyses based on the VCI model, odd-electron density, and resonance structures are conducted. Accordingly, a concrete design principle, which is inherent in and is understandable from the topology of (BN)₂-phenanthrene, is presented. Furthermore, design strategies to fine-tuning of the diradical character are newly demonstrated based on the additional introduction of π-donor and π-acceptor. The present results provide feasible candidate molecules and novel design strategies toward the discovery of bright SF chromophores for the application to efficient organic solar cells.

Ultrafast Electron Transfer Before Singlet Fission and Slow Triplet State Electron Transfer in Pentacene Single Crystal/C60 Heterostructure

The singlet fission (SF) process converts one high-energy singlet exciton to two low-energy triplet excitons after absorbing one photon. Organic photovoltaic devices based on the SF process have shown great potential in solar energy conversion to exceed Shockley-Queisser limit. The key to SF photovoltaic devices requires efficient electron transfer (ET) from triplet exciton after SF, which is yet to be thoroughly investigated. Here, we performed thorough photophysical studies in 6,13-Bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene)/C₆₀ heterostructures using TIPS-pentacene microsize single crystal as a well-defined model system. We show the SF process in TIPS-pentacene single crystal occurs by a two-step process, with triplet pair intermediates forming in 75 fs and then dissociating to non-interacting triplets in 1.6 ps. The SF process in single crystal is comparable to that in polycrystalline film. Importantly, we observe a considerable fraction of singlet excitons is quenched by ultrafast (<75 fs) interfacial ET prior to fission and no ET from triplet excitons in 1.5 ns time window. We confirm that the absence of ET is not limited by exciton diffusion but due to very slow (≫1.5 ns) interfacial ET from triplet exciton. The observations contradict expected singlet and triplet ET behaviors based on a simple two-state Marcus ET model and suggest long-range interfacial ET from delocalized photoexcitation. The ultrafast ET from singlet exciton before SF and slow ET from triplet exciton call for reconsideration and careful design of efficient SF photovoltaic devices.

Identification of a receiver triplet state in the ultrafast intersystem crossing of carbonylpyrenes

The near-unity triplet quantum yield of photoexcited carbonyl functionalized pyrenes is theoretically investigated. The estimated energetics of singlet-triplet manifolds and relevant spin-orbit coupling parameters strongly suggest triplet state formation via the S₁→ T₄/T₅ pathway. Quantum wavepacket dynamics of triplet manifolds within the linear vibronic coupling approach reveal that the receiver triplet state would undergo rapid internal conversion decay to the lower triplet state(s), facilitating efficient triplet generation by minimizing the reverse intersystem crossing possibilities. On the basis of these results, a unified mechanism is proposed to describe the ultrafast intersystem crossing process in these molecules.

Singlet Fission in Pyrene-Fused Azaacene Dimers

Singlet fission has emerged as a promising strategy to avoid the loss of extra energy through thermalization in solar cells. A family of dimers consisting of nitrogen-doped pyrene-fused acenes that undergo singlet fission with triplet quantum yields as high as 125 % are presented. They provide new perspectives for nitrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and for the design of new materials for singlet fission.

A potential naphthyl-thiazole-based organic dye and a ditopic chromogenic probe for CN− and Fe3+ with molecular logic functions

Dye sensitizers are entities designed primarily to serve the function of harvesting light photons in the functional wavelength, which is centered on charge transfer mechanisms.

Revealing the Nature of Singlet Fission under the Veil of Internal Conversion

Singlet fission (SF) holds the potential to boost the maximum power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Internal conversion (IC) has been considered as one of the major competitive deactivation pathways to transform excitation energy into heat. Now, using time-resolved spectroscopy and theoretical calculation, it is demonstrated that, instead of a conventional IC pathway, an unexpected intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) process is responsible for excited state deactivation in isoindigo derivatives. The ¹ TT state could form at ultrafast rate and nearly quantitatively in solution. In solid films, the slipped stacked intermolecular packing of a thiophene-functionalized derivative leads to efficient triplet pair separation, giving rise to an overall triplet yield of 181 %. This work not only enriches the pool of iSF-capable materials, but also contributes to a better understanding of the iSF mechanism, which could be relevant for designing new SF sensitizers.

Morphology independent triplet formation in pentalene films: Singlet fission as the triplet formation mechanism

Singlet fission (SF), a spin-allowed multiexciton generation process, experienced renewed interest in the last decade due to its potential to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. The hurdles now lie in the limited range of SF-capable materials and demanding morphology requirement for an efficient fission process. Although primary fission to yield triplet pair (¹TT) can occur independently of film morphology in intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) materials, the separation of the ¹TT state has been shown to be highly dependent on the packing motif and morphologies. In this work, we have demonstrated that both iSF and triplet pair separation processes took place irrelevant of molecular order and/or film morphology in a series of pentalene compounds. With the >180% fission efficiency, the suitable triplet energy levels, and the long lifetime of the triplet excitons, these iSF systems can be integrated into practical photovoltaic application.

Ultra-fast intramolecular singlet fission to persistent multiexcitons by molecular design

Singlet fission-that is, the generation of two triplets from a lone singlet state-has recently resurfaced as a promising process for the generation of multiexcitons in organic systems. Although advances in this area have led to the discovery of modular classes of chromophores, controlling the fate of the multiexciton states has been a major challenge; for example, promoting fast multiexciton generation while maintaining long triplet lifetimes. Unravelling the dynamical evolution of the spin- and energy conversion processes from the transition of singlet excitons to correlated triplet pairs and individual triplet excitons is necessary to design materials that are optimized for translational technologies. Here, we engineer molecules featuring a discrete energy gradient that promotes the migration of strongly coupled triplet pairs to a spatially separated, weakly coupled state that readily dissociates into free triplets. This 'energy cleft' concept allows us to combine the amplification and migration processes within a single molecule, with rapid dissociation of tightly bound triplet pairs into individual triplets that exhibit lifetimes of ~20 µs.

Engineering Molecular Ligand Shells on Quantum Dots for Quantitative Harvesting of Triplet Excitons Generated by Singlet Fission

Singlet fission is an exciton multiplication process in organic molecules in which a photogenerated spin-singlet exciton is rapidly and efficiently converted to two spin-triplet excitons. This process offers a mechanism to break the Shockley–Queisser limit by overcoming the thermalization losses inherent to all single-junction photovoltaics. One of the most promising methods to harness the singlet fission process is via the efficient extraction of the dark triplet excitons into quantum dots (QDs) where they can recombine radiatively, thereby converting high-energy photons to pairs of low-energy photons, which can then be captured in traditional inorganic PVs such as Si. Such a singlet fission photon multiplication (SF-PM) process could increase the efficiency of the best Si cells from 26.7% to 32.5%, breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit. However, there has been no demonstration of such a singlet fission photon multiplication (SF-PM) process in a bulk system to date. Here, we demonstrate a solution-based bulk SF-PM system based on the singlet fission material TIPS-Tc combined with PbS QDs. Using a range of steady-state and time-resolved measurements combined with analytical modeling we study the dynamics and mechanism of the triplet harvesting process. We show that the system absorbs >95% of incident photons within the singlet fission material to form singlet excitons, which then undergo efficient singlet fission in the solution phase (135 ± 5%) before quantitative harvesting of the triplet excitons (95 ± 5%) via a low concentration of QD acceptors, followed by the emission of IR photons. We find that in order to achieve efficient triplet harvesting it is critical to engineer the surface of the QD with a triplet transfer ligand and that bimolecular decay of triplets is potentially a major loss pathway which can be controlled via tuning the concentration of QD acceptors. We demonstrate that the photon multiplication efficiency is maintained up to solar fluence. Our results establish the solution-based SF-PM system as a simple and highly tunable platform to understand the dynamics of a triplet energy transfer process between organic semiconductors and QDs, one that can provide clear design rules for new materials.

Resolving population dynamics and interactions of multiple triplet excitons one molecule at a time

Resolving the population dynamics of multiple triplet excitons on time scales comparable to their lifetimes is a key challenge for multiexciton harvesting strategies, such as singlet fission. We show that this information can be obtained from fluorescence quenching dynamics and stochastic kinetic modeling simulations of single nanoparticles comprising self-assembled aggregated chains of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). These multichromophoric structures exhibit the elusive J-aggregate type excitonic coupling leading to delocalized intrachain excitons that undergo facile triplet formation mediated by interchain charge transfer states. We propose that P3HT J-aggregates can serve as a useful testbed for elucidating the presence of multiple triplets and understanding factors governing their interactions over a broad range of time scales. Stochastic kinetic modeling is then used to simulate discrete population dynamics and estimate higher order rate constants associated with triplet-triplet and singlet-triplet annihilation. Together with the quasi-CW nature of the experiment, the model reveals the expected amounts of triplets at equilibrium per molecule. Our approach is also amenable to a variety of other systems, e.g., singlet fission active molecular arrays, and can potentially inform design and optimization strategies to improve triplet harvesting yields.

Design of singlet fission chromophores with cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene building blocks

We use MRSF-TDDFT and NEVPT2 methods to design singlet fission chromophores with the building blocks of cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs). CAAC dimers with C₂, C₄, and p-phenylene spacers are considered. The substitutions with trifluoromethyls and fluorine atoms at the α C position are investigated. The electronegative substituents enhance the π accepting capability of the α C while maintaining it as a quaternary C atom. The phenylene-connected dimers with the two substitutions are identified as promising candidates for singlet fission chromophores. The cylindrically symmetric C₂ and C₄ spacers allow for substantial structural reorganizations in the S₀-to-S₁ and S₀-to-T₁ excitations. Although the two substituted dimers with the C₄ spacer satisfy (or very close to satisfy) the primary thermodynamics criterion for singlet fission, the significant structural reorganizations result in high barriers so that the fission is kinetically unfavorable.

Effect of Charge-Transfer State Energy on Charge Generation Efficiency via Singlet Fission in Pentacene-Fullerene Solar Cells

Singlet fission in pentacene creates two triplet excitons per absorbed photon. In a solar cell, each triplet can generate an electron-hole pair, and hence, external quantum efficiencies exceeding 100% have been reported for pentacene-fullerene solar cells. The energetics of this process are intriguing because the minimum photon energy loss, defined as the energy difference between the (triplet) exciton state and the open-circuit voltage, is less than 0.5 eV and distinctively smaller than that in most organic donor-acceptor solar cells. To investigate the energetics of this process, we analyze the effect of the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for different fullerene derivatives. With the LUMO energy becoming less negative, the open-circuit voltage increases and charge generation decreases. For all but one of the fullerenes tested, the charge-transfer state energy is distinctively higher than the pentacene triplet energy, revealing that charge generation via singlet fission is actually endergonic. An elementary Marcus model for the rate of electron transfer provides a qualitative description of the experimental trends, in accordance with an endergonic charge transfer. Considering that charge generation from triplet states is endergonic, involvement of pentacene singlet states, either from direct photoexcitation or via triplet-triplet annihilation, cannot be excluded.

Large Excited-State Conformational Displacements Expedite Triplet Formation in a Small Conjugated Oligomer

Intersystem crossing in conjugated organic molecules is most conveniently viewed from pure electronic perspectives; yet, vibrational displacements may often drive these transitions. We investigate an alkyl-substituted thienylene-vinylene dimer (dTV) displaying efficient triplet formation. Steady-state electronic and Raman spectra display large Stokes shifts (∼4000 cm^-1) involving high-frequency skeletal symmetric stretching modes (∼900-1600 cm^-1) in addition to large displacements of low-frequency torsional motions (∼300-340 cm^-1). Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals the emergence of distorted singlet (S₁) and triplet signatures following initial vibrational relaxation dynamics that dominate spectral dynamics on time scales > 100 ps, with the latter persisting on time scales up to ca. 7 μs. Potential energy surfaces calculated along the dominant displaced out-of-plane torsional mode reveal shallow energy barriers for entering the triplet manifold from S₁. We propose that dTV is a good model system for understanding vibrational contributions to intersystem crossing events in related polymer systems.

Exciplex Stabilization in Asymmetric Acene Dimers

Excimers play an important role in photochemical processes ranging from singlet fission to DNA damage, and the characteristic red-shift in fluorescence spectra associated with excimer formation can provide information about aggregate formation and the orientation of chromophores. When a mixture of chromophores is present, exciplex formation may lead to spectral characteristics distinct from those of either monomer or the corresponding excimers. To predict the effects of aggregation in a system containing a mixture of small acenes, binding energies and minimum-energy geometries have been calculated for three mixed S₁ exciplexes. Benchmark CASSCF/NEVPT2 multireference binding energies of 18.2, 27.7, and 49.3 kJ/mol are reported for the benzene-naphthalene, benzene-anthracene, and naphthalene-anthracene exciplexes, respectively. TDDFT calculations have been performed using a range of exchange-correlation functionals, showing that many functionals perform inconsistently, and the error in binding energy often depends on the character of the monomer excitation from which the exciplex state is derived. Moderate exciplex stabilization observed for the benzene-naphthalene and naphthalene-anthracene exciplexes results from a mixture of charge transfer and exciton delocalization.

Population dynamics of multiple triplet excitons revealed from time-dependent fluorescence quenching of single conjugated polymer chains

The advent of multiple exciton harvesting schemes and prolonging exciton lifetimes to improve performance attributes of solar cells based on conjugated organic materials presents some interesting challenges that must be overcome in order to realize the full potential of these strategies. This is especially important for applications involving multi-chromophoric conjugated polymers where interactions between multiple spin-forbidden triplet excitons can be significant and are mediated by chain conformation. We use single molecule spectroscopic techniques to investigate interactions between multiple triplet excitons and emissive singlets by monitoring time-dependent fluorescence quenching on time scales commensurate with the triplet lifetime. Structurally related conjugated polymers differing by heteroatom substitution were targeted and we use a stochastic photodynamic model to numerically simulate the evolution of multi-exciton populations following photoexcitation. Single chains of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) exhibit longer-lived triplet dynamics and larger steady-state triplet occupancies compared to those of poly(3-hexylselenophene) (P3HS), which has a larger reported triplet yield. Triplet populations evolve and relax much faster in P3HS which only becomes evident when considering all kinetic factors governing exciton population dynamics. Overall, we uncover new guidelines for effectively managing multi-exciton populations and interactions in conjugated polymers and improving their light harvesting efficiency.

Predicting aromatic exciplex fluorescence emission energies

Analysis of PAH exciplex TDDFT fluorescence energies shows a linear relationship between the mean monomer HOMO–LUMO gap and complex fluorescence.

Coupled double triplet state in singlet fission

The highly unusual state, 1(TT), is a coupled, double triplet state that has recently garnered significant attention. This multiexcitonic state can be formed by a quantum transition from a single-photon bright state in a variety of organic semiconducting materials. 1(TT)'s transient nature and similarity to independent triplets, however, has led to significant difficulties in characterization and prediction of its properties. Recent progress describing 1(TT) from theory and experiment are breaking through these difficulties, and have greatly advanced our comprehension of this state. Starting from the early description of 1(TT) in polyenes, this perspective discusses formation mechanisms, spectroscopic signatures, and the scope of intertriplet interactions. When employing singlet fission to generate charge carriers in a solar cell, 1(TT) has a central role. Due to the variety of coupling strengths between triplet states in 1(TT) amongst different chromophores, two different strategies are discussed to enable efficient charge carrier extraction. Continued growth in our understanding of 1(TT) may lead to control over complex quantum states for intriguing applications beyond high-efficiency, organic solar cells.

Resonance-Activated Spin-Flipping for Efficient Organic Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence

Triplet-excited-state-involved photonic and electronic properties have attracted tremendous attention for next-generation technologies. To populate triplet states, facile intersystem crossing (ISC) for efficient exciton spin-flipping is crucial, but it remains challenging in organic molecules free of heavy atoms. Here, a new strategy is proposed to enhance the ISC of purely organic optoelectronic molecules using heteroatom-mediated resonance structures capable of promoting spin-flipping at large singlet-triplet splitting energies with the aid of the fluctuation of the state energy and n-orbital component upon self-adaptive resonance variation. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations confirm the key contributions of the resonance variation to the profoundly promoted spin-flipping with ISC rate up to ≈10⁷ s^-1 in the rationally designed NPX (X = O or S) resonance molecules. Importantly, efficient organic ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (OURTP) with simultaneously elongated lifetime and improved efficiency results overcoming the intrinsic competition between the OURTP lifetime and efficiency. With the spectacular resonance-activated OURTP molecules, time-resolved and color-coded quick response code devices with multiple information encryptions are realized, demonstrating the fundamental significance of this approach in boosting ISC dynamically for advanced optoelectronic applications.

Unravelling the enigma of ultrafast excited state relaxation in non-emissive aggregating conjugated polymers

We investigate a class of non-emissive conjugated polymers with very short excited state lifetimes believed to undergo singlet fission and relaxation to mid-gap forbidden excited states. Poly(3-decylthieneylenvinylene) (P3DTV) and its heavy atom analog, poly(3-decylseleneylenvinylene) (P3DSV), are strongly aggregating conjugated polymers that experience large excited state displacements along multiple vibrational modes. We demonstrate this Franck-Condon vibrational activity effectively disperses excitation energy into multiple non-radiative channels that can be explained using a simple, two-state potential energy surface model. Resonance Raman spectroscopy is sensitive to early Franck-Condon vibrational activity and we observe rich harmonic progressions involving multiple high frequency CC backbone symmetric stretching motions (∼1000-1600 cm-1) in both systems reflecting mode-specific excited state geometrical displacements. Transient absorption spectra confirm that efficient non-radiative processes dominate excited state relaxation dynamics which are confined to π-stacked aggregated chains. Surprisingly, we found little influence of the heteroatom consistent with efficient vibrational energy dissipation. Our results highlight the importance of aggregation and multi-dimensional Franck-Condon vibrational dynamics on the ability to harvest excitons, which are not usually considered in materials design and optimization schemes.

New insights into the design of conjugated polymers for intramolecular singlet fission

Singlet fission (SF), a multiple exciton generation process that generates two triplet excitons after the absorption of one photon, can potentially enable more efficient solar cell designs by harvesting energy normally lost as heat. While low-bandgap conjugated polymers are highly promising candidates for efficient SF-based solar cells, few polymer materials capable of SF have been reported because the SF process in polymer chains is poorly understood. Using transient spectroscopy, we demonstrate a new, highly efficient (triplet yield of 160-200%) isoindigo-based donor-acceptor polymer and show that the triplet pairs are directly emissive and exhibit a time-dependent energy evolution. Importantly, aggregation in poor solvents and in films significantly lowers the singlet energy, suppressing triplet formation because the energy conservation criterion is no longer met. These results suggest a new design rule for developing intramolecular SF capable low-bandgap conjugated polymers, whereby inter-chain interactions must be carefully engineered.

Exploiting Singlet Fission in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Harvesting of both triplets and singlets yields electroluminescence quantum efficiencies of nearly 100% in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), but the production efficiency of excitons that can undergo radiative decay is theoretically limited to 100% of the electron-hole pairs. Here, breaking of this limit by exploiting singlet fission in an OLED is reported. Based on the dependence of electroluminescence intensity on an applied magnetic field, it is confirmed that triplets produced by singlet fission in a rubrene host matrix are emitted as near-infrared (NIR) electroluminescence by erbium(III) tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (ErQ3 ) after excitonic energy transfer from the "dark" triplet state of rubrene to an "emissive" state of ErQ3 , leading to NIR electroluminescence with an overall exciton production efficiency of 100.8%. This demonstration clearly indicates that the harvesting of triplets produced by singlet fission as electroluminescence is possible even under electrical excitation, leading to an enhancement of the quantum efficiency of the OLEDs. Electroluminescence employing singlet fission provides a route toward developing high-intensity NIR light sources, which are of particular interest for sensing, optical communications, and medical applications.

Identifying (BN)2-pyrenes as a New Class of Singlet Fission Chromophores: Significance of Azaborine Substitution

Singlet fission converts one photoexcited singlet state to two triplet excited states and raises photoelectric conversion efficiency in photovoltaic devices. However, only a handful of chromophores have been known to undergo this process, which greatly limits the application of singlet fission in photovoltaics. We hereby identify a recently synthesized diazadiborine-pyrene ((BN)₂-pyrene) as a singlet fission chromophore. Theoretical calculations indicate that it satisfies the thermodynamics criteria for singlet fission. More importantly, the calculations provide a physical chemistry insight into how the BN substitution makes this happen. Both calculation and transient absorption spectroscopy experiments indicate that the chromophore has a better absorption than pentacene. The convenient synthesis pathway of the (BN)₂-pyrene suggests an in situ chromophore generation in photovoltaic devices. Two more (BN)₂-pyrene isomers are proposed as singlet fission chromophores. This study sets a step forward in the cross-link of singlet fission and azaborine chemistry.

Theoretical Modeling of Singlet Fission

Singlet fission is a photophysical reaction in which a singlet excited electronic state splits into two spin-triplet states. Singlet fission was discovered more than 50 years ago, but the interest in this process has gained a lot of momentum in the past decade due to its potential as a way to boost solar cell efficiencies. This review presents and discusses the most recent advances with respect to the theoretical and computational studies on the singlet fission phenomenon. The work revisits important aspects regarding electronic states involved in the process, the evaluation of fission rates and interstate couplings, the study of the excited state dynamics in singlet fission, and the advances in the design and characterization of singlet fission compounds and materials such as molecular dimers, polymers, or extended structures. Finally, the review tries to pinpoint some aspects that need further improvement and proposes future lines of research for theoretical and computational chemists and physicists in order to further push the understanding and applicability of singlet fission.

Conformational Planarization versus Singlet Fission: Distinct Excited-State Dynamics of Cyclooctatetraene-Fused Acene Dimers

A set of flapping acene dimers fused with an 8π cyclooctatetraene (COT) ring showed distinct excited-state dynamics in solution. While the anthracene dimer showed a fast V-shaped-to-planar conformational change within 10 ps in the lowest excited singlet state, reminding us of extended Baird aromaticity, the tetracene dimer and the pentacene dimer underwent intramolecular singlet fission (SF) in different manners: A fast and reversible SF with a characteristic delayed fluorescence (FL), and a fast and quantitative SF, respectively. Conformational flexibility of the fused COT linkage plays an important role in these ultrafast dynamics, demonstrating the utility of the flapping molecular series as a versatile platform for designing photofunctional systems.