Understanding Photophysical Properties of Molecules Relevant in Organic Semiconductor Laser Diodes from Electron Localization Function-Tuned and Solvent-Tuned Range-Separated Functionals

Organic semiconductor laser diodes (OSLDs) are prevalent in optoelectronics because of their sustainable energy applications. Organic molecules used in such diodes are usually large; hence, their studies are computationally challenging with high-end benchmark methods. Computational methods with reliable accuracy and efficiency are always indispensable. In the present work, we have applied our computationally inexpensive, nonempirically tuned [electron localization function (ELF*) and solvent (Sol*)] range-separated (RS) functionals to study five molecules used in OSLDs. The emission energies in three different environments [toluene, CBP (4,4'-bis(n-carbazolyl)-1,1'-biphenyl) film, and gas] have been computed with the tuned functionals and compared with the experimental emission energies. ELF* and Sol* functionals can accurately reproduce emission energies in toluene and CBP film environments. On the other hand, both ELF* and IP-tuned functionals with excited-state geometry (IP*) perform better in the gas phase. In addition, a comparative study is performed between time-dependent density functional theory and the Tamm-Dancoff approximation. Along with the emission energy, oscillator strength values have also been reported. Different IP-tuned RS parameters were obtained with the ground- and excited-state geometries. Interestingly, it has been observed that the optimally tuned RS parameter with excited-state geometry (IP*) performs better compared to that with ground-state geometries (IP). Fractional occupation calculations show that the tuned functionals exhibit less localization and delocalization error. The study envisages that ELF* and Sol* functionals can be used to design future candidates for OSLDs.

Solvent effects on the photoinduced charge separation dynamics of directly linked zinc phthalocyanine-perylenediimide dyads: a nonadiabatic dynamics simulation with an optimally tuned screened range-separated hybrid functional

Herein, we have employed a combination of the optimally tuned screened range-separated hybrid (OT-SRSH) functional, the polarizable continuum model (PCM), and nonadiabatic dynamics (NAMD) simulations to investigate the photoinduced dynamics of directly linked donor-acceptor dyads formed using zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and perylenediimide (PDI), in which ZnPc is the donor while PDI is the acceptor. Our simulations aim to analyze the behavior of these dyads upon local excitation of the ZnPc moiety in the gas phase and in benzonitrile. Our findings indicate that the presence of a solvent can significantly influence the excited state dynamics of ZnPc-PDI dyads. Specifically, the polar solvent benzonitrile effectively lowers the vertical excitation energies of the charge transfer (CT) state from ZnPc to PDI. As a result, the energetic order of the locally excited (LE) states of ZnPc and the CT states is reversed compared to the gas phase. Consequently, the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) dynamics from ZnPc to PDI, which is absent in the gas phase, takes place in benzonitrile with a time constant of 10.4 ps. Importantly, our present work not only qualitatively agrees with experimental results but also provides in-depth insights into the underlying mechanisms responsible for the photoinduced dynamics of ZnPc-PDI. Moreover, this study emphasizes the importance of appropriately considering solvent effects in NAMD simulation of organic donor-acceptor systems, taking into account the distinct excited state dynamics observed in the gas phase and benzonitrile. Furthermore, the combination of the OT-SRSH functional, the PCM solvent model, and nonadiabatic dynamics simulations shows promise as a strategy for investigating the complex excited state dynamics of organic donor-acceptor systems in solvents. These findings will be valuable for the future design of novel organic donor-acceptor structures with improved performance.

Excited-State Properties of Some Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Quest for an Accurate and Reliable Computational Method

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) finds application in organic light-emitting diodes. The molecules exhibiting TADF are characterized by small singlet-triplet energy gaps that help reverse intersystem crossing. Recently, ionization potential (IP)-tuned range-separated (RS) density functionals have been well accepted for studying excited-state properties. In the present work, two efficient descriptor-based tuning schemes [electron localization function (ELF) and Sol] of RS density functionals have been used to accurately reproduce the excited-state properties of TADF emitters by performing a single self-consistent field calculation. The lowest singlet vertical excitation energies (E_VA(S₁)) and the vertical singlet-triplet energy gaps (ΔE_VST) are computed with ELF-, Sol-, and IP-tuned RS functionals (LC-BLYP, ωB97, ωB97X, and ωB97XD). Encouraging mean absolute deviations from the experimental values with ELF*-, Sol*-, and IP-tuned functionals are observed. Consistent performance of the non-empirical tuned functionals is noted in different solvent dielectrics. In addition to these, fractional occupation calculations have shown that our tuned functionals almost satisfy the energy linearity curve. Thus, ELF*- and Sol*-tuned functionals are promising and reliable alternatives in computing the excited-state properties. Considering the small experimental singlet-triplet gap, we recommend ELF* to calculate E_VA(S₁) and Sol* to calculate ΔE_VST.

Efficient treatment of molecular excitations in the liquid phase environment via stochastic many-body theory

Accurate predictions of charge excitation energies of molecules in the disordered condensed phase are central to the chemical reactivity, stability, and optoelectronic properties of molecules and critically depend on the specific environment. Herein, we develop a stochastic GW method for calculating these charge excitation energies. The approach employs maximally localized electronic states to define the electronic subspace of a molecule and the rest of the system, both of which are randomly sampled. We test the method on three solute-solvent systems: phenol, thymine, and phenylalanine in water. The results are in excellent agreement with the previous high-level calculations and available experimental data. The stochastic calculations for supercells containing up to 1000 electrons representing the solvated systems are inexpensive and require ≤1000 central processing unit hrs. We find that the coupling with the environment accounts for ∼40% of the total correlation energy. The solvent-to-solute feedback mechanism incorporated in the molecular correlation term causes up to 0.6 eV destabilization of the quasiparticle energy. Simulated photo-emission spectra exhibit red shifts, state-degeneracy lifting, and lifetime shortening. Our method provides an efficient approach for an accurate study of excitations of large molecules in realistic condensed phase environments.

Theoretical study on novel superalkali doped graphdiyne complexes: Unique approach for the enhancement of electronic and nonlinear optical response

Based on DFT calculations, we have explored the changes in geometric, electronic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of M₃O and M₃S (M = Li, Na and K) doped graphdiyne. The doping of superalkalis not only changes the electronic properties of GDY but also remarkably alters the NLO properties. Stabilities of doped GDY are evaluated through interaction energies. HOMO-LUMO gap, NBO, polarizability and first hyperpolarizability (β_o) calculations at hybrid (B3LYP) and long-range corrected methods (CAM-B3LYP, LC-BLYP and ωB97XD) are performed for studying the NLO properties of doped GDY complexes. Significantly high values of β_o are observed for all doped structures, especially for Na₃S@GDY (1.36×10⁵ au). Reduction in HOMO-LUMO gap concomitant with increase of β_o value is attributed to the strong interaction of Na₃S with GDY. The partial density of states (PDOS) spectra strongly support the existence of excess electrons. To rationalize the trends in first hyperpolarizability of doped GDY, two level model calculations are also performed. This study of super alkalis doped GDY will be advantageous for promoting the potential applications of the nanostructures in designing new types of electronic nanodevices and production of high performance nonlinear optical materials.