Chromophores in phenylenevinylene-based conjugated polymers: Role of conformational kinks and chemical defects

Emmanuelle Hennebicq*, Caroline Deleener, Jean Luc Brédas, Gregory D. Scholes, David Beljonne

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The influence of chemical defects and conformational kinks on the nature of the lowest electronic excitations in phenylenevinylene-based polymers is assessed at the semiempirical quantum-chemical level. The amount of excited-state localization and the amplitude of through-space (Coulomb-like) versus through-bond (charge-transfer-like) interactions have been quantified by comparing the results provided by excitonic and supermolecular models. While excitation delocalization among conjugated segments delineated by the defects occurs in the acceptor configuration, self-confinement on individual chromophores follows from geometric relaxation in the excited-state donor configuration. The extent of excited-state localization is found to be sensitive to both the nature of the defect and the length of the conjugated chains. Implications for resonant energy transfer along conjugated polymer chains are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number054901
JournalJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
Volume125
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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