A transferable model for singlet-fission kinetics.
Exciton fission is a process that occurs in certain organic materials whereby one singlet exciton splits into two independent triplets. In photovoltaic devices these two triplet excitons can each generate an electron, producing quantum yields per photon of >100% and potentially enabling single-junction power efficiencies above 40%. Here, we measure fission dynamics using ultrafast photoinduced absorption and present a first-principles expression that successfully reproduces the fission rate in materials with vastly different structures. Fission is non-adiabatic and Marcus-like in weakly interacting systems, becoming adiabatic and coupling-independent at larger interaction strengths. In neat films, we demonstrate fission yields near unity even when monomers are separated by >5 Å. For efficient solar cells, however, we show that fission must outcompete charge generation from the singlet exciton. This work lays the foundation for tailoring molecular properties like solubility and energy level alignment while maintaining the high fission yield required for photovoltaic applications.
1] Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA [2].
Shane R
SR
Yost
1] Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA [2].
Jiye
J
Lee
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Mark W B
MW
Wilson
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Tony
T
Wu
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
David P
DP
McMahon
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Rebecca R
RR
Parkhurst
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Nicholas J
NJ
Thompson
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Daniel N
DN
Congreve
Cavendish laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
Akshay
0000000303202962
A
Rao
Cavendish laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
Kerr
K
Johnson
Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 735, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Matthew Y
0000000156195722
MY
Sfeir
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Moungi G
MG
Bawendi
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Timothy M
TM
Swager
Cavendish laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
Richard H
RH
Friend
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Marc A
MA
Baldo
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachussetts 02139, USA.
Troy
T
Van Voorhis
D004583:Electrons; D007700:Kinetics; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons