Solvation-Mediated Tuning of the Range-Separated Hybrid Functional: Self-Sufficiency through Screened Exchange.

We propose a simple procedure that restores the ionization potential theorem as the sole tuning criterion for both the long- and short-range Fock exchange of the range-separated hybrid functional. The procedure works by screening out an opposing effect of the short-range Fock fraction at long range, through the 1/ εr dielectric correction in combination with a popular continuum solvation model. Our method proves to be a consistent and accurate way of tuning for both the isolated and solvated molecules.

Controlled electrical doping of organic semiconductors: a combined intra- and intermolecular perspective from first principles.

The process of introducing extra charge carriers into organic semiconductors, or simply molecular doping, takes place via intermolecular charge transfer from the donor to the acceptor molecule. Using density functional theory calculations on diverse donor-acceptor pairs, we show that there are two modes of charge transfer; in one, charge transfer is controlled by the sign and in the other, by the magnitude of the donor HOMO-acceptor LUMO level offset. Despite doping being an intermolecular process, the identification of the transfer modes requires a full account of intramolecular geometric changes during charge transfer.

Model-independent determination of the degree of charge transfer in molecular and metal complexes.

Quantifying charge transfer is a challenging task because it requires that the calculated degree of charge transfer be both consistent with chemical intuition and independent of charge analysis methods. Based on DFT results of molecular and transition metal complexes in organic electronics, we show that both requirements can be fulfilled by choosing a small active space of electrons for the analysis. Our findings hold for inter- and intramolecular processes whether in the ground state or during excitation.

Prediction of remarkable ambipolar charge-transport characteristics in organic mixed-stack charge-transfer crystals.

We have used density functional theory calculations and mixed quantum/classical dynamics simulations to study the electronic structure and charge-transport properties of three representative mixed-stack charge-transfer crystals, DBTTF-TCNQ, DMQtT-F(4)TCNQ, and STB-F(4)TCNQ. The compounds are characterized by very small effective masses and modest electron-phonon couplings for both holes and electrons. The hole and electron transport characteristics are found to be very similar along the stacking directions; for example, in the DMQtT-F(4)TCNQ crystal, the hole and electron effective masses are as small as 0.

Mono- and dicarbonyl-bridged tricyclic heterocyclic acceptors: synthesis and electronic properties.

A series of trialkylsilyl-substituted 2,2'-dithiophene, 4,4'-di-n-hexyl-2,2'-dithiophene, 5,5'-dithiazole, and 2,2'-diselenophene with carbonyl (2a-d) and α-dicarbonyl bridges (3a-d) were prepared from readily available dihalides, using double lithiation followed by trapping with N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl chloride or diethyl oxalate (or N,N-dimethylpiperazine-2,3-dione), respectively. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that the first half-wave reduction potentials for this series of compounds span a wide range, from -1.87 to -0.

Tuning the charge-transport parameters of perylene diimide single crystals via end and/or core functionalization: a density functional theory investigation.

Perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) derivatives stand out as one of the most investigated families of air-stable n-type organic semiconductors for organic thin-film transistors. Here, we use density functional theory to illustrate how it is possible to control the charge-transport parameters of PTCDIs as a function of the type, number, and positions of the substituents. Specifically, two strategies of functionalization related to core and end substitutions are investigated.

Electronic properties of the 2,6-diiododithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene molecule and crystal: a joint experimental and theoretical study.

The electronic properties of the 2,6-diiododithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d] thiophene molecule and crystal are investigated by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray crystallography, and density functional theory. The experimental and calculated properties of the compound are compared to those exhibited by the parent molecule, dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene. Quantum-chemical studies of the 2,6-diiododithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene crystal suggest uniaxial hole-transport character with an effective mass of about 2m(0), comparable to that in the pentacene single crystal.

Use of a high electron-affinity molybdenum dithiolene complex to p-dope hole-transport layers.

Experimental and theoretical results are presented on the electronic structure of molybdenum tris[1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl) ethane-1,2-dithiolene] (Mo(tfd)(3)), a high electron-affinity organometallic complex that constitutes a promising candidate as a p-dopant for organic molecular semiconductors. The electron affinity of the compound, determined via inverse photoemission spectroscopy, is 5.6 eV, which is 0.

Electronic evolution of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT): from the isolated chain to the pristine and heavily doped crystals.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is the prototypical conjugated polymer used in the doped state as the hole injection/transport layer in organic (opto)electronic devices. Numerous experimental studies have been successful only in drawing a partial microscopic picture of PEDOT due to its complex morphology, which has also hampered application of theoretical approaches. Using density functional theory methods, combined with refined structural models built upon crystallographic data of PEDOT and other substituted polythiophenes, our work seeks to establish a comprehensive understanding of the electronic and geometric structures of PEDOT, as an isolated chain and in the pristine and doped bulk phases.

Charge transport parameters of the pentathienoacene crystal.

Pentathienoacene, the thiophene equivalent of pentacene, is one of the latest additions to the family of organic crystal semiconductors with a great potential for use in thin film transistors. By using density functional theory and gas-phase ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, we investigate the microscopic charge transport parameters of the pentathienoacene crystal. We find that the valence band exhibits a stronger dispersion than those in the pentacene and rubrene single crystals with marked uniaxial characteristics within the molecular layer due to the presence of one-dimensional pi-stacks; a small hole effective mass is also found along the direction perpendicular to the molecular layers.