Effect of counterions on the interactions of charged oligothiophenes.

The functionality of conjugated polymer systems often relies on oxidations or reductions, in most cases mediated by the presence of counterions. The effect that the common counterion hexafluorophosphate (PF6-) has on the intermolecular interactions between charged oligothiophenes is investigated here using ab initio quantum chemistry methods. Counterions are explicitly included in the simulations of oxidized oligothiophenes and in the dimerization process.