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Results for “symmetry-breaking charge separation”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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18 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Manipulating symmetry-breaking charge separation employing molecular recognition

The exploration of symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) is imperative when designing functional light-harvesting materials. Past explorations, however, have been confined to covalent systems, more often than not requiring complicated/demanding syntheses and facing inconvenient regulation of charge transfer processes. Here, in this work, we present a concept that regulates the efficiency of SB-CS through molecular recognition utilizing a pyridinium-based cyclophane as a host. This host undergoes photo-driven excited-state SB-CS. By employing different guests with distinct frontier molecular orbital energy levels, we have achieved comprehensive control of electron transfer pathways in the cyclophane, modulating between accelerated (>10-fold) intramolecular SB-CS involving superexchange and direct intermolecular electron transfer between the host and guest. The improvement in SB-CS efficiency results in catalytic activity for the photo-oxidation of a sulfur-mustard simulant. This research offers an opportunity for tuning SB-CS by utilizing molecular recognition, which holds the potential for achieving precise regulation without complicated organic syntheses.

charge transfer↗
DOE OSTI2023

Harvesting electrons and holes from photodriven symmetry-breaking charge separation within a perylenediimide photosynthetic model dimer

Understanding how to utilize symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) offers a path toward increasingly efficient light-harvesting technologies. This process plays a central role in the first step of photosynthesis, in which the dimeric “special pair” of the photosynthetic reaction center enters a coherent SB-CS state after photoexcitation. Previous research on SB-CS in both biological and synthetic chromophore dimers has focused on increasing the efficiency of light-driven processes. In a chromophore dimer undergoing SB-CS, the energy of the radical ion pair product is nearly isoenergetic with that of the lowest excited singlet (S 1 ) state of the dimer. This means that very little energy is lost from the absorbed photon. In principle, the relatively high energy electron and hole generated by SB-CS within the chromophore dimer can each be transferred to adjacent charge acceptors to extend the lifetime of the electron–hole pair, which can increase the efficiency of solar energy conversion. To investigate this possibility, we have designed a bis-perylenediimide cyclophane (mPDI 2 ) covalently linked to a secondary electron donor, peri-xanthenoxanthene (PXX) and a secondary electron acceptor, partially fluorinated naphthalenediimide (FNDI). Upon selective photoexcitation of mPDI 2 , transient absorption spectroscopy shows that mPDI 2 undergoes SB-CS, followed by two secondary charge transfer reactions to generate a PXX •+ -mPDI 2 -FNDI •– radical ion pair having a nearly 3 µs lifetime. In conclusion, this strategy has the potential to increase the efficiency of molecular systems for artificial photosynthesis and photovoltaics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Solvent Polarity Independent Symmetry-Breaking Charge Separation in a Slip-Stacked Covalent Terrylene Monoimide Dimer

The design of organic materials capable of efficient photoinduced charge separation in low-polarity environments is a critical challenge for advancing organic photovoltaics. Symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) offers a promising route to efficient charge separation with minimal energy loss; however, in conventional organic materials this process typically relies on polar solvents to stabilize the charge-separated state. Here, we investigate a slip-stacked terrylene monoimide dimer (TMI 2 ) engineered with intrinsic electronic asymmetry to circumvent this limitation. We demonstrate through a comprehensive suite of ultrafast spectroscopic techniques that TMI 2 undergoes remarkably efficient SB-CS regardless of solvent polarity enabled by the permanent dipole moment of TMI and the accessible intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) character of its monomer units. Furthermore, analysis of vibronic coherences reveals that the initial state mixing is actively driven by a 193 cm –1 intermolecular mode, while the final SB-CS state is marked by a distinct vibrational fingerprint of the radical ion pair product. Our findings reveal how the intrinsic electronic asymmetry of the TMI monomers that constitute TMI 2 creates an efficient charge separation pathway that precludes the need for external stabilization from a polar solvent. Here, this work establishes a powerful molecular design principle for leveraging intrinsic monomeric asymmetry to achieve efficient charge separation in low-dielectric environments, with significant implications for the development of next-generation organic optoelectronic materials.

Aromatic compounds↗
DOE OSTI2020

Solvent independent symmetry-breaking charge separation in terrylenediimide guanine-quadruplex nanoparticles

G-quadruplex assemblies are a promising tool for self-assembling π-stacked chromophore arrays to better understand their photophysics. We have shown that coupling a single guanine moiety to terrylenediimide (TDI) produces a structure (GTDI) that self-assembles in tetrahydrofuran (THF) into a nearly monodisperse guanine-quadruplex structure having 16 π-stacked layers (GTDI 4 ) 16 . The TDI surfaces were determined to have a high degree of cofacial overlap and underwent quantitative symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) upon photoexcitation. Here, we more deeply examine the relationship between solvent and aggregate formation and develop insights into structure–function relationships over a variety of solvent polarities and hydrogen-bonding capabilities. At high concentrations, GTDI assembles into guanine-quadruplex structures (GTDI 4 ) 16 in THF and toluene, as well as (GTDI 4 ) 9 in pyridine and benzonitrile. Here, transient absorption spectroscopy shows that SB-CS occurs in all solvents, regardless of their static dielectric constants, but the SB-CS yield is determined by structure. Solvent polarity independent SB-CS generation is also observed in GTDI films, where there is a complete absence of solvent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Photo-doping of spiro-OMeTAD for highly stable and efficient perovskite solar cells

A widely used component of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is the molecular hole-transport material (HTM) spiro-OMeTAD. This organic solid needs to be p-doped to acquire sufficient hole conductivity. However, the conventional doping method using LiTFSI in the air is slow, sensitive to the environment, and may lead to the deterioration of the PSCs by unintended oxidation or dopant migration. It is thus highly desirable to develop fast doping approaches that avoid exposing the PSC to ambient air and easy-to-move dopant ions. Here, we report here that light absorption by spiro-OMeTAD itself triggers redox photochemistry that has so far been ignored. Strikingly, we found that Y(III) or La(III)-tBP complexes catalyze the symmetry-breaking charge separation of photo-excited spiro-OMeTAD, resulting in the efficient p-doping of the HTM. Using this photo-redox process, we realize PSCs with superior stability over cells using conventional doping that show no degradation under continuous illumination over 1,000 h.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tuning Excited-State Charge Transfer Character in Cofacial Core-Substituted Perylenediimide Dimers

Understanding the interplay between excimer formation and symmetry-breaking charge separation is important for optimizing charge separation in organic photovoltaic materials. To explore this connection, we synthesized four 1,6,7,12-tetrakis( p -X-phenoxy)perylene-(3,4:9,10)-bisdicarboximide cofacially stacked dimers, where X = MeO, tert -butyl, Br, and CF 3 . Steady-state spectroscopy reveals H-type aggregation and excimer formation in all four dimers, while transient absorption spectroscopy shows relatively small changes in their excited-state absorptions. However, time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) spectroscopy shows that relaxation occurs from an initial Frenkel exciton-dominated excimer state to one in which charge transfer (CT) character contributes. Relaxation to the lower-lying state with CT character is attributed to a combination of structural and charge distribution changes elicited by varying the substituents. Finally, this study illustrates how subtle changes in charge distribution and structure can combine to influence the excited state dynamics that influence charge separation in molecular dimers.

fluorescence↗
DOE OSTI2020

Tuning the charge transfer character of the multiexciton state in singlet fission

Intramolecular singlet fission (SF) produces the multiexciton correlated triplet pair state, (T 1 T 1 ), prior to the formation of free triplet excitons. The nature of the multiexciton state is complex, as generation of the (T 1 T 1 ) state may involve a charge transfer (CT) intermediate and has been shown to have both mixed electronic and spin characters. According to transient absorption spectroscopy, a linear terrylene-3,4:11,12-bis(dicarboximide) dimer (TDI 2 ) exhibits solvent-dependent excited-state dynamics. As solvent polarity increases from 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (ε = 2.2) to chlorobenzene (ε = 5.6) to 1,2-dichlorobenzene (ε = 9.9), the SF rate in TDI2 increases and the multiexciton state, which can be thought of as a linear combination of the 1 (S 1 S 0 ), CT, and (T 1 T 1 ) states, gains more CT character. Eventually, the CT state becomes a trap state as indicated by symmetry-breaking charge separation in TDI2 in pyridine (ε = 12.3). The dielectric environment influences not only the SF rate and the relative contributions of the 1 (S 1 S 0 ), CT, and (T 1 T 1 ) states to the overall multiexciton state but also the rate at which the state mixing evolves, with faster dynamics in higher polarity solvents. More importantly, the tunability and presence of strong CT character in the multiexciton state have implications for SF applications since they often rely on electron transfer from the free triplet excitons. This enhanced CT character in the (T 1 T 1 ) state may assist with two-electron transfer directly from the (T 1 T 1 ) state, allowing for facile extraction of charges in intramolecular SF systems whose (T 1 T 1 ) states do not always efficiently dissociate to two triplet excitons.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Singlet fission in core-linked terrylenediimide dimers

We have studied two regioisomeric terrylenediimide (TDI) dimers in which the 1-positions of two TDIs are linked via 1,3- or 1,4-phenylene spacers, mTDI 2 and pTDI, respectively. The nature and the dynamics of the multiexciton state are tuned by altering the through-bond electronic couplings in the ground and excited states and by changing the solvent environment. Our results show that controlling the electronic coupling between the two chromophores by an appropriate choice of linker can result in independent triplet state formation, even though the initial correlated triplet pair state is confined to a dimer. Moreover, even in polar solvents, if the electronic coupling is strong, the correlated triplet pair state is observed prior to symmetry-breaking charge separation. These results point out the close relationship between the singlet, correlated triplet pair, and charge transfer states in molecular dimers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Distinct vibrational motions promote disparate excited-state decay pathways in cofacial perylenediimide dimers

A complex interplay of structural, electronic, and vibrational degrees of freedom underpins the fate of molecular excited states. Organic assemblies exhibit a myriad of excited-state decay processes, such as symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS), excimer (EX) formation, singlet fission, and energy transfer. Recent studies of cofacial and slip-stacked perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) multimers demonstrate that slight variations in core substituents and H- or J-type aggregation can determine whether the system follows an SB-CS pathway or an EX one. However, questions regarding the relative importance of structural properties and molecular vibrations in driving the excited-state dynamics remain. Here, we use a combination of two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry computations to compare the photophysics of two PDI dimers. The dimer with 1,7-bis(pyrrolidin-1′-yl) substituents (5PDI2) undergoes ultrafast SB-CS from a photoexcited mixed state, while the dimer with bis-1,7-(3′,5′-di-t-butylphenoxy) substituents (PPDI2) rapidly forms an EX state. Examination of their quantum beating features reveals that SB-CS in 5PDI2 is driven by the collective vibronic coupling of two or more excited-state vibrations. In contrast, we observe signatures of low-frequency vibrational coherence transfer during EX formation by PPDI2, which aligns with several previous studies. We conclude that key electronic and structural differences between 5PDI2 and PPDI2 determine their markedly different photophysics.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sequential Symmetry-Breaking Events as a Synthetic Pathway for Chiral Gold Nanostructures with Spiral Geometries

Symmetry-breaking synthetic controls allow for nanostructure geometries that are counter to the underlying crystal symmetry of a material. If suitably applied, such controls provide the means to drive an isotropic metal along a growth pathway yielding a three-dimensional chiral geometry. In this work, we present a light-driven solution-based synthesis yielding helical gold spirals from substrate-bound seeds. The devised growth mode relies on three separate symmetry-breaking events ushered in by seeds lined with planar defects, a capping agent that severely frustrates early-stage growth, and the Coulombic repulsion that occurs when identically charged growth fronts collide. Together they combine to advance a growth pathway in which planar growth emanates from one side of the seed, advances to encircle the seed from both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and then upon collision of the two growth fronts, sees one front rise above the other to realize a self-perpetuating three-dimensional spiral structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Discovery of conjoined charge density waves in the kagome superconductor CsV3Sb5

Abstract The electronic instabilities in CsV 3 Sb 5 are believed to originate from the V 3 d -electrons on the kagome plane, however the role of Sb 5 p -electrons for 3-dimensional orders is largely unexplored. Here, using resonant tender X-ray scattering and high-pressure X-ray scattering, we report a rare realization of conjoined charge density waves (CDWs) in CsV 3 Sb 5 , where a 2 × 2 × 1 CDW in the kagome sublattice and a Sb 5 p -electron assisted 2 × 2 × 2 CDW coexist. At ambient pressure, we discover a resonant enhancement on Sb L 1 -edge (2 s →5 p ) at the 2 × 2 × 2 CDW wavevectors. The resonance, however, is absent at the 2 × 2 × 1 CDW wavevectors. Applying hydrostatic pressure, CDW transition temperatures are separated, where the 2 × 2 × 2 CDW emerges 4 K above the 2 × 2 × 1 CDW at 1 GPa. These observations demonstrate that symmetry-breaking phases in CsV 3 Sb 5 go beyond the minimal framework of kagome electronic bands near van Hove filling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spectral evidence for unidirectional charge density wave in detwinned BaNi 2 As 2

In the iron-based superconductors, unconventional superconductivity emerges in proximity to intertwined electronic orders consisting of an electronic nematic order and a spin density wave (SDW). Recently, BaNi 2 As 2 , like its well-known iron-based analog BaFe 2 As 2 , has been discovered to host a symmetry-breaking structural transition but coupled to a unidirectional charge density wave (CDW) instead of SDW, providing a novel platform to study intertwined orders. Here, in this work, through a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study combined with a detwinning B 1 g uniaxial strain, we identify distinct spectral evidence of band evolution due to the structural transition as well as CDW-induced band folding. In contrast to the nematicity and spin density wave in BaFe 2 As 2 , the structural and CDW order parameters in BaNi 2 As 2 are observed to be strongly coupled and do not separate in the presence of uniaxial strain. Furthermore, no nematic band splitting is resolved above the structural transition. Our measurements point to a likely lattice origin of the CDW order in BaNi 2 As 2 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Symmetry breaking and self-interaction correction in the chromium atom and dimer

Density functional approximations to the exchange–correlation energy can often identify strongly correlated systems and estimate their energetics through energy-minimizing symmetry-breaking. In particular, the binding energy curve of the strongly correlated chromium dimer is described qualitatively by the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and almost quantitatively by the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA), where the symmetry breaking is antiferromagnetic for both. Here, we show that a full Perdew–Zunger self-interaction-correction (SIC) to LSDA seems to go too far by creating an unphysical symmetry-broken state, with effectively zero magnetic moment but non-zero spin density on each atom, which lies ~4 eV below the antiferromagnetic solution. A similar symmetry-breaking, observed in the atom, better corresponds to the 3d↑↑4s↑3d↓↓4s↓ configuration than to the standard 3d↑↑↑↑↑4s↑. For this new solution, the total energy of the dimer at its observed bond length is higher than that of the separated atoms. In conclusion, these results can be regarded as qualitative evidence that the SIC needs to be scaled down in many-electron regions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗