The role of spin exchange in charge transfer in low-bandgap polymer: Fullerene bulk heterojunctions.

Formation, relaxation and dynamics of polarons and methanofullerene anion radicals photoinitiated in poly[N-9″-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)]:-[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCDTBT:PC61BM) bulk heterojunctions were studied mainly by light-induced EPR (LEPR) spectroscopy in wide photon energy and temperature ranges. Some polarons are pinned by spin traps whose number and depth are governed by the composite morphology and photon energy. The proximity of the photon energy and the polymer bandgap reduces the number of such traps, inhibits recombination of mobile charge carriers, and facilitates their mobility in polymer network. Spin relaxation and charge carrier dynamics were studied by the steady-state saturation method at wide range of temperature and photon energy. These processes were shown to be governed by spin exchange as well as by the photon energy. Charge transfer in the composite is governed by the polaron scattering on the lattice phonons of crystalline domains embedded into amorphous polymer matrix and its activation hopping between polymer layers. The energy barrier required for polaron interchain hopping exceeds that of its intrachain diffusion. Anisotropy of polaron dynamics in the PCDTBT:PC61BM composite is less than that of poly(3-alkylthiophenes)-based systems that evidences for better ordering of the former. Lorentzian shape of LEPR lines of both charge carriers, lower concentration of spin traps as well as behaviours of the main magnetic resonance parameters were explained by layer ordered morphology of polymer matrix.

Light-induced EPR study of charge transfer in poly(3-hexylthiophene)/fullerene bulk heterojunction.

The first results of the light-induced EPR study of magnetic, relaxation, and dynamic parameters of charge carriers background photoinduced by optical photons (1.7-3.4 eV) in poly(3-hexylthiophene)/fullerene bulk heterojunctions are described. All magnetic resonance parameters for positively charged polaron and negatively charged fullerene ion-radical in radical pairs photoinduced in the composite were determined separately by the steady-state microwave saturation method. Paramagnetic susceptibility of charge carriers reflects their activation dynamics and exchange interaction. A decay of long-living radical pairs depends on the spatial distance between photoinduced charge carriers. The one-dimensional polaron diffusion along the polymer chain and fullerene rotation near the main molecular axis was shown to follow activation Elliot hopping model and to be governed by photon energy. The difference in activation energies of the charge carriers' dynamics and in their dependence on the exciting photon energy proves their noninteracting character in the polymer/fullerene composite. Main magnetic, relaxation and dynamics parameters of charge carriers are governed by the photon energy band due to inhomogeneity of distribution of polymer and fullerene domains in the composite.

New molecular complexes of fullerenes C60 and C70 with tetraphenylporphyrins [M(tpp)], in which M=H2, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, and FeCl.

New molecular complexes of fullerenes C60 and C70 with tetraphenylporphyrins [M(tpp)] in which M-H2, MnII, CoII, CuII, ZnII and Fe(III)Cl, have been synthesised. Crystal structures of two C60 complexes with H2TPP, which differ only in the number of benzene solvated molecules, and C60 and C70 complexes with [Cu(tpp)] have been studied. The fullerene molecules form a honeycomb motif in H2TPP.2C60. 3C6H6, puckered graphite-like layers in H2TPP.2C60.4C6H6, zigzag chains in [Cu(tpp)].C70.1.5C7H8.0.5C2HCl3 and columns in [Cu(tpp)]2.C60. H2TPP has van der Waals contacts with C60 through nitrogen atoms and phenyl groups. Copper atoms of the [Cu(tpp)] molecules are weakly coordinated with C70, but form no shortened contacts with C60. The formation of molecular complexes with fullerenes affects the ESR spectra of [M(tpp)] (M = Mn, Co and Cu). [Mn(tpp)] in the complex with C70 lowers its spin state from S = 5/2 to S = 1/2, whereas [Co(tpp)] and [Cu(tpp)] change the constants of hyperfine interaction. ESR, IR, UV-visible and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data show no noticeable charge transfer from the porphyrinate to the fullerene molecules.