Observation of Two Triplet-Pair Intermediates in Singlet Exciton Fission

Ryan D. Pensack, Evgeny E. Ostroumov, Andrew J. Tilley, Samuel Mazza, Christopher Grieco, Karl J. Thorley, John B. Asbury, Dwight S. Seferos, John E. Anthony, Gregory D. Scholes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

198 Scopus citations

Abstract

Singlet fission is an excitation multiplication process in molecular systems that can circumvent energy losses and significantly boost solar cell efficiencies; however, the nature of a critical intermediate that enables singlet fission and details of its evolution into multiple product excitations remain obscure. We resolve the initial sequence of events comprising the fission of a singlet exciton in solids of pentacene derivatives using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. We propose a three-step model of singlet fission that includes two triplet-pair intermediates and show how transient spectroscopy can distinguish initially interacting triplet pairs from those that are spatially separated and noninteracting. We find that the interconversion of these two triplet-pair intermediates is limited by the rate of triplet transfer. These results clearly highlight the classical kinetic model of singlet fission and expose subtle details that promise to aid in resolving problems associated with triplet extraction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2370-2375
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Volume7
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 7 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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