Localized emitting state and energy transfer properties of quadrupolar chromophores and (multi)branched derivatives.

In order to better understand the nature of intramolecular charge and energy transfer in multibranched molecules, we have synthesized and studied the photophysical properties of a monomer quadrupolar chromophore with donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) electronic push-pull structure, together with its V-shaped dimer and star-shaped trimers. The comparison of steady-state absorption spectra and fluorescence excitation anisotropy spectra of these chromophores show evidence of weak interaction (such as charge and energy transfer) among the branches. Moreover, similar fluorescence and solvation behavior of monomer and branched chromophores (dimer and trimer) implies that the interaction among the branches is not strong enough to make a significant distinction between these molecules, due to the weak interaction and intrinsic structural disorder in branched molecules. Furthermore, the interaction between the branches can be enhanced by inserting π bridge spacers (-C═C- or -C≡C-) between the core donor and the acceptor. This improvement leads to a remarkable enhancement of two-photon cross-sections, indicating that the interbranch interaction results in the amplification of transition dipole moments between ground states and excited states. The interpretations of the observed photophysical properties are further supported by theoretical investigation, which reveal that the changes of the transition dipole moments of the branched quadrupolar chromophores play a critical role in observed the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section for an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state interaction in the multibranched quadrupolar chromophores.

A versatile approach to the fabrication of palladium hollow spheres with aluminiumoxide nanoparticles as template.

Palladium hollow nanospheres were prepared by the adsorption of metal nanoparticles onto functionalized gamma-Al2O3 templates. The silanizing agent 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane was reacted with the surface of the gamma-Al2O3 templates to afford thiol-terminal groups. Metal layers of palladium were coated directly on the gamma-Al2O3 templates by increasing the temperature stepwise. Then, the dissolution of the gamma-Al2O3 template using 40 wt% HF solution enabled the formation of self-organized metallic palladium hollow nanospheres. The palladium hollow nanospheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques.

Solution-processable red-emission organic materials containing triphenylamine and benzothiodiazole units: synthesis and applications in organic light-emitting diodes.

Three solution-processable red-emissive organic materials with a hole-transporting unit triphenylamine (TPA) as the core part and a D-pi-A bipolar structure as the branch part, TPA-BT (single-branched molecule), b-TPA-BT (bibranched molecule), and t-TPA-BT (tribranched molecule), were synthesized by the Heck coupling reaction. Herein, for the D-pi-A push-pull structure, we use TPA as the electron donor, benzothiodiazole (BT) as the electron acceptor, and the vinylene bond as the pi-bridge connecting the TPA and BT units. The compounds exhibit good solubility in common organic solvents, benefited from the three-dimensional spatial configuration of TPA units and the branch structure of the molecules. TPA-BT, b-TPA-BT, and t-TPA-BT show excellent photoluminescent properties with maximum emission peaks at ca. 630 nm. High-performance red-emission organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated with the active layer spin coated from a solution of these compounds. The OLED based on TPA-BT displayed a low turn-on voltage of 2.0 V, a maximum luminance of 12192 cd/m2, and a maximum current efficiency of 1.66 cd/A, which is among the highest values for the solution-processed red-emission OLEDs. In addition, high-performance white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) with maximum luminance around 4400 cd/m2 and maximum current efficiencies above 4.5 cd/A were realized by separately doping the three TPA-BT-containing molecules as red emitter and poly(6,6'-bi-(9,9'-dihexylfluorene)- co-(9,9'-dihexylfluorene-3-thiophene-5'-yl)) as green emitter into blue poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) host material with suitable weight ratios.

Photophysical properties of photoactive molecules with conjugated push-pull structures.

The photophysical properties of two newly synthesized photoactive compounds with asymmetrical D-pi-A structure and symmetrical D-pi-A-pi-D structure are investigated in different aprotic solvents by steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence depletion measurements. It is found that the asymmetrical DA compound has larger dipole moment change than that of the symmetrical DAD compound upon excitation, where the dipole moments of the two compounds have been estimated using the Lippert-Mataga equation. Furthermore, the steady-state spectral results show that increasing solvent polarity results in small solvatochromic shift in the absorption maxima but a large red shift in the fluorescence maxima for them, indicating that the dipole moment changes mainly reflect the changes of dipole moment in excited-state rather than in ground state. The red-shifted fluorescence band is attributed to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state upon photoexcitation, which could result in a strong interaction with the surrounding solvents to cause the fast solvent reorganization. The resulting ICT states of symmetrical compounds are less polar than the asymmetrical compounds, indicating the different extents of stabilization of solute-solvent interaction in the excited state. Femtosecond fluorescence depletion measurements are further employed to investigate the fast solvation effects and dynamics of the ICT state of these two novel compounds. The femtosecond fluorescence depletion results show that the DA compound has faster solvation time than that of DAD compound, which corresponds to the formation of relaxed ICT state (i.e., a final ICT state with rearranged solvent molecules after solvation) in polar solvents. It is therefore reasonably understood that the ICT compounds with asymmetrical (D-pi-A) structure have better performance for those photovoltaic devices, which strongly rely on the nature of the electron push-pull ability, compared to those symmetrical compounds (D-pi-A-pi-D).

Photophysical processes of a fluorene derivative containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole.

The photophysical processes of 9,9-bis[4'-[2''-phenyl-5''-(3'''-(methacryl-amido)phenyl)]-1'',3'',4''-oxadiazolylphenyl]fluorene (F-MAOP) formed by Heck reaction of 9,9-bis(4'-iodophenyl)fluorene (F-IP) and 2-phenyl-5-[3'-(methacrylamido)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole (OXD) have been carefully studied. The results show that the compound emits blue and blue-violet light and the emission spectra exhibit obvious solvent effect. With the increase of polarity of solvents, the fluorescence spectra change obviously and appear blue shift at room temperature. In addition, the light-emitting can be quenched by both electron donor (N,N-dimethylaniline, DMA) and electron acceptor (C60). When N,N-dimethylaniline is gradually added into the solution of F-MAOP, the emission intensities of fluorescence are unusually increased. But when the concentration of DMA beyond a certain scope, the emission intensities of fluorescence are gradually decreased. The dimolecular exciplex between F-MAOP and C60 are formed and the quenching effect follows the Stern-Volmer equation. Moreover, interaction between F-MAOP and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is also studied by fluorescent quenching.

Photophysical processes of a copolymer containing 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamino and carbazolyl units.

The photophysical processes of copolymer formed by copolymerization of 2,2'-dimethacrylamido-1,1'-binaphthyl (DMBN) with vinylcarbazole (VCZ) have been carefully studied. The results show that when the solution of copolymer (DMBN-VCZ) in THF located in low concentration range (< 10(-3) mg/ml), the fluorescence emission is in good agreement with that of DMBN monomer and the excimer is formed with gradual increase in concentration of copolymer (DMBN-VCZ). The fluorescence of copolymer (DMBN-VCZ) can be quenched both by electron donors and acceptors where the quenching effects follow the Stern-Volmer equation. The dimolecular exciplex between copolymer (DMBN-VCZ) and N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) are formed and the triple exciplexes are also observed in the same system.

Fluorescence investigation of model compounds for light-emitting alternating copolymers in heterogeneous environments.

In this paper, the fluorescence spectra of the model compounds M(TPA-PPV) and M(TPA-PAV) of novel light-emitting alternating copolymers, were studied and the effect of KNO3 on the interaction between the model compounds and the ionic micelle-water interface was also investigated. The following is found: (i) the fluorescence changes of M(TPA-PPV) are related to the state of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution: (ii) an aggregated state can be formed in M(TPA-PAV) solution at low concentration of CTAB; (iii) higher concentrations of KNO3 may affect the interaction between the model compounds and the ionic micelle-water interface.