Dataset Information

High-resolution noncontact AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy investigations of self-assembled photovoltaic donor-acceptor dyads.

ABSTRACT: Self-assembled donor-acceptor dyads are used as model nanostructured heterojunctions for local investigations by noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). With the aim to probe the photo-induced charge carrier generation, thin films deposited on transparent indium tin oxide substrates are investigated in dark conditions and upon illumination. The topographic and contact potential difference (CPD) images taken under dark conditions are analysed in view of the results of complementary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments. After in situ annealing, it is shown that the dyads with longer donor blocks essentially lead to standing acceptor-donor lamellae, where the acceptor and donor groups are ?-stacked in an edge-on configuration. The existence of strong CPD and surface photo-voltage (SPV) contrasts shows that structural variations occur within the bulk of the edge-on stacks. SPV images with a very high lateral resolution are achieved, which allows for the resolution of local photo-charging contrasts at the scale of single edge-on lamella. This work paves the way for local investigations of the optoelectronic properties of donor-acceptor supramolecular architectures down to the elementary building block level.

SUBMITTER: Grevin B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4902083 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

High-resolution noncontact AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy investigations of self-assembled photovoltaic donor-acceptor dyads.

Grévin Benjamin B Schwartz Pierre-Olivier PO Biniek Laure L Brinkmann Martin M Leclerc Nicolas N Zaborova Elena E Méry Stéphane S

Beilstein journal of nanotechnology 20160603

Self-assembled donor-acceptor dyads are used as model nanostructured heterojunctions for local investigations by noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). With the aim to probe the photo-induced charge carrier generation, thin films deposited on transparent indium tin oxide substrates are investigated in dark conditions and upon illumination. The topographic and contact potential difference (CPD) images taken under dark conditions are analysed in view ...[more]

PMID: 27335768

Similar Datasets

Project description:A series of three perylenemonoimide-p-oligophenylene-dimethylaniline molecular dyads undergo photoinduced charge separation (CS) with anomalous distance dependence as a function of increasing donor-acceptor (DA) distances. A comprehensive experimental and computational investigation of the photodynamics in the donor-bridge-acceptor (DBA) chromophores reveals a clear demarcation concerning the nature of the CS accessed at shorter (bridgeless) and longer DA distances. At the shortest distance, a strong DA interaction and ground-state charge delocalization populate a hot excited state (ES) with prominent charge transfer (CT) character, via Franck-Condon vertical excitation. The presence of such a CT-polarized hot ES enables a subpicosecond CS in the bridgeless dyad. The incorporation of the p-oligophenylene bridge effectively decouples the donor and the acceptor units in the ground state and consequentially suppresses the CT polarization in the hot ES. Theoretically, this should render a slower CS at longer distances. However, the transient absorption measurement reveals a fast CS process at the longer distance, contrary to the anticipated exponential distance dependence of the CS rates. A closer look into the excited-state dynamics suggests that the hot ES undergoes ultrafast geometry relaxation (τ < 1 ps) to create a relaxed ES. As compared to a decoupled, twisted geometry in the hot ES, the geometry of the relaxed ES exhibits a more planar conformation of the p-oligophenylene bridges. Planarization of the bridge endorses an increased charge delocalization and a prominent CT character in the relaxed ES and forms the origin for the evident fast CS at the longest distance. Thus, the relaxation of the hot ES and the concomitantly enhanced charge delocalization adds a new caveat to the classic nature of distance-dependent CS in artificial DBA chromophores and recommends a cautious treatment of the attenuation factor (β) while discussing anomalous CS trends.

Dataset Information

High-resolution noncontact AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy investigations of self-assembled photovoltaic donor-acceptor dyads.

Publications

High-resolution noncontact AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy investigations of self-assembled photovoltaic donor-acceptor dyads.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets