Synthesis and Characterization of Cyclopentadithiophene Heterofulvenes : Design Tools for Light-Activated Processes

Summary, in English

The development of new materials for solar-to-energy conversion should consider stability, ease of fabrication, and beneficial photophysical properties. In this context, a set of novel π-conjugated building blocks, with phospha- and arsaalkenes possessing a unique dithienyl annulated heterofulvenoid core, have been prepared as air- and moisture-stable sensitizers. These compounds unify electron-donor and -acceptor moieties, making them potential candidates for light-harvesting applications. Optical characterization of these systems was performed by steady-state and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy, supported by time-dependent DFT calculations. Tuning of the optical properties of these systems can be achieved by varying the pnictogen element at the bridgehead position, giving a bathochromic shift of ≈40 nm and coordinating the phosphaalkene towards gold Au^I centers. The latter results in a ≈2000-fold extension of the ≈10 ps lifetime of uncoordinated systems well into the ns regime.

• Author: Amal El Nahhas; Muhammad Anwar Shameem; Pavel Chabera; Jens Uhlig; Andreas Orthaber
• Department/s: Chemical Physics
• Publishing year: 2017-04-27
• Language: English
• Pages: 5673-5677
• Publication/Series: Chemistry - A European Journal
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 24
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201700917
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Topic: Physical Chemistry (including Surface- and Colloid Chemistry); Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
• Keywords: arsaalkene; electrochemistry; main group elements; phosphaalkene; pnictogens; time-resolved spectroscopy
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0947-6539