Intermolecular electron transfer promoted by directional donor–acceptor attractions in self-assembled diketopyrrolopyrrole-thiophene films

Abstract

The photophysics of a symmetric triad consisting of two bithiophene (BT) units covalently linked to a central diketopyrrolopyrrole unit (DPP) has been investigated both in dichloromethane and in the thin film. The DPP-BT film exhibits a red-shifted low-energy absorption band compared to its solution, which is indicative of efficient π–π interactions in the solid-state phase. The steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence results revealed that the photoluminescence was subjected to severe emission quenching when DPP-BT changes from its solution phase to its film form. Further femtosecond transient absorption studies clarified that rapid intermolecular electron transfer accounts for the considerable fluorescence quenching event. The structural characterization of DPP-BT nanobelts, based on GIXRD and SAED patterns, suggested that the composite may be self-assembled into a slipped face-to-face configuration in the film, providing compact interlayer D–A interactions. As a result, intermolecular electron transfer is promoted by the favorable donor–acceptor attractions between the adjacent molecules. Moreover, this packing configuration provides a moderate channel for charge transportation. The hole mobility, which was measured based on a single-belt field-effect transistor, was found to be around 0.07 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our observation reveals the role of spatial orientation in photophysical processes and the consequential semiconductor performance, providing guidance for the development and self-assembly of new opto-electronic molecules.