Organic conducting polymers are essential for the development of various electronic devices, including field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and thermoelectric devices. Understanding the charge transport mechanisms within these materials, particularly the roles of polarons and bipolarons as charge carriers, is crucial. Despite the recognized importance of these carriers, there are ongoing debates regarding the interpretation of their mid-IR absorption spectral signatures in the 0.3-0.7 eV range. This is mainly due to challenges in applying the conventional mid-gap state model, especially in the context of doped P3HT (poly(3-hexylthiophene)) films. The conventional model predicts a blueshift for the mid-IR P1 band of bipolarons compared to polarons, yet recent experiments reveal both blueshifted and redshifted bands, at elevated oxidation levels, leading to confusion about the true mid-IR spectral hallmark of spinless singlet bipolarons. This thesis aims to resolve these inconsistencies by proposing a Holstein-style model for singlet bipolarons in π-conjugated polymers with nondegenerate ground states. The model incorporates hole hopping, electron−vibration coupling involving the prominent aromatic-quinoidal mode, and Coulombic interactions between (hole) polarons and between polarons and dopant anions. In contrast to the conventional interpretation where bipolaron formation results from self-trapping, our findings indicate that it is primarily driven by attractive electrostatic interactions with dopant anions. Without these anions, two holes would not pair to form singlet bipolarons. More importantly, our results indicate that the observed blueshift at lower oxidation levels signifies the increased localization of Coulombically interacting polarons, whereas at higher oxidation levels, the simultaneous emergence of both redshifted and blueshifted bands is indeed the spectral signature of spinless singlet bipolarons formation. Furthermore, we find that the binding energy of bipolarons in π-stacks of P3HT chains is significantly higher, nearly threefold, than in a single chain, highlighting the profound influence of long-range order and chain stacking on bipolarons formation. This work contributes to resolving the theoretical ambiguities surrounding charge carrier dynamics in organic conjugated polymers and enhances our understanding of their optoelectronic properties. / Chemistry
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TEMPLE/oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/10270 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Balooch Qarai, Mohammad, 0000-0002-0947-0557 |
| Contributors | Spano, Francis C., Matsika, Spiridoula, Napolitano, Jim, Salleo, Alberto |
| Publisher | Temple University. Libraries |
| Source Sets | Temple University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 193 pages |
| Rights | IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/10232, Theses and Dissertations |
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