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arXiv · 2505.04334

FRET-Enhanced Singlet Fission in Pentacene Derivatives

Oskar Kefer·Philipp Ludwig·Benedikt Dittmar·Felix Deschler·Jan Freudenberg·Andreas Dreuw·Uwe H. F. Bunz·Tiago Buckup
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Abstract

Conversion of solar energy with high quantum efficiencies is a key challenge in energy technologies. Excitation energy transfer (EET) mechanisms, such as F\"orster resonance energy transfer (FRET), play a crucial role in facilitating minimal energy loss in biological light-harvesting systems by directing excitation energy to conversion centers. Inspired by this, we show that singlet fission (SF) sensitizers are multi-exciton generation centers, to which surrounding molecules funnel excitation energy via FRET. We study the impact of such EET on SF using two structurally distinct yet optically similar pentacene derivatives: a stability-enhanced ''Gel\"ander'' pentacene, and the well-studied TIPS-pentacene. Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals a $R^{6}$ dependence of the SF rate on molecular separation $R$ in binary acene:polymethylmetacrylate thin film blends, which is typical for FRET. Optimizing FRET is a promising direction for future improvements in light harvesting using SF materials, inspired by natural light-harvesting complexes.

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Oskar Kefer, Philipp Ludwig, Benedikt Dittmar, Felix Deschler, Jan Freudenberg, Andreas Dreuw, Uwe H. F. Bunz, Tiago Buckup. 2025-05-07. FRET-Enhanced Singlet Fission in Pentacene Derivatives. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202503007

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