Bridge Connectivity Dictates Spin Interactions and Triplet Pair Dynamics in Intramolecular Singlet Fission

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Authors: Guiying He, Kaia R. Parenti, Jasleen K. Bindra, Jens Niklas, Sarah J. Baker, Bernardo Salcido‐Santacruz, Ilya D. Dergachev, Claudia E. Avalos, Oleg G. Poluektov, Sumit Mazumdar, Luis M. Campos, Matthew Y. Sfeir
Cited by: 6
References: 68

Abstract

Electron spin plays a critical role in determining the structure, dynamics, and reactivities of molecular excited states, including multiexciton processes such as singlet fission. These systems exhibit triplet pair states whose excited state dynamics can be widely tuned through molecular engineering. For example, the electronic coupling between covalently linked chromophores can be readily modulated using chemical bridges to control proximity, quantum interference, or resonance effects. However, less is known about how spin coupling interactions are impacted by chromophore architecture, and how this influences triplet pair recombination dynamics. Here, we investigate the role of bridge connectivity and chromophore identity in modulating interchromophore exchange and dipolar coupling interactions for a series of pentacene and tetracene dimers bridged by alternant hydrocarbons (phenylene, naphthalene, anthracene). Using both time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance and transient absorption spectroscopy, we find that the boundedness and recombination pathways of the triplet pair spins are highly sensitive to molecular architecture and chromophore-specific magnetic dipolar interactions. Notably, nominally ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic eigenstates result in distinct spin state orderings, consistent with predictions from quantum interference-based graphical models. These findings establish new design principles for tuning spin dynamics in iSF materials, with implications for photonic and quantum information applications.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Compounds Magnetism in coordination complexes Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Volume
148
Issue
8
Pages
8136–8146
Publication date
17 February 2026
Language
EN