Vibronic coherence contributes to photocurrent generation in organic semiconductor heterojunction diodes

Qingzhen Bian (), Fei Ma, Shula Chen, Qi Wei, Xiaojun Su, Irina A. Buyanova, Weimin M. Chen, Carlito S. Ponseca, Mathieu Linares, Khadga J. Karki, Arkady Yartsev and Olle Inganäs ()
Additional contact information
Qingzhen Bian: Linköping University
Fei Ma: Lund University
Shula Chen: Linköping University
Qi Wei: University of Macau
Xiaojun Su: Lund University
Irina A. Buyanova: Linköping University
Weimin M. Chen: Linköping University
Carlito S. Ponseca: Linköping University
Mathieu Linares: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Khadga J. Karki: Lund University
Arkady Yartsev: Lund University
Olle Inganäs: Linköping University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Charge separation dynamics after the absorption of a photon is a fundamental process relevant both for photosynthetic reaction centers and artificial solar conversion devices. It has been proposed that quantum coherence plays a role in the formation of charge carriers in organic photovoltaics, but experimental proofs have been lacking. Here we report experimental evidence of coherence in the charge separation process in organic donor/acceptor heterojunctions, in the form of low frequency oscillatory signature in the kinetics of the transient absorption and nonlinear two-dimensional photocurrent spectroscopy. The coherence plays a decisive role in the initial ~200 femtoseconds as we observe distinct experimental signatures of coherent photocurrent generation. This coherent process breaks the energy barrier limitation for charge formation, thus competing with excitation energy transfer. The physics may inspire the design of new photovoltaic materials with high device performance, which explore the quantum effects in the next-generation optoelectronic applications.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14476-w

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