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A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules

Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: De Lange, Jurgens
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 De Lange, Jurgens
author_browse De Lange, Jurgens
author_facet De Lange, Jurgens
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dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:09.918Z
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provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/84748 A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules De Lange, Jurgens faankoning@gmail.com Koning, Stefan Lambert UCTD Chemistry Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2022. The ionization potential and electron attachment energy are fundamental properties of molecules and is core to a range of physical processes such as those in photovoltaics, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, etc. Ionization energies are therefore properties worthwhile to have delicate control over for the purpose of finetuning molecules for specific goals. Here we have brought it to light that there are relationships between ionization energies and electron populations of small organic electron donors and acceptors. Electron population data was gathered with FALDI. For the electron donors Ph-XR2, where X = N or P and R = H, Me, Et or Pr, it was found that as the delocalization between phenyl and substituted group increases, the ionization potential decreases (electron removal becomes easier). For the acceptors Ph-RNO, where R = none, CH2, C2H4, or C2H2, as delocalization between phenyl and substituent increases electron attachment energy decreases further (electron attachment became more spontaneous). Furthermore, for these acceptor molecules, as phenyl ring electron population increases, electron attachment becomes less spontaneous. For acceptor molecules Ph-X, where X = F, Cl or Br, as the phenyl electron population increased, electron attachment became easier. All these relationships were near perfectly linear. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that such a link is found between ionization energies and electron populations. Also, physical phenomena such as conjugation, hyperconjugation, lone-pair electron resonance and Bent’s rule could be recovered and quantified with FALDI. Lastly, four donor-acceptor interfaces were built from donors Ph-NH2 and Ph-NPr2 and from acceptors Ph-NO and Ph-C2H4NO, to simulate the heterojunction in an organic photovoltaics. Marcus theory was implemented to successfully calculate forward (in presence and absence of light) and reverse charge transfer rates which are some of the factors that influence the efficiency of a solar cell. The quickest rate was two orders of magnitude faster than second best at 8.40E+13 e-/s for interface [Ph-NH2–Ph-C2H4NO]. The rates were decomposed into the coupling potential and thermodynamic driving force to find the origin of such a vast difference. This revealed that a greater transition dipole moment (on which the coupling potential is dependent) of the electronic transition caused this interface to completely excel in charge transfer relative to the others. FALDI analyses were performed on the interfaces to attempt to complete the chain between the chemistry of the molecules and the rate constants – in this case transition moment, therefore. There is good indication that the transition moment is linked to the FALDI terms, suggesting that all information about the transition moment is contained in them. FALDI therefore shows great potential for a new way of calculating the transition moment. Chemistry MSc (Chemistry) Unrestricted 2022-03-31T12:08:36Z 2022-03-31T12:08:36Z 2022 2022 Dissertation * S2022 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84748 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Chemistry
A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
title A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
title_full A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
title_fullStr A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
title_full_unstemmed A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
title_short A theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
title_sort theoretical study of the effect of electron delocalization on electron transfer reactions in small organic molecules
topic UCTD
Chemistry
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84748