Quantum dynamical study of inter-chain exciton transport in a regioregular P3HT model system at finite temperature: HJ vs H-aggregate models

We report on quantum dynamical simulations of inter-chain exciton transport in a model of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene), rr-P3HT, at finite temperature using the Multi-Layer Multi-Configuration Time-Dependent Hartree method for a system of up to 63 electronic states and 180 vibrational modes. A Frenkel Hamiltonian of HJ aggregate type is used along with a reduced H-aggregate representation; electron-phonon coupling includes local high-frequency modes as well as anharmonic intermolecular modes. The latter are operative in mediating inter-chain transport by a mechanism of transient localization type. Strikingly, this mechanism is found to be of quantum coherent character and involves non-adiabatic effects. Using periodic boundary conditions, a normal diffusion regime is identified from the exciton mean-squared displacement, apart from early-time transients. Diffusion coefficients are found to be of the order of 3 x 10(-3) cm(2)/s, showing a non-linear increase with temperature. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

In this study, we report on quantum dynamical simulations of inter-chain exciton transport in a model of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT) at finite temperature. Our simulations using the Multi-Layer Multi-Configuration Time-Dependent Hartree method reveal the significant role of quantum coherent transient localization mechanism in mediating inter-chain transport.