Influence of the substitution on the electronic properties of perylene-3,4:9,10- bis(dicarboximides): density functional theory study

Geometries of the substituted perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximides) (PDI) and their radical anions have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory. The adiabatic and vertical electron affinities have been computed at the B3LYP/6-31+G*//B3LYP/6-31G** level. Substitution of the PDI with COOCF3 reduces the energies of both the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) with the only exception of PDI4 derivative. Calculations predict a decrease in the electron injection barrier in the materials based on the proposed compounds comparing to the parent PDI. Taking into account the calculated electron affinities (EA), the air stability and ambipolar behavior of the materials under study can be expected. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v28i1.1