Polarized fluorescence in α-sexithienyl single crystal at 4.2 K

Abstract

The polarized fluorescence spectra of the bc plane of α-sexithienyl (αT6) single crystal at T=4.2 K have been measured and analyzed. The spectra show a sharp component superimposed on a broad component. The origin of fluorescence at 18332 cm−1 with a rather narrow linewidth (FWHM=8 cm−1) is completely polarized along b. We assign it to a shallow X-trap 18 cm−1 below the bottom of the 1 1Bu exciton band. The 1 1Bu molecular electronic excited level splits in the crystal in four Davydov components (ag, bg, au, and bu) of which au and bu are dipole allowed. The calculated exciton band structure based on the Ewald sums, assuming the point dipole–dipole approximation, predicts two lowest degenerate Davydov components: an au b polarized component and a forbidden ag component. The fluorescence with the intrinsic sharp vibronic progressions is analyzed in terms of ground state totally symmetric modes which are in excellent agreement with Raman scattering data of the single crystal. Sharp c polarized false origins are identified at 18 167, 18 084, and 18 026 cm−1 and discussed either in terms of X-traps or Herzberg–Teller vibronic coupling with the second higher 2 1Bu molecular level polarized along the in plane short axis. A broad c polarized component is attributed to aggregates.