Exciton character in picene molecular solids

TL;DR

This study investigates low-energy excitations in solid picene at 20 K, revealing five excitonic features with one being a charge transfer exciton unique to the solid state, characterized by negligible dispersion and dipole forbidden nature.

Contribution

The paper identifies a novel charge transfer exciton in solid picene not observed in solution, highlighting the impact of solid-state environment on excitonic properties.

Findings

Five excitonic features below the energy gap with negligible dispersion

Identification of a charge transfer exciton unique to the solid state

Significant dipole forbidden contribution in one exciton

Abstract

We have studied the low-energy electronic excitations of solid picene at 20 K using momentum dependent electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate the presence of five excitonic features below the transport energy gap of picene, which all are characterized by a negligible dispersion. One of these excitons has not been observed in the optical absorption spectrum of picene molecules in solution and thus is assigned to a (solid-state induced) charge transfer exciton. This conclusion is supported by the momentum dependent intensity variation of this exciton which clearly signals a significant dipole forbidden contribution, in contrast to the other low energy excitations.