On the Dependence of the Rate of Deactivation of Triplet Excitations of a Number of Molecules on Their Ionization Potential and the Charge of the Nucleus of Heavy Atoms of the Solvent

Purpose. Establish the nature and reasons for the dependence of the change in the radiative rate constant of deactivation of triplet excitations of a number of molecules, caused by the effect of an external heavy atom, on their ionization potential from the ground state and the energy of the first excited singlet state.

Methods. Kinetic methods were used to determine the rate constant for the deactivation of triplet excitations of organic molecules in solid solutions at 77 K. The solvents were n-heptane (neutral), carbon tetrachloride and benzene bromide (containing heavy chlorine and bromine atoms). The molecules studied were coronene, triphenylene, phenanthrene, naphthalene and biphenyl.

Results. A linear relationship has been established between an increase in the ionization potential, the energy value of the first excited singlet state, and an increase in the change in the rate of radiative deactivation of triplet excitations of the studied molecules in carbon tetrachloride. It is shown that the increase in the change in the radiative deactivation rate of these molecules with an increase in their ionization potential is due to a decrease in the difference between the ionization energies and the first excited singlet state.

Conclusion. The results of the study showed that there is a linear relationship between the increase in the radiative deactivation rate of triplet excitations of the studied molecules and their ionization potential. A linear relationship is also observed between the increase in the rate of radiative deactivation of triplet excitations of these molecules and the first excited singlet state. As the ionization potentials of the molecules under study increase, the difference between the ionization energy and the energy of the first excited singlet state decreases. This is the reason for the increase in the rate of deactivation of triplet excitations of molecules with an increase in their ionization potential.

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