A theoretical analysis of a series of imidazole-based Y-shaped chromophores, D1-D8, is performed in order to investigate their non(linear) optical, fluorescence, and charge-transport properties. The calculations have been carried out employing DFT and TD-DFT methods at CAM-B3LYP and M06-2X levels of theory. FMO analysis reveals that in ground state, the highest occupied molecular orbital is localized on the 4,5-dimethylanilino donor moiety and imidazole core while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital spreads on π-linker and nitro acceptor moieties. Vertical absorption and fluorescence transitions are characterized as intramolecular charge transfer and maximum absorption and fluorescence wavelengths show that by changing the π-bridge to the imidazole C2, we can tune fluorescence color from cyan to orange. Calculated (hyper)polarizabilities show that elongation of π-linker by polarizable subunits, such as double bonds or heteroaromatic rings, increases significantly the nonlinear response and shifts the charge-transfer band bathochromically. Calculated reorganization energies indicate that the studied compounds are hole-transporting materials rather than electron-transporters. Interestingly, D7 and D8, with higher hyperpolarizabilities, are predicted to be potent candidates for NLO-devices while D5 and D8 molecules are expected to be promising candidates for luminescent materials and good hole-transport materials for organic light-emitting diodes.
Keywords: Charge transport properties; DFT and TD-DFT calculations; Imidazole derivatives; Luminescent materials; Nonlinear optics (NLO); Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).