Lattice dynamics of oligo(phenylenethienylene)s: a far-infrared and inelastic neutron scattering study

New promising oligo(phenylenethienylene)s have been synthesized to realize suitable materials for improving electronic transport properties, particularly in organic field effect transistors (OFETs). Far-infrared and incoherent neutron scattering measurements have been performed to assign their phonon modes. The assignment of the main low-frequency phonon modes of these materials has been performed experimentally by using a filiation procedure. Assuming a small frequency dispersion of the high-frequency modes, the main intramolecular phonon modes of a model oligomer have been assigned by using first-principles calculations on its isolated molecule. These assignments constitute the preliminary work for a better understanding of these new promising materials in electronic and opto-electronics applications.