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Two electrons from one photon

The absorption of a single photon can cause the excitation of more than one electron, but the mechanism of this 'multi-exciton generation' process is elusive. Now, calculations on pentacene show that geometrical distortions and intermediate excited states assist in producing two excited electrons from one photon.

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Figure 1: Representation of the electronic states involved in producing two triplet excitons through the absorption of a single photon by a pentacene dimer.

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Siebbeles, L. Two electrons from one photon. Nature Chem 2, 608–609 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.720

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