Magneto-dielectric effects induced by optically-generated intermolecular charge-transfer states in organic semiconducting materials.

Traditionally, magneto-dielectric effects have been developed by combining ferroelectric and magnetic materials. Here, we show a magneto-dielectric effect from optically-generated intermolecular charge-transfer states in an organic semiconducting donor:acceptor (PVK:TCNB) system. We observe in magnetic field effects of photoluminescence that a magnetic field can change singlet/triplet population ratio in intermolecular charge-transfer states. Furthermore, our theoretical analysis and experimental evidence indicate that the singlets and triplets in charge-transfer states have stronger and weaker electrical polarizations, respectively. Therefore, the observed magneto-dielectric effect can be attributed to magnetically-dependent singlet/triplet ratio in intermolecular charge-transfer states. In principle, a magneto-dielectric effect can be generated through two different channels based on magneto-polarization and magneto-current effects when the singlet/triplet ratio in intermolecular charge-transfer states is changed by a magnetic field. We find, from the simulation of dielectric effects, that magneto-polarization and magneto-current effects play primary and secondary roles in the generation of magneto-dielectric effect.