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Highlights: [•] Two fluorine (F) based oligomers are synthesized and investigated in detail. [•] F units modulate the steady-state spectra of oligomers. [•] DFT calculations analyze molecular structure and the electronic transition. [•] F units increase the TPF efficiency and the TPA cross-section of oligomers. [•] F units shorten the lifetime of excited oligomers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We compare the effects of fluorene–ethylene (FE) spacers on the photo-physical properties of fluorenone-based conjugated oligomers. The introduction of FE spacer could modulate the steady-state spectra and weaken the difference between donor-dependent spectral features. Meanwhile, the quantum chemical calculations exhibit that the electron transition mechanism modulated by FE unit is variable with the donor of oligomers. The FE π-spacer mainly rises the HOMO and facilitates the electron delocalization in the fluorene end-capped oligomer, while it lowers the LUMO and enhances the donor effect in the triphenylamine end-capped one. The time-resolved fluorescence measurement exhibits that the difference between donor-dependent excited state lifetimes of oligomers becomes less obvious after the introduction of FE units. Moreover, the nonlinear optical measurements show that the FE spacer is able to improve the two-photon fluorescence efficiency and enhance the two-photon absorption cross-section of oligomers simultaneously, but the difference in two-photon characteristics between oligomers with different donors is also decreased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Experimental and theoretical studies on the donor-dependent optical characteristics of two D–π–A–π–D type linear fluorenone-based conjugated oligomers are presented, where fluorene and triphenylamine act as the donors, respectively. Because of the strong electron-donating ability, the triphenylamine chromophores lead to red-shifts of spectral features, shorten the excited state lifetime, and enhance the two-photon fluorescence efficiency and two-photon absorption cross-section in comparison with fluorene groups. Quantum chemical calculations provide complementary information regarding the molecular structures and the frontier orbitals, which can provide a deep insight into the electronic structure and properties of oligomers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]