Functionality Optimization for Singlet Fission Rate Screening in the Full-Dimensional Molecular and Intermolecular Coordinate Space

In computational chemistry, accurately predicting molecular configurations that exhibit specific properties remains a critical challenge. Its intricacies become especially evident in the study of molecular aggregates, where the light-induced functionality is tied to highly structure-dependent electronic couplings between molecules. Here, we present an efficient strategy for the targeted screening of the structural space employing a "functionality optimization" technique, in which a chosen descriptor, constrained by the ground state energy expression, is optimized. The chosen algorithmic differentiation (AD) framework allows to automatically obtain gradients without its tedious implementation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach by identifying Perylene Bisiimide (PBI) dimer motifs with enhanced SF rate. Our findings reveal that certain structural modifications of the PBI monomer, such as helical twisting and bending, as well as slipped-rotated packing arrangements, can significantly increase the SF rate.