Understanding muon states in nitrogen containing heterocyclic materials

Recent research shows that nitrogen (N) plays a significant role in the development of organic semiconductors (OSCs). Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, such as pyridine and pyrrole derivatives, are often used in organic semiconductors as charge transport materials facilitating the movement of charge carriers (electrons and holes) within the material. Nitrogen-containing compounds also can be used to create phosphorescent materials that emit light efficiently and are critical for achieving bright and energy-efficient OLED displays and lighting. Their spin dynamics are of crucial importance to understanding their function, and it has been shown that muons are an excellent technique to do so. Recently, Hernández-Melián et al. have reported that muonium may attach to the N atoms even though the N atom already has three single bonds with neighbour atoms. Adam Berlie et al. also reported that the bare muon is attracted to the N atom with the final state being diamagnetic. Here we intend to better understand the formation of different muon states in nitrogen-containing OSCs and N.