Interchain interactions in π-conjugated oligomers and polymers:: a primer

In this contribution, we review our recent quantum-chemical studies on intermolecular interactions and the way they impact the transport and optical properties of organic conjugated materials. When applied to the crystalline structures of two prototypical oligomeric materials, alpha -sexithienyl and alpha-alpha ' -bisdithieno[3,2-b:2 ' ,3 ' -d]thiophen our approach illustrates how the variations in chain packing lead to dramatically different optical splittings and carrier mobilities. Various strategies to prevent solid-state luminescence quenching in light-emitting devices are proposed.