Localized electronic excitations in phenylacetylene dendrimers

Electron-hole pairs created upon optical excitation of conjugated dendrimers (fractal antenna macromolecules) are shown to be localized within segments connected by benzene rings substituted at the meta-position. The absorption spectra of two families of dendrimers are analyzed using collective electronic normal modes representing the changes in charge and bond-order distributions induced by the optical field. The present approach may be used in the design of artificial light-harvesting antennae with controlled energy-funneling pathways.