Hyperfine structure operator in the tensorial form of second quantization

The general tensorial form of the hyperfine interaction operator in the formalism of second quantization is presented. Both diagonal and off-diagnonal matrix elements of the above-mentioned operator are found using an approach based on a combination of second quantization in the coupled tensorial form, angular momentum theory in three spaces (orbital, spin and quasispin) and a generalised graphical technique. This methodology allows us to account for correlation effects efficiently and, therefore, to study the hyperfine interactions in complex many-electron atoms, those with openf-shells included, in a practical manner. All this will lead us to design an efficient program for large scale calculations of hyperfine structure and isotope shift.     

Theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of a ferroelectric SbSI cluster at a phase transition

This paper presents the theoretical investigation of energy levels of valence bands (VB) and core levels (CL) of the ferroelectric SbSl single crystals in antiferroelectric and ferroelectric phases. Since the best approximation for the deep VB levels is a calculation by the Hartree-Fock method, the molecular model of a SbSI crystal was used for calculations. This model of the crystal was also used for calculations of the total density of states. It was found that the VB and CL of this ferroelectric semiconductor are sensitive to the small lattice distortion at the phase transition, and that an average of the total density of states, when all atoms participate in oscillations of all normal modes, are more similar to the experimental X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The experimental splitting of CL obtained by XPS was compared with the theoretically calculated one by two different methods. The cluster model calculations showed that the splitting of the CL in SbSI might be caused by photoelectron emission from the atoms, which have different valence state, at the surface.     

Photocatalyzed sulfide oxygenation with water as the unique oxygen atom source

In our research program aiming to develop new ruthenium-based polypyridine catalysts for oxidation we were interested in combining a photosensitizer and a catalytic fragment within the same complex to achieve catalytic light-driven oxidation. To respond to the lack of such conjugates, we report here a new catalytic system capable of using light to activate water molecules in order to perform selective sulfide oxygenation into sulfoxide via an oxygen atom transfer from H(2)O to the substrate with a TON of up to 197 ± 6. On the basis of electrochemical and photophysical studies, a proton-coupled electron-transfer process yielding to an oxidant Ru(IV)-oxo species was proposed. In particular, the synergistic effect between both partners in the dyad yielding a more efficient catalyst compared to the bimolecular system is highlighted.     

A comparative multiwavelength Raman spectroelectrochemical study of polyaniline: a review

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A comparative Raman spectroelectrochemical study on polyaniline electrodeposited at a gold electrode was performed within the broad range of spectra...     

First Principles Calculations Toward Understanding SERS of 2,2′-Bipyridyl Adsorbed on Au,Ag, and Au–Ag Nanoalloy

First principles electrodyanmics and quantum chemical simulations are performed to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of the surface enhanced Raman spectra of 22BPY adsorbed on pure Au and Ag as well as on Au–Ag alloy nanodiscs. Experimental SERS spectra from Au and Ag nanodiscs show similar peaks, whereas those from Au–Ag alloy reveal new spectral features. The physical enhancement factors due to surface nano-texture were considered by numerical FDTD simulations of light intensity distribution for the nano-textured Au, Ag, and Au–Ag alloy and compared with experimental results. For the chemical insights of the enhancement, the DFT calculations with the dispersion interaction were performed using Au₂₀, Ag₂₀, and Au₁₀Ag₁₀ clusters of a pyramidal structure for SERS modeling. Binding of 22BPY to the clusters was simulated by considering possible arrangements of vertex and planar physical as well as chemical adsorption models. The DFT results indicate that 22BPY prefers a coplanar adsorption on a (111) face with trans-conformation having close energy difference to cis-conformation. Binding to pure Au cluster is stronger than to pure Ag or Au–Ag alloy clusters and adsorption onto the alloy surface can deform the surface. The computed Raman spectra are compared with experimental data and assignments for pure Au and Ag models are well matching, indicating the need of dispersion interaction to reproduce strong Raman signal at around 800 cm^–1. This work provides insight into 3D character of SERS on nanorough surfaces due to different binding energies and bond length of nanoalloys. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structuring of Surfaces with Gold Nanoparticles by Using Bessel‐Like Beams

Here, the structuring of surfaces with gold nanoparticles by using Bessel‐like beam array is demonstrated. The experimental results show that the fabricated microring structures containing gold nanoparticles have a surface plasmon resonance in the spectral range of 520–540 nm, which can be tuned by selecting the laser treatment parameters. Fabricated microring structures exhibit a lower light transmittance comparing with the randomly distributed gold nanoparticles for wavelengths 500–570 nm due to the growth in the size of nanoparticles. In the spectral range of 600–700 nm, the light transmittance through microring structures is higher compared with the randomly distributed gold nanoparticles because of the removal of gold nanoparticles as gold has high reflectivity for wavelengths longer than 600 nm. The demonstrated method enables an easy fabrication of microring structures having tunable plasmonic properties.     

Electronic Energy Transfer Modulation in a Dynamic Foldaxane: Proof‐of‐Principle of a Lifetime‐Based Conformation Probe

Abiotic aromatic oligoamide foldamers are shown to self‐assemble in solution to form a double helix, which can accommodate a bichromophoric thread in its central void. While in solution reversible electronic energy transfer is instilled between chromophoric termini of the free, flexible thread as evidenced through delayed luminescence, upon rigidification of the rod the chromophores are mutually distanced and effectively decoupled. Consequently, the chromophores display their individual photophysical characteristics. The observed conformation‐dependent changes of dynamic luminescence properties, which are particularly sensitive to distance, offers a new strategy for lifetime‐based detection of geometry on the molecular scale as demonstrated through real‐time luminescence detection of molecular complexation leading to foldaxane formation.     

WO3 coatings for photoelectrochemical synthesis of persulfate: efficiency,stability and applicability

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Light-assisted electrochemical processes have the potential to replace energy-intensive electrosynthesis technologies, especially in the area of strong...     

Metal-ion induced FRET in macrocyclic dynamic tweezers

We report here about effective FRET process (73–99%) in mono-Mg²⁺ complexes of symmetrical crown ether bis(styryl) dyes. The FRET process has not been observed in the free state and in binuclear complexes. The formation of mononuclear complex provides two styrylic fragments with appropriate positions of absorption and emission bands for FRET. The other important parameter for FRET is the proper geometric orientation of both chromophores, which attain sandwich conformation with close positioning of complexed and free styryl fragments induced by ion-modulated geometry reorganization of the bis-dye.