Coherent effects in energy transport in model dendritic structures investigated by ultrafast fluorescence anisotropy spectroscopy

Measurements of ultrafast fluorescence anisotropy decay in model branched dendritic molecules of different symmetry are reported. These molecules contain the fundamental branching center units of larger dendrimer macromolecules with either three (C(3))- or four (T(d), tetrahedral)-fold symmetry. The anisotropy for a tetrahedral system is found to decay on a subpicosecond time scale (880 fs). This decay can be qualitatively explained by F?rster-type incoherent energy migration between chromophores. Alternatively, for a nitrogen-centered trimer system, the fluorescence anisotropy decay time (35 fs) is found to be much shorter than that of the tetramers, and the decay cannot be attributed to an incoherent hopping mechanism. In this case, a coherent interchromophore energy transport mechanism should be considered. The mechanism of the ultrafast energy migration process in the branched systems is interpreted by use of a phenomenological quantum mechanical model, which examines the two extreme cases of incoherent and coherent interactions.     

Femtosecond excitation energy transport in triarylamine dendrimers

The search for a model that can be used to describe the optical excitation migration in dendrimers has attracted great attention. In most cases in a dendrimer the conjugation is disrupted at the branching point; however, the excitation is delocalized. The strength of interactions among neighboring chromophores plays a key role in determining the energy migration mechanism. Conversely, having many identical chromophores held tightly together in an ordered macromolecular architecture will allow for many dipoles to be accessible for optical excitation. Therefore, the relative orientation of dipoles will be important in determining the mechanism of energy migration. Here we report the synthesis and photo-physical investigation of triarylamine-based dendrimers. Two important synthetic steps were utilized in the synthesis. First, we employed diphenylmethyl protective groups on the amines to assist in deprotective hydrogenolysis of the larger structures. Second, highly active catalysts for formation of both di- and triarylamines that are based on a 1:1 ratio of P(t-Bu)3 and Pd(dba)2 improved reaction yields of the C-N bond formation and decreased reaction times The energy migration processes in the dendrimers were investigated utilizing ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The fluorescence anisotropy of all three dendrimers decayed to a residual value within approximately 100 fs. This fluorescence anisotropy decay showed a general trend in decreasing with increasing dendrimer generation. The residual anisotropy value also showed a gradual decrease with an increase in the dendrimer generation. This fast energy depolarization is discussed through a coherent excitonic mechanism among dipoles oriented in different directions. We believe that the formation of coherent domains leads to fast energy migration extending over a large part of the dendrimer.     

Probing coherence in synthetic cyclic light-harvesting pigments

A series of π-extended cyclic thiophene oligomers of 12, 18, 24, and 30 repeat units have been studied using methods of ultrafast time-resolved absorption, fluorescence upconversion, and three-pulse photon echo. These measurements were conducted in order to examine the structure-function relationships that may affect the coherence between chromophores within the organic macrocycles. Our results indicate that an initial delocalized state can be seen upon excitation of the cyclic thiophenes. Anisotropy measurements show that this delocalized state decays on an ultrafast time scale and is followed by the presence of incoherent hopping. From the use of a phenomenological model, we conclude that our ultrafast anisotropy decay measurements suggest that the system does not reside in the Fo?rster regime and coherence within the system must be considered. Three-pulse photon echo peak shift experiments reveal a clear dependence of initial peak shift with ring size, indicating a weaker coupling to the bath (and stronger intramolecular interactions) as the ring size is increased. Our results suggest that the initial delocalized state increases with ring size to distances (and number of chromophores) comparable to the natural light-harvesting system.     

Femtosecond fluorescence dynamics and molecular interactions in a water-soluble nonlinear optical polymeric dye

The excited state dynamics of a water-soluble polymeric dye poly(S-119) was investigated using femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence upconversion. Multi-exponential relaxation of fluorescence was observed for poly(S-119) in picosecond and sub-picosecond time ranges. The azo-chromophore of the functionalized polymeric dye Sunset Yellow was used as a model compound for detailed investigations of intermolecular interactions. Excited state decay of this azo-dye can be described by a two-exponential decay law with time-constants of 0.48 ps and 1 ps. Fluorescence anisotropy decay was investigated for both systems. The difference in excited state dynamics between the polymeric dye and the azo-chromophore is explained in terms of inter-molecular interactions resulting in intra-chain aggregate formation.     

Enhancement of two-photon absorption cross-section in macrocyclic thiophenes with cavities in the nanometer regime

The linear and nonlinear optical properties of two thiophene-based cyclic molecules have been investigated. These molecules represent nanometer sized cavities which may be useful for novel photonic devices. By virtue of long-range interactions, these chromophores serve as novel architectures for enhanced two-photon absorption (TPA) properties. Measurements of the different size ring structures showed a 550% increase in the TPA cross-section for the larger macrocycle. Electronic structure calculations have suggested an increase in coupling of the excited states in these systems as the ring size is increased. Measurements of the ultrafast transient absorption and fluorescence were carried out with these systems in order to probe the interaction between the chromophores. The results of the transient decays as well as fluorescence anisotropy decay times gives stronger proof to the suggestion of delocalized states in the cyclic macrocycles. These results provide information regarding the optical properties of these novel systems useful for potential applications in photonics.     

Quantum-sized gold clusters as efficient two-photon absorbers

The two-photon absorption properties of Au25 cluster has been investigated with the aid of two-photon excited fluorescence in the communication wavelength region with a cross-section of 2700 GM at 1290 nm. Additional visible fluorescence has been discovered for small gold clusters which is two-photon allowed (after excitation at 800 nm), and the absolute cross-section has been determined for gold clusters with number of gold atoms varying from 25 to all the way up to 2406 using one and two-photon excited time-resolved fluorescence upconversion measurements. Record high TPA cross-sections have been measured for quantum sized clusters making them suitable for two-photon imaging as well as other applications such as optical power limiting and lithography.     

The influence of polyetherimide on gelation and phase separation in epoxy systems

In the process of curing under thermostatic conditions, the time dependence of active and reactive components of the dielectric permittivity of epoxy amine compositions that contain a thermoplastic substance is studied in a wide range of electrical frequencies. The times of gelation and vitrification are calculated from the dielectric data and the onset of the phase separation is identified. The curing behavior established by dielectric spectroscopy is confirmed by viscometry and optical microscopy. During the phase separation, the morphology of the precipitating phase differs between samples depending on the chemical nature of the curing agent.     

Strong coupling in macrocyclic thiophene investigated by time-resolved two-photon excited fluorescence

We report the femtosecond dynamics of fluorescence anisotropy excited through the two-photon absorption (TPA), which provides direct signatures of delocalized electronic excitations for symmetrical macromolecular architectures. Two-photon excited fluorescence anisotropy is strongly correlated with the orientation and value of the transition moment from the excited state to the second and higher lying states. For macromolecular systems it leads to a relatively low initial fluorescence anisotropy and specific femtosecond anisotropy dynamics. We have experimentally demonstrated qualitatively different anisotropy dynamics for two- and one-photon absorption excitations for strongly coupled ring architecture prospective for artificial-light-harvesting applications and possessing an enhanced TPA-absorption cross section.     

Optical excitations in carbon architectures based on dodecadehydrotribenzo[18]annulene

The origin of excitations in multi-chromophore carbon network substructures based on dodecadehydrotribenzo[18]annulene has been investigated by steady-state and photon echo spectroscopy, configuration interaction (CIS and CIS(D)), and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne, the simplest structural subunit within the annulene, was used in modeling the spectroscopic studies to explain the origin of excitations in the macrocycles. The optical excitations in longer linear systems were found to be similar to its diphenylacetylene analogue. However, the results from dodecadehydrotribenzo[18]annulene and other multichromophore networks systems illustrate the possibility of strong intramolecular interactions and the formation of delocalized excited states. Calculations were carried out to explain the basic similarities and differences in excitations of the model compounds such as diphenylbutadiyne and the macrocycles. The fundamental excitation in these systems can be primarily described as a pi --> pi* transition. Two low-energy resonances were observed from experiment for the annulene systems, and possible explanations for these low-energy resonances in the macrocycles are explored. The significant difference found in the calculated oscillator strength of the two low-energy bands for the macrocycles as well as the dynamics of solvent interactions was further investigated by three-pulse photon echo measurements. A simple exciton model was developed to discuss the excitations in the larger macrocycles. The results from this model were found to be in good agreement with the TD-DFT calculations.     

铁镍钴矩磁合金的铁心损耗

本文研究了经过纵向磁退火的铁镍钴合金带的铁心损耗,发现P/f-f曲线具有明显的反常行为。用180°畴壁移的反常涡流损耗理论模型做了解释。并提出一些减小损耗的可能途径。