Electron spin relaxation in x-lithium phthalocyanine

Continuous-wave linewidths and spin susceptibilities, spin-spin relaxation rates (1/T2), and spin-lattice relaxation rates (1/T1) for two sources of x-LiPc were measured at 9.5 GHz between 15 and 298 K. Relaxation rates at 34 GHz were measured between 80 and 298 K. Room-temperature relaxation rates also were measured at 250 MHz, 1.9 GHz, and 2.76 GHz. The temperature dependences of linewidths and spin susceptibilities are characteristic of 1-D organic conductors. The ratio of populations of localized and delocalized electrons varies with sample preparation. For a single needle between 15 and about 200 K, 1/T2 is higher for the parallel orientation, but 1/T1 is higher for the perpendicular orientation, consistent with predictions based on dipolar interactions. Between about 60 and 150 K, which is the temperature regime in which spin susceptibility is changing rapidly with temperature, 1/T1 exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on temperature and is lower at 34 GHz than at 9.5 GHz. In other organic conductors, this dependence has been attributed to a bottleneck mechanism of relaxation. At higher temperatures, 1/T1 becomes less orientation-dependent. At room temperature, T1 increases rapidly between 250 MHz (3.0 micros) and 2.76 GHz (6.3 micros) and then shows less frequency dependence up to 34 GHz (9.8 micros). The relaxation rate near room temperature might have a substantial contribution from spin hopping perpendicular to the stacking axis of the molecules.     

Natural abundance 17O NMR spectra of carbonyl metal clusters of the iron triad

¹⁷O NMR spectra (in natural abundance) have been recorded, at room temperature, for a variety of polynuclear iron, ruthenium and osmium carbonyl clusters. Rather sharp linewidths have been observed for stereochemically rigid species, whereas linewidths as large as about 200 Hz have been obtained for fluxional molecules. Even though the observed chemical shift range for terminal CO groups is not very large (about 50 ppm), taking into account linewidths, metal triad and substituent effects have been observed to different extents.     

Spectroscopy of Single Dibenzoterrylene Molecules in para‐Dichlorobenzene

We study single dibenzoterrylene (DBT) molecules embedded in 1,4‐dichlorobenzene (para‐dichlorobenzene, pDCB) at 1.2 K. Due to the relatively low melting point of pDCB (53 °C), this host‐guest system can be easily prepared from the molten phase. Narrow linewidths, stable molecular lines and high saturation count rates of single DBT molecules were observed. For this reason, we consider this host‐guest system a promising candidate for the study of interactions of single molecules with other small objects such as waveguides or nanoparticles.     

Impurity spectroscopy at its ultimate limit: relation between bulk spectrum, inhomogeneous broadening, and local disorder by spectroscopy of (nearly) all individual dopant molecules in solids

We present a technique for the measurement of the low-temperature fluorescence excitation spectra and imaging of a substantial fraction of all single chromophore molecules (hundreds of thousands and even more) embedded in solid bulk samples as nanometre-sized probes. An important feature of our experimental studies is that the full information about the lateral coordinates and spectral parameters of all individual molecules is stored for detailed analysis. This method enables us to study a bulk sample in a broad spectral region with ultimate sensitivity, combining excellent statistical accuracy and the capability of detecting rare events. From the raw data we determined the distributions of several parameters of the chromophore spectra and their variations across the inhomogeneous absorption band, including the frequencies of the electronic zero-phonon lines, their spectral linewidths, and fluorescence count rates. Relationships between these distributions and the disorder of the matrix were established for the examples of two polycrystalline solids with very different properties, n-hexadecane and o-dichlorobenzene, and the amorphous polymer polyisobutylene. We also found spatially inhomogeneous distributions of some parameters.     

Stable Single‐Molecule Lines of Terrylene in Polycrystalline para‐Dichlorobenzene at 1.5 K

The spectroscopic properties of single terrylene (Tr) molecules are studied in a polycrystalline matrix of para‐dichlorobenzene (p‐DCB) at 1.5 K. Samples grown in a glass capillary show a very strong site at 597 nm, which is redshifted by more than 700 cm^?1 from the observed transition energy for Tr in p‐DCB prepared as a film on a coverslip (572 nm). Each of these two sites is characterized by measuring their single‐molecule spectroscopic parameters at 1.5 K. Lifetime‐limited linewidths of 45±5 MHz are found for both sites. Fluorescence detection rates reach 8×10⁴ count s^?1 at saturation. The spectral trails of the majority of single molecules show no spectral jumps, indicating an absence of interacting two‐level systems; however, the small distribution of linewidths may indicate weak interactions with low‐frequency modes. Frequency jumps are observed for 10 % of the molecules. The complete emission spectra from two different single molecules at the center of each of the two sites is presented. Debye–Waller factors of α_DW=0.33±0.05 for the normal site (572 nm) and α_DW=0.30±0.05 for the red site (597 nm) are reported. This new host–guest system provides a quick and easy way to obtain lifetime‐limited single‐molecule lines.     

Tetrathiafulvalene-based organic conductors with Pb-containing anions

Hybrid compounds containing organic layers composed of tetrathiafulvalenes (BEDT-TTF, BETS, BEDO-TTF) and inorganic layers consisting of anions based on lead bromide were synthesized. The crystal structure of (BEDT-TTF)₆Pb₃Br₁₀(PhBr) was determined. The temperature dependences of electrical conductivity for the synthesized compounds were measured and the EPR spectra of these compounds were recorded. In the structure of (BEDT-TTF)₆Pb₃Br₁₀(PhBr), the organic conducting layers of BEDT-TTF molecules alternate with non-conducting layers composed of infinite chains of bromoplumbate anions [Pb₃Br₉]^3–, solvent molecules, and Br^– anions. The newly synthesized BEDT-TTF bromoplumbates have similar linewidths of EPR signals, which indicate that their conducting layers have similar structures. The BEDT-TTF bromoplumbates are semiconductors, while temperature-dependent electrical resistivity measurements show the metallic behavior for BEDO-TTF and BETS bromoplumbates.     

H atom plasma diagnostics: A sensitive probe of temperature and purity

Two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) has proven to be a convenient diagnostic for reactive light atoms in plasmas. We have carried out a series of TALIF experiments and report the first temperature measurements of ground state H atoms in an rf discharge. With reasonable care, measurements of the H atom linewidths, broadened by the Doppler effect, provide detailed information about the translational energy, i.e., temperature of the atoms. It is found that in pure H₂ plasmas, the H atom temperature is slighthy elevated with respect to ambient. In plasmas contaminated with the other H-containing molecules, Doppler-broadened linewidths corresponding to H atom temperatures in excess of 7000 K have been observed. The mechanisms leading to such high apparent temperatures are discussed.     

Heterogeneity in binary mixtures of (water + tertiary butanol): temperature dependence across mixture composition

The temperature dependence of solution heterogeneity in binary mixtures of water and tertiary butanol (TBA) and its effects on a chemical reaction have been investigated by using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic experiments within the temperature range of 278 ≤ T/K ≤ 373. Eleven different mole fractions of TBA, covering extremely low TBA mole fractions to pure TBA, have been considered. An organic chromophore that undergoes a photoexcited intramolecular charge-transfer reaction is employed to reveal the signature of the solution heterogeneity. Upon increasing the solution temperature, the absorption spectrum of the dissolved chromophore exhibits a red shift at very low TBA concentrations but shifts toward higher energy (blue shift) at higher alcohol concentrations. This is a reflection of temperature-assisted aggregation of TBA molecules in very dilute aqueous solutions. The magnitude of the temperature-induced red shift is the largest at around 0.04 mol fraction of TBA, and a larger variation of the spectral line width across the temperature suggests enhanced solution heterogeneity. Reaction time constants measured at various mixture compositions are found to follow an Arrhenius-type temperature dependence. The average activation energy, when plotted as a function of mixture composition, steeply rises with TBA concentration in the limit of the very low TBA mole fraction and then suddenly levels off to a plateau upon further addition of TBA. The alcohol concentration-dependent activation energy abruptly changes its slope at a TBA mole fraction ～0.1, at which a transition from the three-dimensional water-type network to the zigzag alcohol chain structure is known to occur. The plateau value of the activation energy is ～6k(B)T and agrees well with the earlier estimate for the same chromophore from the pure solvent data at room temperature. The observed increase in the spectral red shift with temperature at low TBA mole fractions is in general agreement with the existing experimental results which support the view that temperature assists the aggregation of TBA molecules in dilute aqueous solutions of TBA. However, unlike in the small-angle neutron scattering study [ Bowron, D. T.; Finney, J. L. J. Phys. Chem. B 2007, 111, 9838], which finds clustering of TBA molecules reaching a maximum at ～353 K, the present data do not indicate any such temperature maximum within the temperature range of 278 ≤ T/K ≤ 373.     

电化学共沉积氧化锌-氧化铜薄膜法显现潜指纹

发展了一种新的电化学共沉积氧化锌-氧化铜薄膜法来显现多种导电基底(不锈钢片、铝片、铜片、锌片、5角和1元的硬币)上的潜指纹的方法。该方法的原理是基于导电基底上潜指纹的嵴线区残留物具有电化学惰性,电化学共沉积反应选择性地发生在潜指纹的谷线区和没有潜指纹覆盖的导电基底上,这一过程导致基底上潜指纹的嵴线区和谷线区之间产生显著的颜色差异,最后得到具有较高对比度的潜指纹反像。从场发射电子扫描电镜图像和元素分析的结果确认,氧化锌-氧化铜薄膜主要沉积到了潜指纹的谷线区,而嵴线区上的沉积物较少。通过氧化锌-氧化铜薄膜的共沉积,导电基底上的潜指纹显现图像能够提供清晰的二级水平信息和部分三级水平信息。该方法具有操作简便、显现效率高、适用客体广的特点,是一种具有很好的实际应用前景的潜指纹显现方法。     

Spectral Diffusion of Single Dibenzoterrylene Molecules in 2,3‐Dimethylanthracene

We study single dibenzoterrylene molecules embedded in the dipolar disordered crystal 2,3‐dimethylanthracene at 1.25 K. Broad linewidths (about 1 GHz, ～30 times broader than in the anthracene crystal), high saturation excitation intensities (～1000 times larger than in anthracene), as well as strong spectral diffusions are observed. Additionally, spectral jumping is studied by varying the excitation intensity and the temperature. We propose that the spectral diffusion and dynamic disorder in this system arise from the combination of a static disorder with slight reorientations of the methyl groups of the host molecules.     

Two mechanisms for fluorescence intermittency of single violamine R molecules

The environment and temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) intermittency or "blinking" demonstrated by single violamine R (VR) molecules is investigated in two environments: poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) and single crystals of potassium acid phthalate (KAP). In addition, temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 85 °C are studied, spanning the glass-transition temperature of PVOH (T(g) = 72 °C). The PL intermittency exhibited by VR is analyzed using probability histograms of emissive and non-emissive periods. In both PVOH and KAP, these histograms are best fit by a power law, consistent with the kinetics for dark state production and decay being dispersed as observed in previous studies. However, these systems have different temperature dependences, signifying two different blinking mechanisms for VR. In PVOH, the on- and off-event probability histograms do not vary with temperature, consistent with electron transfer via tunneling between VR and the polymer. In KAP the same histograms are temperature dependent, and show that blinking slows down at higher temperatures. This result is inconsistent with an electron-transfer process being responsible for blinking. Instead, a non-adiabatic proton-transfer between VR and KAP is presented as a model consistent with this temperature dependence. In summary, the results presented here demonstrate that for a given luminophore, the photochemical processes responsible for PL intermittency can change with environment.     

The 14N NMR linewidth versus pH profiles for several amino acids

A spectrometer for recording ¹⁴N NMR spectra is described. The ¹⁴N NMR linewidth versus pH dependences of several amino acids and related molecules are presented. It appears that the linewidth pH profile of each amino acid is unique. Linewidth minima occur between pH 6 and 8. A discussion on how ¹⁴N NMR linewidths of amino acids might give information on weak association is given.     

NMR study of the demixing process in concentrated polyisobutylene solutions

A study of the magnetic resonance linewidths of the polymer protons of the polyisobutylene toluene system is presented as a function of concentration c and temperature T. Two distinct regions are observed in the linewidth versus concentration or temperature curves. A phase diagram is constructed, one region of which exhibits characteristic NMR properties supposed to reflect microphase separation of polymer and solvent. The demixing curve derived from NMR measurements is expressed by c = 11.3(267–T). The θ temperature of this system is 260 K.     

An alternate proton acceptor for excited-state proton transfer in green fluorescent protein: rewiring GFP

The neutral form of the chromophore in wild-type green fluorescent protein (wtGFP) undergoes excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) upon excitation, resulting in characteristic green (508 nm) fluorescence. This ESPT reaction involves a proton relay from the phenol hydroxyl of the chromophore to the ionized side chain of E222, and results in formation of the anionic chromophore in a protein environment optimized for the neutral species (the I* state). Reorientation or replacement of E222, as occurs in the S65T and E222Q GFP mutants, disables the ESPT reaction and results in loss of green emission following excitation of the neutral chromophore. Previously, it has been shown that the introduction of a second mutation (H148D) into S65T GFP allows the recovery of green emission, implying that ESPT is again possible. A similar recovery of green fluorescence is also observed for the E222Q/H148D mutant, suggesting that D148 is the proton acceptor for the ESPT reaction in both double mutants. The mechanism of fluorescence emission following excitation of the neutral chromophore in S65T/H148D and E222Q/H148D has been explored through the use of steady state and ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence and vibrational spectroscopy. The data are contrasted with those of the single mutant S65T GFP. Time-resolved fluorescence studies indicate very rapid (< 1 ps) formation of I* in the double mutants, followed by vibrational cooling on the picosecond time scale. The time-resolved IR difference spectra are markedly different to those of wtGFP or its anionic mutants. In particular, no spectral signatures are apparent in the picosecond IR difference spectra that would correspond to alteration in the ionization state of D148, leading to the proposal that a low-barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB) is present between the phenol hydroxyl of the chromophore and the side chain of D148, with different potential energy surfaces for the ground and excited states. This model is consistent with recent high-resolution structural data in which the distance between the donor and acceptor oxygen atoms is < or = 2.4 A. Importantly, these studies indicate that the hydrogen-bond network in wtGFP can be replaced by a single residue, an observation which, when fully explored, will add to our understanding of the various requirements for proton-transfer reactions within proteins.     

The temperature dependences and methods for the functional representation of the rates of proton magnetic relaxation in aqueous solutions of electrolytes

The paper presents the results of temperature dependence measurements for the rate of proton relaxation (1/T ₁) in sea water with salinity 35‰ over the temperature range −22−+120°C at atmospheric pressure and in some salt solutions at two concentrations (0.5 and 1 mol/l). The possibility of approximating the temperature dependences of magnetic relaxation rates by various functions in pure water, sea water, and solutions of salts with various concentrations was studied. The parameters of these dependences and trends of their variations under the influence of salt components are reported. The most well grounded method for the functional representation of the temperature dependences of 1/T ₁ is the use of the sum of exponents with the number of terms depending on solution concentration. This representation takes into account structural changes in solutions as the concentration grows and corresponds to the Frenkel model of the thermal motion of molecules in aqueous solutions of electrolytes. The combined use of the parameters of the temperature dependences of the rate of relaxation represented by various functions can be a mutually augmenting method for studying the dynamic properties of aqueous solutions of electrolytes with low and moderate concentrations.     

Heterogeneous diffusion in thin polymer films as observed by high-temperature single-molecule fluorescence microscopy

Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the dynamics of perylene diimide (PDI) molecules in thin supported polystyrene (PS) films at temperatures up to 135 °C. Such high temperatures, so far unreached in single-molecule spectroscopy studies, were achieved using a custom-built setup which allows for restricting the heated mass to a minimum. This enables temperature-dependent single-molecule fluorescence studies of structural dynamics in the temperature range most relevant to the processing and to applications of thermoplastic materials. In order to ensure that polymer chains were relaxed, a molecular weight of 3000 g/mol, clearly below the entanglement length of PS, was chosen. We found significant heterogeneities in the motion of single PDI probe molecules near T(g). An analysis of the track radius of the recorded single-probe molecule tracks allowed for a distinction between mobile and immobile molecules. Up to the glass transition temperature in bulk, T(g,bulk), probe molecules were immobile; at temperatures higher than T(g,bulk) + 40 K, all probe molecules were mobile. In the range between 0 and 40 K above T(g,bulk) the fraction of mobile probe molecules strongly depends on film thickness. In 30-nm thin films mobility is observed at lower temperatures than in thick films. The fractions of mobile probe molecules were compared and rationalized using Monte Carlo random walk simulations. Results of these simulations indicate that the observed heterogeneities can be explained by a model which assumes a T(g) profile and an increased probability of probe molecules remaining at the surface, both effects caused by a density profile with decreasing polymer density at the polymer-air interface.     

Interface effects and relaxation processes in nanocomposites based on CdSe/ZnS semiconductor quantum dots and porphyrin molecules

Controllable self-assembly and properties of nanocomposites based on CdSe/ZnS semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and tetrapyridylporphyrin molecules (H₂P) as well as the dynamics of relaxation processes in these systems were studied for solutions and single nanoobjects in the temperature range of 77–295 K. It was proved that the formation of surface states of different nature is crucial to nonradiative relaxation of exciton excitation in QDs. The efficiency of QD→Н₂Р energy transfer was shown to be at most 10–15%. Regularities of photoluminescence (PL) quenching for QDs in nanocomposites in solutions of different polarity correlate with the dependences of PL blinking for single QDs. A scheme was proposed of excited states and main relaxation channels of exciton excitation energy in semiconductor QDs and QD–Н₂Р nanocomposites.     

Vibrational circular dichroism of matrix-isolated molecules

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra are reported for (+), (?) and (±) α-pinene, and (?) ß-pinine, isolated in argon matrices at ≈ 18 K. These are the first observations of VCD of matrix-isolated molecules. Spectra are limited to the CH stretching region (2800–3100 cm^?1). In all cases, the VCD spectra are substantially more structured than the corresponding room-temperature spectra, as a result of much narrower linewidths. Further, VCD magnitudes are greater due to decreased cancellation of overlapping transitions with oppositely signed VCD. The largest anisotropy ratios observed are >5 × 10^?4 and are larger than any reported for room-temperature solutions of organic molecules. This technique will permit substantially more definitive evaluations of theoretical calculations of VCD.     

Kinetics of proton transfer in a green fluorescent protein: A laser-induced pH jump study

The sub-millisecond protonation dynamics of the chromophore in S65T mutant form of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was tracked after a rapid pH jump following laser-induced proton release from the caged photolabile compoundo-nitrobenzaldehyde. Following a jump in pH from 8 to 5 (which is achieved within 2 μs), the fluorescence of S65T GFP decreased as a single exponential with a time constant of ∼90 μs. This decay is interpreted as the conversion of the deprotonated fluorescent GFP chromophore to a protonated non-fluorescent species. The protonation kinetics showed dependence on the bulk viscosity of the solvent, and therefore implicates bulk solvent-controlled protein dynamics in the protonation process. The protonation is proposed to be a sequential process involving two steps: (a) proton transfer from solvent to the chromophore, and (b) internal structural rearrangements to stabilize a protonated chromophore. The possible implications of these observations to protein dynamics in general is discussed     

Concerning the Thermal Diastereomerization of the Green Fluorescent Protein Chromophore

Summary. Two model compounds for the green fluorescent protein chromophore were prepared. One of them incorporates the natural 4-hydroxybenzylidene group of the natural tyrosin derived chromophore, the other one bears a methyl group instead of the hydroxy group. Whereas the photochemically prepared (E)-diastereomer of the first compound very effectively reverted thermally (room temperature) to the thermodynamically stable (Z)-diastereomer, the (E)-diastereomer of the second derivative proved to be stable even at elevated temperatures for more than a day. This finding can be rationalized by constructing the appropriate resonance structures showing that only in the first case an effective delocalization enables partial single bond character of the benzylidene double bond. From the standpoint of chemical etiology, only Nature’s choice of the tyrosin derived chromophore of the green fluorescent protein provides an efficient radiationless thermal relaxation channel for the unwanted photo-diastereomerization product formed after excitation besides the dominating fluorescence channel of its chromophore.