Strong exciton-photon coupling and exciton hybridization in a thermally evaporated polycrystalline film of an organic small molecule

We demonstrate strong exciton-photon coupling in an optical microcavity containing a thermally evaporated polycrystalline organic thin film. Microcavity polaritons result from coupling between the 0-0 excitonic transition of 3,4,7,8 napthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride and a cavity photon. For thicker films, the 0-1 transition also couples to the cavity mode, as vibronic relaxation is overcome by the short Rabi period for strong coupling. To our knowledge, this is the first report of strong coupling between a cavity photon and multiple vibronic transitions in a single material, made possible by the pronounced vibronic absorption features characteristic of crystalline organic materials.     

吡嗪分子在硅(100)面吸附构型的XPS和NEXAFS谱理论研究

本文利用X射线谱研究了吡嗪(C₄H₄N₂)分子共价吸附于硅(100)面的几种吸附构型的几何结构和电子结构. 利用密度泛函理论结合团簇模型,对预测的吸附结构的碳K壳层(1s)X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和近边X射线吸收精细结构(NEXAFS)谱进行了模拟. 计算结果阐明了XPS和NEXAFS谱与不同吸附构型的对应关系. 与XPS谱相比,NEXAFS谱对所研究的吡嗪/硅(100)体系的结构有明显的依赖性,可以很好地用于结构鉴定. 根据碳原子的分类,研究了在NEXAFS光谱中不同化学环境下碳原子的光谱成分.     

Characterization of ultra-thin organic hetero-interfaces — SnPc/PTCDA/Ag(111)

Ultra-thin organic hetero-layers consisting of tin-phthalocyanine (SnPc) and 1,3,4,8-perylen-tetracarboxylicacid dianhydride (PTCDA) adsorbed on a Ag(111) surface are characterized with photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. If SnPc is deposited on the Ag(111) substrate, which is precovered with one monolayer of PTCDA, a well defined interface is formed with a closed SnPc wetting layer as can be derived from angle dependent core level and from valence photoelectron spectra. Moreover, X-ray absorption data show that the molecules are lying flat and that the bonding at the SnPc/PTCDA interface is weak.     

In-situ formation and detailed analysis of imine bonds for the construction of conjugated aromatic monolayers on Au(111)

We present the synthesis of 4′-amino-4-mercaptobiphenyl (AMB) and its deposition from solution onto Au(111) substrates. The resulting organic thin films were characterized by contact angle, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements. It is demonstrated that the majority of AMB molecules are coupled to the gold surface via S–Au covalent bonds, although only little orientational order of the AMB layer could be detected by NEXAFS. Furthermore, aromatic imine bonds between AMB and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HB), 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (CB), 4-methylbenzaldehyde (MB), or 4-(trifluoromethyl) benzaldehyde (TMB) have been successfully formed. As a result of the limited order, this coupling reaction was incomplete. Nevertheless, the experimental results confirmed the formation of conjugated aromatic imine bonds.     

Vibronic coupling to nearly localized modes in diamond

The presence of sharp low energy vibronic progressions in several luminescing bands of brown diamonds is interpreted as due to a nearly localized vibrational mode, showing a weak coupling to resonant lattice phonons. The effect of this mode on the vibronic coupling is discussed and compared with experimental data.     

Anchoring of alkyl chain molecules on oxide surface using silicon alkoxide

Chemical states of the interfaces between octadecyl-triethoxy-silane (ODTS) molecules and sapphire surface were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) using synchrotron soft X-rays. The nearly self-assembled monolayer of ODTS was formed on the sapphire surface. For XPS and NEXAFS measurements, it was elucidated that the chemical bond between silicon alkoxide in ODTS and the surface was formed, and the alkane chain of ODTS locates upper side on the surface. As a result, it was elucidated that the silicon alkoxide is a good anchor for the immobilization of organic molecules on oxides.     

Thin PTCDA films on Si(0 0 1): 1. Growth mode

We have studied the interface and thin film formation of the organic molecular semiconductor 3,4,9,10 perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) on clean and on hydrogen passivated Si(0 0 1) surfaces. The studies were made by means of high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). On the passivated surface the LEED pattern is somewhat diffuse but reveals that the molecules grow in several ordered domains with equivalent orientations to the substrate. NEXAFS shows that the molecules are lying flat on the substrate. The Si 2p XPS line shape is not affected when the film is deposited so it can be concluded that the interaction at the interface between PTCDA and the substrate is weak. The evolution of the film formation appears to be homogeneous for the first monolayer with a nearly complete coverage of flat lying molecules based on the XPS attenuation. For layer thickness of 0.5-2 monolayers (ML) the molecules start to form islands, attracting the molecules in between, leaving the substrate partly uncovered. For thicker films there is a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode with thick islands and a monolayer thick film in between. For the clean surface the ordering of the film is much lower and angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) of the molecular orbitals have only a small dependence of the emission angle. NEXAFS shows that the molecules do not lie flat on the surface and also reveal a chemical interaction at the interface.     

NEXAFS and SEXAFS studies of chemisorbed molecules

Near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and surface extended x-ray absorption fine structure (SEXAFS) spectroscopies and their application to the determination of the adsorption geometry and bonding of low-Z molecules on surfaces are discussed. NEXAFS is characterized by intramolecular resonances and probes the internal structure of the molecule (intramolecular bond lengths and possibly bond angles) as well as its orientation relative to the surface. SEXAFS provides information about the adsorption site and the molecule-substrate distances. After demonstrating the full power of SEXAFS in the analysis of oxygen adsorption on Cu(110) and on Ag(110) an example is given of a complete structure determination for the formate species (HCO₂) on Cu(110) using NEXAFS and SEXAFS.     

Chiroptical spectra of molecules with nearly degenerate electronic states

The influence of vibronic interactions on the chiroptical spectra associated with pairs of nearly degenerate electronic transitions in chiral systems is examined on a formal theoretical model. We consider the special case in which two nearly degenerate electronic states are coupled by a single non-totally symmetric vibrational mode. Formal expressions are developed for the rotatory strengths of individual vibronic transitions in this coupled system. Calculations based on these expressions are carried out for a large number of parameter sets appropriate for various energy spacings between the unperturbed electronic states, vibronic coupling strengths, oscillator (vibrational mode) frequencies, and electronic rotatory strengths. The calculated results demonstrate the profound influence of vibronic interactions on the sign patterns and intensity distributions within the rotatory strength spectrum associated with the two coupled electronic states. The implications of these results for interpretations of circular dichroism spectra are discussed.     

Vibronic states in single molecule electron transport

A scanning tunneling microscope was used to study the electron transport through individual copper phthalocyanine molecules adsorbed on an ultrathin Al(2)O(3) film grown on a NiAl(110) surface. The differential conductance spectra display series of equally spaced features, which are attributed to vibronic states of individual molecules. The coupling of the electron current to the vibronic modes was observed to depend on the structures of the adsorbed molecules. Vibronic features were not observed for molecules adsorbed on the bare NiAl(110) surface due to spectral broadening.     

Configuration vibronic mixing for a neutral vacancy in silicon and diamond

Configuration vibronic mixing is considered for a fully symmetric Jahn-Teller electronic term with orientation-degenerate terms (due to the distortion direction) including a correlation correction in a single-open-shell approximation. The approach is nonempirical and involves only linear vibronic coupling. The adiabatic potential is a multiwell one, because the different configurations involved in the exact Jahn-Teller term have different vibronic coupling with a lattice distortion. The stabilization energy, the frequencies of local lattice vibrations, the vibronic coupling parameter, and the energy barriers to migration and to distortion-axis reorientation are estimated for a neutral vacancy in silicon and diamond with allowance made for configuration vibronic coupling. The estimates agree with the results obtained by different experimental and theoretical methods for a wide range of properties associated with the Jahn-Teller effect.     

Formation of interfacial layer in Fe-polystyrene system during mechanochemical synthesis in the presence of alkyl surfactants

The structure of surface organic layers formed during the mechanical milling of Fe with polystyrene and alkyl surfactants is studied using NEXAFS and FT-IR spectroscopies. It is shown that the main constituents of the layers formed are condensed aromatic structures (products of the dehydrogenation of an organic medium) that contain covalently bound polystyrene fragments.     

苝四甲酸二酐薄膜电子结构的同步辐射共振光电子能谱研究

利用基于同步辐射的近边X射线吸收精细结构谱(NEXAFS)和共振光电子谱(RPES)研究了苝四甲酸二酐分子(PTCDA)薄膜的电子结构.碳K边NEXAFS谱中能量小于290 eV的四个峰对应于PTCDA分子不同化学环境碳原子1s电子到未占据分子轨道的共振跃迁.RPES谱中观察到共振光电子发射和共振俄歇电子发射导致的共振峰结构,以及二次谐波激发的碳1s信号.根据电子动能对入射光能量的依赖性分别对三类峰结构进行了归属.同时,发现PTCDA分子轨道共振光电子峰的强度具有光子能量依赖性.这种能量选择性共振增强效应是由于PTCDA分子轨道空间分布差异导致的.共振俄歇峰主要源于高结合能(4.1 eV)分子轨道能级电子参与的退激发过程.明确RPES实验谱图中各个峰结构的起源有助于准确利用基于RPES的芯能级空穴时钟谱技术定量估算有机分子/电极异质界面处电子从分子未占据轨道到电极导带的超快转移时间.     

Geometric and electronic structures of NO adsorbed on Ni,Rh and Pt studied by using near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and resonant photoemission spectroscopy

The geometric and electronic structures of NO adsorbed on three metals (Ni, Rh, and Pt) from 130 to 600 K were investigated by using near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPS). NEXAFS revealed that NO was molecularly adsorbed on all three metals at 130 K with its molecular axis normal to the surface. The elongation of the NO intramolecular bond on metal was in the order Ni>Rh>Pt, and was related to the electron-back donation from metal-d band to 2π of NO. This order was the same for the electron donation from 5σ of NO to metal-d band estimated by using RPS. With heating, NO was desorbed from Pt without dissociation, whereas NO on Ni and Rh dissociated. Both NEXAFS and RPS showed that the electronic interaction between NO and Pt was increased by heating, but desorption preceded dissociation. The above results were finally related to the catalytic properties of the three metals for the reaction of NO.     

NEXAFS characterization of DNA components and molecular-orientation of surface-bound DNA oligomers

Single stranded DNA oligomers (ssDNA) immobilized onto solid surfaces forms the basis for several biotechnological applications such as DNA microarrays, affinity separations, and biosensors. The surface structure of the surface-bound oligomers is expected to significantly influence their biological activity and interactions with the environment. In this study near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) is used to characterize the components of DNA (nucleobases, nucleotides and nucleosides) and the orientation information of surface-bound ssDNA. The K-edges of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen have spectra with features that are characteristic of the different chemical species present in the nucleobases of DNA. The effect of addition of the DNA sugar and phosphate components on the NEXAFS K-edge spectra was also investigated. The polarization-dependent nitrogen K-edge NEXAFS data show significant changes for different orientations of surface bound ssDNA. These results establish NEXAFS as a powerful technique for chemical and structural characterization of surface-bound DNA oligomers.     

E–mv coupling of vibrational overtone in organic conductors: Relationship to optical nonlinearities and ferroelectricity

A strong electron–phonon coupling effect, referred to as electron–molecular vibration (e–mv) coupling, induces characteristic vibronic signals in the vibrational spectra of organic conductors. This paper discusses a new spectroscopic signal induced by the e–mv coupling effect, and the physical implications of its emergence. This vibronic signal, attributable to an overtone of a molecular vibration, appears with an anti-resonance form in the infrared spectrum of some mixed-valency complexes when the compounds undergo a charge-ordering transition. Based on the results of cluster model calculations, the activation of the overtone signal is interpreted as an indication of the generation of anharmonicity in the electronic potential. This analysis suggests that the series of the complexes should possess potential nonlinear optical abilities, though these compounds have long been viewed as electric conductors having the opposite characteristics of dielectrics that show nonlinear optical properties.     

苝四甲酸二酐在Au(111)表面的取向生长及电子结构研究

利用X射线光电子能谱(XPS),同步辐射紫外光电子能谱(SRUPS),近边X射线吸收精细结构(NEXAFS)以及原子力显微镜(AFM)等技术研究了苝四甲酸二酐(PTCDA)与Au(111)的界面电子结构、PTCDA分子取向及有机薄膜的表面形貌.SRUPS价带谱显示,伴随PTCDA分子的微量沉积(0·5ML),位于费米能级附近Au的表面电子态迅速消失,但却观察不到明显的界面杂化态,这说明PTCDA分子和Au(111)界面间存在弱电子传输过程,但并没有发生明显的化学反应.角分辨NEXAFS以及SRUPS结果证明PTCDA分子是平铺在衬底表面.根据Au4f7/2和C1s峰积分强度随薄膜厚度的变化以及AFM图像可知,PTCDA分子在Au(111)表面是一种典型的Stranski-Krastanov生长模式,即先层状生长,再岛状生长,并且在层状生长到岛状生长的转变过程中,存在有机分子的去润湿过程.     

Thin PTCDA films on Si(0 0 1): 2. Electronic structure

We have studied the thin film formation and the electronic structure of the organic molecular semiconductor 3,4,9,10 perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), on clean and on hydrogen-passivated Si(0 0 1) surfaces. The studies were made by means of high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS), angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). On the H passivated surface the changes in the electronic structure of the substrate and the molecules with increasing film thickness are very small. The molecular orbitals show a dispersive behavior, indicating that the PTCDA layers are ordered. On the reactive clean surface the anhydride groups of the molecule interact with the substrate as indicated by changes in the core level binding energies. This results in a much lower ordering in the film compared to PTCDA on a passivated silicon surface. There is no sign of decomposition of the molecule because of the more reactive substrate.     

Chemical state analysis of heat-treated polyacrylonitrile fiber using soft X-ray spectromicroscopy

Chemical state analyses of heat-treated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers with a spatial resolution of 200 nm have been performed using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) at a third generation synchrotron radiation facility. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra and chemical state images have been obtained on the cross-sectioned fiber specimens. A clear `core–rim' structure has been observed in the heat-treated fibers. The spectral characteristics show that the fiber has less nitrile group in the core region, suggesting that, contrary to the model widely believed, the conversion of the nitrile to other chemical species proceeds faster in the core of the fibers.     

Influence of energy transfer on the intensity pattern of vibronic excitation studied by reduced density-matrix theory

Intensity pattern of the vibronic transitions of a molecular dimer consisting of two molecules interacting through the Coulombic coupling is theoretically studied using a reduced density-matrix approach. The monomeric molecules are assumed to be electronic two-state systems. A single vibration mode with a high frequency and a continuous distribution of low-frequency phonons represented by the Ohmic spectral density are coupled to the electronic transition of the respective molecules. The spin-Boson model is employed to include the effect of electron-vibration and electron-phonon couplings. The intermolecular Coulombic coupling is assumed to be weak (inducing the Förster type of energy transfer process). It is found that, in addition to the well-known excitonic shifts, the intensity of the vibronic side bands reduces with the intermolecular coupling strength in the J-aggregate type of dimer while it increases in the H-aggregate type. When the vibronic bands are blurred by the broadening resulting from the coupling of the electrons to the continuous distribution of the phonons, the absorption line shape shows a wide range of variation depending on the strength of the intermolecular coupling.