Penning ionization electron spectroscopy and photo-electron spectroscopy of molecular solids. II. Ammonia and water

The Penning ionization electron spectra (PIES) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) of ammonia and water molecules condensed on a cold metal substrate have been measured using thermal He*(2³S, 2¹S) metastable atoms and He(I) (58.4 nm) photons. The shifts of the observed positions of the PIES peaks relative to those of the UPS peaks in the condensed phase are roughly equal to the corresponding shifts in the gas phase. The relative intensities of the 3a₁ and 1e orbital peaks are reversed in the PIES and UPS for both gaseous and condensed ammonia; the origin of this reversal is interpreted as the difference between the interactions with metastable atoms and photons. On the other hand, the relative intensities of the 3a₁ orbital peak in the PIES and UPS for condensed water decrease as compared to the gas-phase spectra. This implies participation of the 3a₁ orbital of water in the hydrogen bonding.     

The unoccupied electronic structure characterization of hydrothermally grown ThO2 single crystals

Single crystals of thorium dioxide ThO₂, grown by the hydrothermal growth technique, have been investigated by ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES), and L₃, M₃, M₄, and M₅ X‐ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). The experimental band gap for large single crystals has been determined to be 6 eV to 7 eV, from UPS and IPES, in line with expectations. The combined UPS and IPES, place the Fermi level near the conduction band minimum, making these crystals n‐type, with extensive band tailing, suggesting an optical gap in the region of 4.8 eV for excitations from occupied to unoccupied edge states. Hybridization between the Th 6d/5f bands with O 2p is strongly implicated. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A study of the interaction between perylene and the TiO2(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface-based on XPS, UPS and NEXAFS measurements

The interaction between a semi-large aromatic hydrocarbon compound (perylene) and the TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface under ultra high vacuum conditions has been probed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) methods. UPS measurements of the adsorbate system have been compared with an experimental UPS spectrum of perylene in the gas phase and a calculated spectrum obtained by means of density functional theory (DFT) methods. NEXAFS results of perylene molecules adsorbed on TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) were compared with data from an α-phase perylene single crystal. A novel analysis of the valence data has been employed to show that no strong chemical interaction takes place between perylene and the TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface. Furthermore, angle-dependent NEXAFS measurements and the growth curve results suggest that the perylene molecules are oriented flat down onto the TiO₂ substrate due to weak van der Waals interactions.     

Synthetic metals based on tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene(TMTSF): Varied anisotropy in the low temperature (125K) structures of (TMTSF)2X,X=C104-, PF6-, and AsF6-.

The low temperature (125K) X-ray crystal structures of (TMTSF)₂X, X=C10₄^-, PF₆^-, and AsF₆^- reveal decreases in the intermolecular interand intrastack Se-Se contact distances upon cooling (298K to 125K) which are highly anisotropic and different from one salt to another. The changes in the interstack distances, which are normal to the stacking direction, are approximately twice those involving intrastack Se-Se interactions. These observations establish that the anisotropic structural changes which accompany decreased temperature are common to numerous (TMTSF)₂X radical cation conducting salts.     

Spectroscopic analysis of CIGS2/CdS thin film solar cell heterojunctions on stainless steel foil

This paper presents a spectroscopic analysis of the interface between a CuIn_1−xGa_xS₂ (CIGS2) absorber and a CdS buffer layer on stainless steel foil by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES) and photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). By combining these spectroscopic techniques, detailed information about the electronic and chemical properties of the CIGS2 surface and the CdS/CIGS2 interface can be obtained. The gallium concentration in CIGS2 films was found to increase continuously towards the Mo back contact. XPS analysis showed the presence of KCO₃ on the surface of CdS, deposited on etched and un-oxidized samples indicating diffusion of potassium. No potassium was observed on oxidized as well as samples having thicker CdS (50 nm) indicating the effectiveness of oxidation and chemical bath deposition (CBD) process in cleaning the sample surface effectively. In addition, investigation of the electronic level alignment at the interface has been carried out by combining PES and IPES. Conduction band offset of −0.45 (±0.15) eV and a valence band offset of −1.06 (±0.15) eV were measured. These unfavorable conditions limit efficiency of CIGS2 thin film solar cells.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and spectral characteristics of highly fluorescent chalcone-based coumarin in solution and in polymer matrix

A new coumarin chalcone 3-((2E)-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl) prop-2-enoyl)-4-hydroxy-2(H)-chromen-2-one was synthesized using the Claisen Schmidt reaction by the condensation of 3-acetyl-4-hydroxycoumarin and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde using a mild organic base. This novel compound was characterized by ¹H NMR, FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray diffraction investigation at low temperature (T=120 K) shows that this compound exhibits an intramolecular O3–H…O hydrogen bond, the coumarin ring and the phenyl group are nearly coplanar and the crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular O3–H…O contacts and π–π stacking interactions. This ortho-hydroxyphenyl-4-hydroxycoumarin chalcone exhibits a strong blue-green emission under visible light excitation at 470 nm. The fluorescence behaviors of this compound doped in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were investigated.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,spectroscopic characterization and optical properties of bis(4-acetylanilinium) tetrachlorocobalt (II)

The chemical preparation, crystal structure, spectroscopic investigations and optical features are given for a novel organic–inorganic hybrid material [C₈H₁₀NO]₂CoCl₄.The compound is crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Cmca, with the following unit cell parameters: a=19.461(2) Å, b=15.523(2) Å, c=13.7436(15) Å, and Z=8. The atomic arrangement shows an alternation of organic and inorganic layers along the b-axis. The cohesion between these entities is performed by N–H…Cl and N–H…O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions.Infrared and Raman spectra at room temperature are recorded in the 4000−400 and 4000−0 cm⁻¹ frequency regions, respectively and analyzed on the basis of literature data. This study confirms the presence of the organic cation [C₈H₁₀NO]⁺ and of the [CoCl₄]²⁻ anion. UV–vis spectroscopy results showed the indirect transition with band gap energy 2.98 eV.     

UPS spectra of H2O,CH3OH and C5H9OH adsorbed onto Cu(111)/Na and Na(cp)

The present communication presents ultraviolet photoemission spectra (UPS) of three different “alcohols”; water (H₂O), methanol (CH₃OH), and cyclopentanol (C₅H₉OH), chemisorbed onto a Cu(111) surface partially covered by sodium atoms as well as onto closely packed sodium films, a free electron adsorbent. Whereas all three alcohols ROH bind reversibly and associatively to Cu(111) they react with adsorbed sodium atoms to metal bound alcoxides RO. The chemisorption bond, characterized by the interaction between O 2pπ orbitals and metal atoms as an electron donor, the alcoxide being the acceptor, is similar for all groups R. The O 2pπ orbitals shift to higher UPS binding energies with increasing electron density, i.e. decreasing r_s/a_o of the sodium overlayer. Only for HONa, the sterically smallest group R, does the alcoxide growth continue in three dimensions. Although, possibly failing to reproduce the electron density profile of a free electron surface, Hartree-Fock-Slater cluster calculations of small models ROH and RONa₃ enable correlations to be made between UPS intensity peaks and one electron orbitals.     

Chemisorption of NO and NH3 on cobalt: Studies by UPS,XPS, and work-function measurements

Chemisorption of NO and NH₃ on cobalt has been studied by UV and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS and XPS) and work-function measurements. The 25°C data for NO are consistent with dissociative chemisorption below ～5 L exposure followed by molecular chemisorption at higher exposures; complete dissociation occurs after heating to 500°C. The UPS of molecularly chemisorbed NO exhibit peaks at ～2.7, 10.2 and 14 eV below E_F, corresponding to ionization of the 2π*, (1π + 5σ), and 4σ MO's. The UPS data for NH₃ exhibit peaks at 7.9 and 11.4 eV below E_F, consistent with ionization of the 3a₁ and 7e MO's of NH₃ and/or MO's of the fragments NH₂ and/or NH.     

Study of longitudinal distributions in the fragmentation regions,using the quark-parton model,in K−p interactions at 70 GeV/c

The study of π^±, π⁰, K⁰ and Λ production in the fragmentation regions (|x|0.2) of K^?p interactions at 70 GeV/c shows that the x-dependence of each invariant cross section is well described by the power law (1?|x|)ⁿ suggested by the dimensional counting rule. Furthermore, pion production is found, both in K^? and proton fragmentation regions, to be very similar to their production in $\text{ν(}\text{ν}\text{)}\text{p}$ interactions as expected from quark-parton models. The quark and diquark fragmentation functions D_u^π, D_uu^π and D_ud^π are extracted from our data.     

Electronic structure of the conduction band of the interface region of ultrathin films of substituted perylenedicarboximides and the germanium oxide surface

The results of the investigation of the electronic structure of the conduction band and the interfacial potential barrier during the formation of interfaces of dioctyl-substituted perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-C₈) and diphenyl-substituted perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-Ph) ultrathin films with the oxidized germanium surface have been presented. The experimental results have been obtained using the very low energy electron diffraction (VLEED) technique in the total current spectroscopy (TCS) mode at energies in the range from 5 to 20 eV above the Fermi level E_F. The positions of the maxima of the fine structure of total current spectra (FSTCS) of the PTCDI-C₈ and PTCDI-Ph films differ significantly in the energy range from 9 to 20 eV above the Fermi level E_F, which can be associated with the difference between the substituents of the chosen molecules, dioctyl- and diphenyl-, respectively. At the same time, the positions of the lowenergy maxima in the FSTCS spectra at an energy 6–7 eV above the Fermi level E_F for the PTCDI-C₈ and PTCDI-Ph films almost coincide with each other. It has been suggested that these maxima are attributed to the electronic states of the perylene core of the molecules under investigation. The process of the formation of interfacial potential barriers of the PTCDI-C₈ and PTCDI-Ph films with the oxidized germanium surface has been analyzed. It has been found that the work functions of the surface, E_vac–E_F, differ little from 4.6 ± 0.1 eV over the entire range of organic coating thicknesses from 0 to 6 nm.     

Electronic structure and fluorescent properties of malononitrile-based merocyanines with positive and negative solvatochromism

The behavior of the positions and shapes of the fluorescence bands of di-, tetra-, and hexamethine merocyanine dyes with 3H-indolyliden (dyes 1–3) and benzoimidazolyliden (dyes 4–6) as electron-donating substituents and malononitrile as an electron-accepting substituent is studied by the method of moments in solvents of different polarity. The solvatofluorochromic shifts have been found to be smaller than the solvatochromic shifts not only for negatively solvatochromic merocyanines 4–6, but also for dyes 1–3 whose solvatochromism is positive. For dyes 4–6, cases of a change of the sign of solvatofluorochromism with respect to the sign of solvatochromism are revealed. These nontrivial effects are accounted for by transitions between the polyene and polymethine electronic structures of merocyanines in the fluorescence state S ₁ that occur with increasing medium polarity. In contrast to the absorption spectra of merocyanines 1–3, an increase in the chain length results in an increase in the vinylene shifts in the fluorescence spectra of these dyes, as well as in a decrease in the deviations and in the narrowing of the bands. This is explained by the fact that the electronic structure of these merocyanines in the S ₁ state is closer to that of the ideal polymethine (the cyanine limit) than in the S ₀ state. The fluorescence bands of merocyanines 4–6 are observed to be broader compared to the absorption bands. This broadening is caused by a change in the relation between intermolecular and vibronic interactions during absorption and emission of light. The interactions of these types have a decisive effect on the behavior of the Stokes shifts and fluorescence quantum yields of merocyanines 1–6.     

The electronic structure of SrTiO3 and some simple related oxides (MgO,Al2O3, SrO,TiO2)

The valence band density of states (VBDOS) of the insulating oxides SrTiO₃, TiO₂, SrO, MgO and Al₂O₃ obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), are reported. Qualitatively, the VBDOS of these oxides are similar to one another. The XPS results are compared with results from soft X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), and theoretical calculations. There are some differences (in particular for TiO₂) between the XES and XPS results, which are probably due to matrix element effects enhancing different features of the VBDOS in the two techniques. The XPS results definitively establish the position of the O 2s level, which had been erroneously assigned in previous low-energy UPS measurements. Cluster-type calculations are demonstrated to give a reasonable representation of the VBDOS for the oxides.     

Structural study,intermolecular interactions in view of X-ray and Hirshfeld surface analysis,DSC characterization,and electrical properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-(4-benzylpyridinium) tetrabromozincate

The synthesis and crystal structure of the bis-(4-benzylpyridinium) tetrabromozincate(II) “(4-BP)₂[ZnBr₄]” salt are reported in the present paper. After an X-ray investigation, it has been shown that the title compound belongs to the centrosymmetric monoclinic system at 296 K, in the space group P2₁/n with the following lattice parameters a = 15.0764(8) Å, b = 22.5575(12) Å, c = 16.0739(9) Å, and β = 93.887(3)°. The FT-IR and Raman spectra confirm the presence of both cationic and anionic parts. The crystal packing is governed by an extensive network: N–H…Br, (N: pyridinium), C–H…Br hydrogen bonds, π…π, and C–H…π stacking between identical 4-BP (aromatic–aromatic), in which they may be effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure. Moreover, Hirshfeld surface analysis was used for visually analyzing intermolecular interactions in crystal structures. The phase transitions at T = 323 K have been confirmed by the differential scanning calorimetry. The electrical technique was measured in the 209 Hz–5-MHz frequency range and 298–393-K temperature intervals. The evolution of the dielectric constant as a function of frequency and temperature proved the presence of a first-order phase transition at 323 K.

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Topological analysis of charge density in heptasulfur imide (S7NH) from isolated molecule to solid

Intra and intermolecular interactions of heptasulfur imide (S₇NH) are investigated in terms of topological properties analyses, such analyses are applied to both experimental (multipole model) and theoretically calculated (DFT and PDFT calculations) charge densities of the isolated molecule and of the crystal. The same analyses are also applied to a multipole model density obtained from theoretically (PDFT) derived structural amplitudes. The covalent bond character of S-N, N-H and S-S bonds are well described in terms of density, ρ_b, and total energy density, H_b, at the bond critical point r_c, though it is clear that the S-S bonds are weaker shared interactions than those of N-H and S-N bonds. Lone pair electron regions of sulfur and nitrogen atoms are revealed as the local charge concentration site from the Laplacian of charge density. The even weaker intermolecular interactions are well characterized; these include the N-H?S hydrogen bonding, N?S binding interactions and S?S binding interactions. All these intermolecular binding interactions are closed-shell interactions. The Laplacian of charge density demonstrates a directional intermolecular binding interaction. The corresponding intermolecular binding energies are derived by MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculations. Atomic graph of each atom of the molecule is described in detail by the vertices, edges and faces of the polyhedron around the nucleus to illustrate such directional interactions.     

The probability of the reaction (π−, p) and the problem of Δ+ isobars in the atomic nucleus

The process of slow π^? absorption in ₂₁⁴⁵Sc, ₂₇⁵⁹Co, ₃₉⁸⁹Y, ₅₅¹³³Cs, ₅₉¹⁴¹Pr and ₇₉¹⁹⁷Au atomic nuclei, followed by the emission of one proton, has been investigated. Upper limits for the probabilities of single-proton emission have been determined from the yields of the isotopes produced. The following values are obtained, per stopped pion: W ? 6.1 × 10^?4 for the reaction ₂₁⁴⁵Sc(π^?, p)₁₉⁴⁴K, W ? 0.87 × 10^?4 for ₂₇⁵⁹Co(π^?, p)₂₅⁵⁸Mn, W ? 6.9 × 10^?4 for ₃₉⁸⁹Y(π^?, p)₃₇⁸⁸Rb, W ? 1.3 × 10^?4 for ₅₅¹³³Cs(π^?, p)₅₃¹³²I, W ? 3.0 × 10^?4 for ₅₉¹⁴¹Pr(π^?, p)₅₇¹⁴⁰La, and W ? 3.3 × 10^?5 for ₇₉¹⁹⁷Au(π^?, p)₇₇^196mIr.     

Synthesis and photoinduced electron transfer characteristic of a bis (zinc porphyrin)‐perylene bisimide array

In this article, a donor–acceptor array consisting of two zinc porphyrin (ZnPOR) units attached to the 1,7‐positions of perylene‐3,4:9,10‐bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) was synthesized and characterized. This double‐wing molecule exhibits very broad absorption in the region from 300 to 900 nm. Especially, its lower energy absorption feature presumably arises from donor–acceptor interactions. The fluorescence emission spectra confirmed that photoinduced electron transfer occurred from POR to perylene bisimide moiety in this triad. In contrast to previously studied systems incorporating POR and PDI groups, this array shows the evidence of a relatively strong ground‐state electronic coupling between the donor and acceptor moieties. Additionally, highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital values of the array were acquired by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results showed that these energy values fulfill the energetic conditions required for the proposed electron transfer. More importantly, the photocurrent measurement showed that this molecule exhibits a high capacity to form a photoinduced charge‐separated state and to produce steady and prompt cathodic photocurrent responses. These results confirmed the role of this new array toward harvesting light energy and generating photocurrent during the operation of a photoelectrochemical cell. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structure,Hirshfeld surface analysis,vibrational properties,and electrical and dielectric studies of the bis (4-benzylpyridinium) tetrachlorocuprate (II)

The present paper undertakes the study of (C₁₂H₁₂N)₂CuCl₄, which is a new hybrid compound. It is synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and FT-IR, FT-Raman, and impedance spectroscopies. It is crystallized in the monoclinic system with C2/c space group. Its crystal structure was determined and refined down to an R value of 0.05 and a wR value of 0.14. The structure can be described by the alternation of two different, cationic–anionic layers parallel to (110) plan. This complex is assembled into 3D supramolecular architecture by hydrogen bonds (N–H…Cl, C–H…Cl) and π–π interactions. Hirshfeld surface analyses and fingerprint plots are used for decoding intermolecular interactions in the crystal network and contribution of component units for the construction of the 3D architecture. The presence of different functional groups and the nature of their vibrations were identified by FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies. The material is characterized by impedance spectroscopy technique measured in 209–500 MHz frequency and 296–390 K temperature ranges. In addition, the Cole–Cole (Z? versus Z?) plots were well fitted to an equivalent circuit built up by a parallel combination of resistance (R) and constant phase elements (CPEs). The close values of activation energies obtained from the analysis of equivalent circuit data confirm that the transport is through ion hopping mechanism in the bis (4-benzylpyridinium) tetrachlorocuprate.     

Quantization of an electromagnetic field in two-dimensional photonic structures based on the scattering matrix formalism (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-quantization)

We have analyzed the parameters of the Franck–Condon and Herzberg–Teller interactions, which form the fine-structure spectra of diphenylbutadiene substituted derivatives with the general formula X–Ph–(C=C)2–Ph–Y (where X, Y = H, NO₂, N(CH₃)₂, and NH₂ are the substituents in different combinations) in solutions of n-paraffins at 4.2 K. The influence of substituents on the vibronic parameters of characteristic bands that describe the states (vibrations, types of deformations upon excitation) of the phenyl rings and diphenylbutadiene polyene bridge has been considered. Data on the influence of the H, NO₂, N(CH₃)₂, or NH₂ terminal fragment on the parameters of the intra- and intermolecular interactions of diphenylbutadiene substituted derivatives have been presented.     

Novel pyridyl‐substituted coumarin and its perchlorate salt–crystal structure and spectroscopic properties

The novel pyridyl‐substituted coumarin ( 1 ) and its perchlorate salt ( 2 ) have been synthesized and their structure and properties elucidated in detail spectroscopically, thermally and structurally, using single crystal X‐ray diffraction for 2 , linear‐polarized solid state IR‐spectroscopy, UV‐spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, DTA, and positive and negative ESI MS. Quantum chemical calculations were used to obtain the electronic structure, vibrational data and electronic spectra. The studied compound crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P‐1 and exhibits an infinite layered structure with the ions linked by means of the intermolecular N⁺H…OClO₃ (2.795 Å) interactions. The cations are disposed in a manner leading to a significant π‐stacking effect with a distance of 2.980 Å. The effects of N_py protonation on the optical and magnetic properties are elucidated by comparing the data of the protonated and neutral compounds. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.