The role of CN and CO ligands in the vibrational relaxation dynamics of model compounds of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase enzyme

The vibrational dynamics of (μ-propanedithiolate)Fe(2)(CO)(4)(CN)(2)(2-), a model compound of the active site of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase enzyme, have been examined via ultrafast 2D-IR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the vibrational coupling between the stretching modes of the CO and CN ligands is small and restricted to certain modes but the slow growth of off-diagonal peaks is assigned to population transfer processes occurring between these modes on timescales of 30-40 ps. Analysis of the dynamics in concert with anharmonic density functional theory simulations shows that the presence of CN ligands alters the vibrational relaxation dynamics of the CO modes in comparison to all-carbonyl model systems and suggests that the presence of these ligands in the enzyme may be an important feature in terms of directing the vibrational relaxation mechanism.     

Femtosecond Dynamics of Dioxygen - Picket-Fence Cobalt Porphyrins: Ultrafast Release of O(2) and the Nature of Dative Bonding

The ultrafast release of O(2) from the O(2) adduct of picket-fence cobalt porphyrin (see picture) has been probed in real time, and has a total reaction time of 2 ps, without subsequent recombination over several nanoseconds. The dynamics of this ultrafast release of O(2) shows that relaxation within the porphyrin system (200 fs) precedes porphyrin-to-metal electron transfer, but the latter occurs at an enhanced rate (500 fs as opposed to the more usual 1 - 2 ps) because of the dative bonding of cobalt and O(2), which gives the adduct ground state significant Co(III)-O(2)(-) character.     

Luminescence and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanocrystals: correlation between structure and property

Low-dimensional ZnO nanocrystals with controlled size, aspect ratio, and oxygen defects (e.g., type and concentration) are successfully prepared through simple solvothermal and thermal treatment methods. The structure of the as-synthesized samples is characterized by XRD, N2 physical adsorption, TEM, and IR and XPS spectra. The results show that the aspect ratio and size of the as-synthesized ZnO nanocrystals increase with increasing [OH-]/[Zn2+]; the morphology evolves from nanorod to nanoparticle with an increase in the annealing temperature; the BET surface areas of the corresponding samples decrease during these processes, respectively; and different oxygen defects, which are likely to be oxygen vacancy (Vo**) and interstitial oxygen (Oi'), are formed in our experiments accordingly. With evolution of the structure, IR absorption bands and visible photoluminescence emission peaks of the synthesized ZnO nanocrystals shift and split, which is ascribed to the change of oxygen defects. In addition, it is found that the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized ZnO nanocrystals is mainly dependent on the type and concentration of oxygen defects. The relationship of structure-property and the possible photocatalytic mechanism are discussed in detail.     

纳米V2O5／ZnO光催化剂对壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚降解的催化活性

采用氨浸法制备了不同V2O5含量的纳米V2O5/ZnO光催化剂,并用X射线衍射、比表面积测定、透射电镜、X射线光电子能谱和漫反射紫外-可见光谱测定了催化剂的晶型、比表面积、形貌尺寸、表面组成和光谱特征.以壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚(NPE-10)为模型污染物,分别在紫外光和可见光照射下考察了光催化剂的催化活性.结果表明,随着V2O5含量的增加,V2O5/ZnO的粒径逐渐减小,比表面积逐渐增大.与纳米ZnO样品相比,V2O5/ZnO中V2p的结合能减小,而Zn2p和O1s的结合能增大,V2O5/ZnO表面的羟基氧和吸附氧含量增加.n(V)/n(Zn)=2·5%的V2O5/ZnO光催化剂样品的催化活性最高(在紫外光和可见光照射3h后,NPE-10降解率分别约为79%和62%).     

Fine tuning the energetics of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT): white light generation in a single ESIPT system

Using 7-hydroxy-1-indanone as a prototype (I), which exhibits excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), chemical modification has been performed at C(2)-C(3) positions by fusing benzene (molecule II) and naphthalene rings, (molecule III). I undergoes an ultrafast rate of ESIPT, resulting in a unique tautomer emission (λ(max) ～530 nm), whereas excited-state equilibrium is established for both II and III, as supported by the dual emission and the associated relaxation dynamics. The forward ESIPT (normal to proton-transfer tautomer species) rates for II and III are deduced to be (30 ps)(-1) and (22 ps)(-1), respectively, while the backward ESIPT rates are (11 ps)(-1) and (48 ps)(-1). The ESIPT equilibrium constants are thus calculated to be 0.37 and 2.2 for II and III, respectively, giving a corresponding free energy change of 0.59 and -0.47 kcal/mol between normal and tautomer species. For III, normal and tautomer emissions in solid are maximized at 435 and 580 nm, respectively, achieving a white light generation with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) (0.30, 0.27). An organic light-emitting diode based on III is also successfully fabricated with maximum brightness of 665 cd m(-2) at 20 V (885 mA cm(-2)) and the CIE coordinates of (0.26, 0.35). The results provide the proof of concept that the white light generation can be achieved in a single ESIPT system.     

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of solvated electrons in aqueous NaI solution

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the energetics and dynamics of solvated electrons in aqueous solution. Solvated electrons are generated by ultrafast photodetachment in a 100 mM aqueous NaI solution. Initially, an ensemble of strongly bound ("cold") solvated electrons and an ensemble of weakly bound ("hot") electrons in an unequilibrated solvent environment are observed. We report an ultrafast recombination channel for the "hot" electrons with a rate of (800 fs)(-1) which is in competition with thermalization occurring with a rate of (1.1 ps)(-1). The thermalized electrons recombine with the iodide radical with a rate of (22 ps)(-1). About 35% of the thermalized electrons escape geminate recombination and form free, solvated electrons. The vertical detachment energy for the solvated electron is determined to be 3.40 eV. No indication for a surface-bound electron at lower binding energies was observed.     

Ultrafast charge separation in a photoreactive rhenium-appended porphyrin assembly monitored by picosecond transient infrared spectroscopy

Rhenium(bipyridine)(tricarbonyl)(picoline) units have been linked covalently to tetraphenylmetalloporphyrins of magnesium and zinc via an amide bond between the bipyridine and one phenyl substituent of the porphyrin. The resulting complexes, abbreviated as [Re(CO)(3)(Pic)Bpy-MgTPP][OTf] and [Re(CO)(3)(Pic)Bpy-ZnTPP][OTf], exhibit no signs of electronic interaction between the Re(CO)(3)(bpy) units and the metalloporphyrin units in their ground states. However, emission spectroscopy reveals solvent-dependent quenching of porphyrin emission on irradiation into the long-wavelength absorption bands localized on the porphyrin. The characteristics of the excited states have been probed by picosecond time-resolved absorption (TRVIS) spectroscopy and time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy in nitrile solvents. The presence of the charge-separated state involving electron transfer from MgTPP or ZnTPP to Re(bpy) is signaled in the TRIR spectra by a low-frequency shift in the nu(CO) bands of the Re(CO)(3) moiety similar to that observed by spectroelectrochemical reduction. Long-wavelength excitation of [Re(CO)(3)(Pic)Bpy-MTPP][OTf] results in characteristic TRVIS spectra of the S(1) state of the porphyrin that decay with a time constant of 17 ps (M = Mg) or 24 ps (M = Zn). The IR bands of the CS state appear on a time scale of less than 1 ps (Mg) or ca. 5 ps (Zn) and decay giving way to a vibrationally excited (i.e., hot) ground state via back electron transfer. The IR bands of the precursors recover with a time constant of 35 ps (Mg) or 55 ps (Zn). The short lifetimes of the charge-transfer states carry implications for the mechanism of reaction in the presence of triethylamine.     

Electronic and vibrational spectra of some rare earth trifluoromethanesulfonates crystals

Nanocrystalline ZnO powders have been synthesized by a low temperature solution combustion method. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of as-formed and heat treated ZnO shows strong violet (402, 421, 437, 485 nm) and weak green (520 nm) emission peaks respectively. The PL intensities of defect related emission bands decrease with calcinations temperature indicating the decrease of Zn(i) and V(o)(+) caused by the chemisorptions of oxygen. The results are correlated with the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies. Thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of gamma irradiated ZnO nanoparticles exhibit a single broad glow peak at ～343°C. This can be attributed to the recombination of charge carriers released from the surface states associated with oxygen defects, mainly interstitial oxygen ion centers. The trapping parameters of ZnO irradiated with various γ-doses are calculated using peak shape method. It is observed that the glow peak intensity increases with increase of gamma dose without changing glow curve shape. These two characteristic properties such as TL intensity increases with gamma dose and simple glow curve structure is an indication that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles might be used as good TL dosimeter for high temperature application.     

Hidden Relaxation Channels in Aqueous Methylene Blue after Functionalization of Graphene Oxide Probed by Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

The mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and dye molecules may provide some new applications due to unique electronic, optical, and structural properties. Methylene blue (MB), a typical anionic dye, can attach on GO via π-π stacking and electrostatic interaction, and the molecule removal process on GO has been observed. However, it remains unclear about the ultrafast carrier dynamics and the internal energy transfer pathways of the system which is composed of GO and MB. We have employed ultrafast optical pump-probe spectroscopy to investigate the excited dynamics of the GO-MB system dispersed in water by exciting the samples at 400 nm pump pulse. The pristine MB and GO dynamics are also analyzed in t_andem for a direct comparison. Utilizing the global analysis to fit the measured signal via a sequential model, five lifetimes are acquired:(0.61±0.01) ps, (3.52±0.04) ps, (14.1±0.3) ps, (84±2) ps, and (3.66±0.08) ns. The ultrafast dynamics corresponding to these lifetimes was analyzed and the new relaxation processes were found in the GO-MB system, compared with the pristine MB. The results reveal that the functionalization of GO can alter the known decay pathways of MB via the energy transfer from GO to MB in system, the increased intermediate state, and the promoted energy transfer from triplet state MB to ground state oxygen molecules dissolved in aqueous sample.     

Ultrafast structural rearrangements in the MLCT excited state for copper(I) bis-phenanthrolines in solution

Ultrafast excited-state structural dynamics of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+) (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been studied to identify structural origins of transient spectroscopic changes during the photoinduced metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition that induces an electronic configuration change from Cu(I) (3d(10)) to Cu(II) (3d(9)). This study has important connections with the flattening of the Franck-Condon state tetrahedral geometry and the ligation of Cu(II)* with the solvent observed in the thermally equilibrated MLCT state by our previous laser-initiated time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (LITR-XAS) results. To better understand the structural photodynamics of Cu(I) complexes, we have studied both [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+) and [Cu(I)(dpp)(2)](+) (dpp = 2,9-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in solvents with different dielectric constants, viscosities, and thermal diffusivities by transient absorption spectroscopy. The observed spectral dynamics suggest that a solvent-independent inner-sphere relaxation process is occurring despite the large amplitude motions due to the flattening of the tetrahedral coordinated geometry. The singlet fluorescence dynamics of photoexcited [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+) were measured in the coordinating solvent acetonitrile, using the fluorescence upconversion method at different emission wavelengths. At the bluest emission wavelengths, a prompt fluorescence lifetime of 77 fs is attributed to the excited-state deactivation processes due to the internal conversion and intersystem crossing at the Franck-Condon state geometry. The differentiation between the prompt fluorescence lifetime with the tetrahedral Franck-Condon geometry and that with the flattened tetrahedral geometry uncovers an unexpected ultrafast flattening process in the MLCT state of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+). These results provide guidance for future X-ray structural studies on ultrafast time scale, as well as for synthesis toward its applications in solar energy conversion.     

Tunable photoluminescent and cathodoluminescent properties of ZnO and ZnO:Zn phosphors

ZnO and ZnO:Zn powder phosphors were prepared by the polyol-method followed by annealing in air and reducing gas, respectively. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra, respectively. The results indicate that all samples are in agreement with the hexagonal structure of the ZnO phase and the particle sizes are in the range of 1-2 microm. The PL and CL spectra of ZnO powders annealed at 950 degrees C in air consist of a weak ultraviolet emission band (approximately 390 nm) and a broad emission band centered at about 527 nm, exhibiting yellow emission color to the naked eyes. When the sample was reduced at the temperatures from 500 to 1050 degrees C, the yellow emission decreased gradually and disappeared completely at 800 degrees C, whereas the ultraviolet emission band became the strongest. Above this temperature, the green emission ( approximately 500 nm) appeared and increased with increasing of reducing temperatures. According to the EPR results and spectral analysis, the yellow and green emissions may arise from the transitions of photogenerated electron close to the conduction band to the deeply trapped hole in the single negatively charged interstitial oxygen ion (Oi(-)) and the single ionized oxygen vacancy (V.O) centers, respectively.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of ZnO nanowires

ZnO nanowires (NWs) were synthesized on Au-coated Si (100) substrates by vapor transport method. The effect of high temperature annealing on the structural and chemical composition as well as thermal stability was studied. The as-prepared ZnO NWs was nearly stoichiometric and identified as hexagonal ZnO phase. After annealing at 1,473 K, the atomic ratio of O/Zn, the intensity of the diffraction peaks, and the diameter of nanowires were increased. The ZnO NWs were fragmented into nanocrystals and the fragments coalesced with each other after annealing at 1,673 K. The thermal stability of ZnO NWs was studied by thermo-gravimetric (TG) analysis. A sharp increase in the TG curves was observed and can be attributed to the oxidation of some possibly presented Zn atoms. The activation energy of oxidation of Zn interstitial atoms was found to be 484.81 kJ mol^?1. A mass gain peak was observed after annealing at 1,473 K, but it was completely eliminated after annealing at 1,673 K.     

Growth mechanism, photoluminescence, and field-emission properties of ZnO nanoneedle arrays

ZnO nanoneedle arrays have been grown on a large scale with a chemical vapor deposition method at 680 degrees C. Zn powder and O(2) gas are employed as source materials, and catalyst-free Si plates are used as substrates. Energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analyses show that the nanoneedles are almost pure ZnO and preferentially aligned in the c-axis direction of the wurtzite structure. The growth mechanism of ZnO nanoneedle arrays is discussed with the thermodynamic theory and concluded to be the result of the co-effect of the surface tension and diffusion. Photoluminescence spectrum of the as-grown products shows a strong emission band centering at about 484 nm, which originates from oxygen vacancies. Field-emission examination exhibits that the ZnO nanoneedle arrays have a turn-on voltage at about 5.3 V/microm.     

Composition‐Dependent Hot Carrier Relaxation Dynamics in Cesium Lead Halide (CsPbX3, X=Br and I) Perovskite Nanocrystals

Cesium‐based perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have outstanding photophysical properties improving the performances of lighting devices. Fundamental studies on excitonic properties and hot‐carrier dynamics in perovskite NCs further suggest that these materials show higher efficiencies compared to the bulk form of perovskites. However, the relaxation rates and pathways of hot‐carriers are still being elucidated. By using ultrafast transient spectroscopy and calculating electronic band structures, we investigated the dependence of halide in Cs‐based perovskite (CsPbX₃ with X=Br, I, or their mixtures) NCs on the hot‐carrier relaxation processes. All samples exhibit ultrafast (<0.6 ps) hot‐carrier relaxation dynamics with following order: CsPbBr₃ (310 fs)>CsPbBr_1.5I_1.5 (380 fs)>CsPbI₃ NC (580 fs). These result accounts for a reduced light emission efficiency of CsPbI₃ NC compared to CsPbBr₃ NC.     

Electron-transfer dynamics from Ru polypyridyl complexes to In2O3 nanocrystalline thin films

Photoinduced electron injection dynamics from Ru(dcbpy)(2)(X)(2) (dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine; X(2) = 2SCN(-), 2CN(-), and dcbpy; referenced as RuN3, Ru505, and Ru470) to In(2)O(3) nanocrystalline thin films were studied using ultrafast transient IR absorption spectroscopy. After 532 nm excitation of the adsorbates, the dynamics of electron injection from their excited states to In(2)O(3) were studied by monitoring the IR absorption of the injected electrons in the semiconductor. The injection kinetics were non-single-exponential. For samples exposed to air, the half rise times, defined as the time of 50% injection yield, were 5 +/- 0.8, 85 +/- 20, and >200 ps for RuN3, Ru505, and Ru470, respectively. For samples in pH 2 buffer, the corresponding half time for injection from these complexes became 6 +/- 1, 105 +/- 20, and 18 +/- 5 ps. The injection kinetics from RuN3 to In(2)O(3) was found to be similar to that to SnO(2). These kinetics traces showed a negligible <100 fs injection component and were very different from those to TiO(2). The dependences of the injection kinetics on adsorbate energetics and the nature of the semiconductors are discussed.     

Gas-phase infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of tetravanadiumoxo and oxo-methoxo cluster anions.

The infrared spectra of the binary vanadium oxide cluster anions V(4)O(9)(-) and V(4)O(10)(-) and of the related methoxo clusters V(4)O(9)(OCH(3))(-) and V(4)O(8)(OCH(3))(2)(-) are recorded in the gas phase by photodissociation of the mass-selected ions using an infrared laser. For the oxide clusters V(4)O(9)(-) and V(4)O(10)(-), the bands of the terminal vanadyl oxygen atoms, nu(V-O(t)), and of the bridging oxygen atoms, nu(V-O(b)-V), are identified clearly. The clusters in which one or two of the oxo groups are replaced by methoxo ligands show additional absorptions which are assigned to the C-O stretch, nu(C-O). Density functional calculations are used as a complement for the experimental studies and the interpretation of the infrared spectra. The results depend in an unusual way on the functional employed (BLYP versus B3LYP), which is due to the presence of both V-O(CH(3)) single and V=O double bonds as terminal bonds and to the strong multireference character of the latter.     

Short-period superlattice structure of Sn-doped In(2)O(3)(ZnO)(4) and In(2)O(3)(ZnO)(5) nanowires

Two longitudinal superlattice structures of In(2)O(3)(ZnO)(4) and In(2)O(3)(ZnO)(5) nanowires were exclusively produced by a thermal evaporation method. The diameter is periodically modulated in the range of 50-90 nm. The nanowires consist of one In-O layer and five (or six) layered Zn-O slabs stacked alternately perpendicular to the long axis, with a modulation period of 1.65 (or 1.9) nm. These superlattice nanowires were doped with 6-8% Sn. The X-ray diffraction pattern reveals the structural defects of wurtzite ZnO crystals due to the In/Sn incorporation. The high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectrum suggests that In and Sn withdraw the electrons from Zn and enhance the number of dangling-bond O 2p states, resulting in the reduction of the band gap. Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence exhibit the peak shift of near band edge emission to the lower energy and the enhancement of green emission as the In/Sn content increases.     

Ultrafast fluorescence detection in tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex in solution: relaxation dynamics involving higher excited states

The excited-state dynamics of a transition metal complex, tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II), [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), has been investigated using femtosecond fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy. The relaxation dynamics in these molecules is of great importance in understanding the various ultrafast processes related to interfacial electron transfer, especially in semiconductor nanoparticles. Despite several experimental and theoretical efforts, direct observation of a Franck-Condon singlet excited state in this molecule was missing. In this study, emission from the Franck-Condon excited singlet state of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) has been observed for the first time, and its lifetime has been estimated to be 40 +/- 15 fs. Biexponential decays with a fast rise component observed at longer wavelengths indicated the existence of more than one emitting state in the system. From a detailed data analysis, it has been proposed that, on excitation at 410 nm, crossover from higher excited (1)(MLCT) states to the vibrationally hot triplet manifold occurs with an intersystem crossing time constant of 40 +/- 15 fs. Mixing of the higher levels in the triplet state with the singlet state due to strong spin-orbit coupling is proposed. This enhances the radiative rate constant, k(r), of the vibrationally hot states within the triplet manifold, facilitating the upconversion of the emitted photons. The vibrationally excited triplet, which is emissive, undergoes vibrational cooling with a decay time in the range of 0.56-1.3 ps and relaxes to the long-lived triplet state. The results on the relaxation dynamics of the higher excited states in [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) are valuable in explaining the role of nonequilibrated higher excited sensitizer states of transition metal complexes in the electron injection and other ultrafast processes.     

Ultrafast wavelength-dependent lasing-time dynamics in single ZnO nanotetrapod and nanowire lasers

The ultrafast lasing dynamics of single zinc oxide nanotetrapods and nanowires are investigated by two-color femtosecond excitation/optical injection spectroscopy. The transient spectral gain induced by time-delayed optical injection pulses (400 nm) is used to investigate the spectrally and temporally resolved lasing properties in a single tetrapod or nanowire laser excited by 267-nm pulses. The lasing output pulse exhibits a faster lasing decay time than the carrier decays due to the superlinear dependence of the lasing on the carrier density. Lasing at the low-energy side of the gain bandwidth (392 nm) has a full width at half maximum (fwhm) for stimulated emission of 1.7 ps. Lasing at 390 nm, the high-energy side of the gain bandwidth, has a fwhm of 2.1 ps for a single example nanowire. The change in lasing dynamics as a function of wavelength is affected by band gap renormalization, since lasing in the electron-hole plasma regime depends not only on the carrier density but also on the band gap shift with carrier density.     

Three novel organic-inorganic complexes based on decavanadate [V10O28]6- units: special water layers, open 3D frameworks and yellow/blue luminescences

Three unusual polyoxovanadate-based inorganic-organic hybrid complexes, [Zn(Im)(2)(DMF)(2)](2)[H(2)V(10)O(28)]·Im·DMF (1), [Zn(3)(Htrz)(6)(H(2)O)(6)][V(10)O(28)]·10H(2)O·Htrz (2) and {[Zn(3)(trz)(3)(H(2)O)(4)(DMF)](2)[V(10)O(28)]·4H(2)O}(n) (3) (Im = imidazole, Htrz = 1,2,4-triazole, DMF = N,N'-dimethylammonium) have been synthesized at room temperature via evaporative crystallization, and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 shows the structure of a discrete [V(10)O(28)](6-) cluster grafted by two [Zn(Im)(2)(DMF)(2)](2+) fragments through two bridged oxygen atoms, representing a rarely observed coordination mode. Complex 2 consists of a linear trinuclear Zn(II) unit bridging six Htrz ligands and a [V(10)O(28)](6-) cluster as the counter anion, where the extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions lead to {Zn(3)-V(10)}(SMF) and a special water layer involving (H(2)O)(36) rings, and consequently forms a unique 3D metal-organic-water supramolecular network. Complex 3 can be described as a 3,4-connected fsc-type network, and is the first example of open coordination 3D framework based on [V(10)O(28)](6-) and the other two different secondary building units, involving mononuclear and binuclear Zn(II)-Htrz motifs. The optical properties of complexes 1-3 in the solid state are investigated at room temperature. The results show that complexes 1 and 3 emit intense blue luminescences attributed to the ligands, while complex 2 exhibits an infrequent fluorescent property, emitting both blue and yellow luminescences at 472 and 603 nm simultaneously. Furthermore, powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses of 1-3 are also investigated, which demonstrate their high purities and thermal stabilities.