Vibrational lifetime measurements of matrix isolated molecules by an optical “double resonance” method

An optical-optical “double-resonance” experiment has been developed and successfully applied to the study of vibrational lifetimes. This pulsed dual laser technique should be applicable to all species possessing resolvable allowed vibronic transitions and it permits the direct measurement of vibrational lifetimes which, at present, may be as short as 20 μs. Application of this technique to the υ″ = 1 and υ″ = 2 states of matrix isolated C₂^? yields half lifes of 0.2 and 1.2 ms, respectively, in an argon matrix at 16K, and 0.3 and 1.3 ms in an N₂ matrix at 14K. No significant temperature variation of these rate constants has been found in the range 14 to 24 K. This is the first direct measurement of the vibrational lifetime of a homonuclear diatomic molecule isolated in a matrix environment.     

A Study of the Relationship between Alkyl Substituents,Position of Substituents,and the Fluorescence Lifetimes of Phenyl-N-Methylcarbamates

Abstract

Empirical data is presented to describe the relationship between the fluorescence lifetimes (τ_f) and the position of substituents on the parent molecule, Phenyl-N-Methylcarbamate. The fluorescence lifetimes are determined using time correlated single photon counting technique¹. It is found that increasing lifetimes with position of substitution follows the order, meta > para > ortho in the case of mono-alkyl substituted carbamates. Also, the results below indicate that the long fluorescence lifetime of 4-Dimethylamino-3,5-Xylyl-N-Methylcarbamate, τ_f 108 ns² originates from an n-II? lowest excited state and not the usual II-II? lowest excited states of the other N-Methylcarbamates studied.     

Radiative lifetime of the Te2 B0+u and A0+u states excited by a pulsed dye laser

A pulsed dye laser has been used to measure the radiative lifetimes and quenching rates of transitions of the B0⁺_u and A0⁺_u states of Te₂. The observed zero pressure lifetimes vary from 55 to 730 ns. The quenching rates vary from 0.9 × 10⁶ to 40 × 10⁶ s⁻¹ Torr⁻¹.     

Dissociation Dynamics of Nitrous Oxide from Jet-cooling Absorption Spectrum in 142.5-147.5 nm

The absorption spectrum of the C^{1∏ state of N₂O molecule in the wavelength range of 142.5～147.5 nm has been measured under the jet-cooled condition, and the clear spectral features are displayed. A vibrational progression is observed with a frequency interval of about 500 cm-1. With the aid of potential energy surfaces (PES) of the low-lying electronic states of N₂O, the vibrational progression is assigned as the bending mode of the repulsive C1∏ state. From the Fourier transformation analysis, the recurrence period of the peri-odic orbit near the transition state region is derived to be 65 fs. Through the least-square Lorentzian fitting, the lifetimes of the resonance levels are estimated from their profile widths to be about 20 fs, which is shorter than the recurrence period. Therefore, a new explanation is suggested for the observed diffuse spectral structure, based on the behavior of dissociating N₂O on PES of the C1∏ state in the present excitation energy range.}     

Natural radiative lifetimes in the 5snd 1 D 2 series of SrI

Natural radiative lifetimes have been measured for the 5snd ¹ D ₂ series in SrI for the previously not measuredn=10, 11 and 12 states. The measurements connect earlier measurements in lower and higher states in this heavily perturbed series. The lifetimes were determined using pulsed laser excitation and time-resolved detection.     

Long‐Lived 1H Nuclear Spin Singlet in Dimethyl Maleate Revealed by Addition of Thiols

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have become important techniques in many research areas. One major limitation is the relatively low sensitivity of these methods, which recently has been addressed by hyperpolarization. However, once hyperpolarization is imparted on a molecule, the magnetization typically decays within relatively short times. Singlet states are well isolated from the environment, such that they acquire long lifetimes. We describe herein a model reaction for read‐out of a hyperpolarized long‐lived state in dimethyl maleate using thiol conjugate addition. This type of reaction could lend itself to monitoring oxidative stress or hypoxia by sensitive detection of thiols. Similar reactions could be used in biosensors or assays that exploit molecular switching. Singlet lifetimes of about 4.7 min for ¹H spins in [D₄]MeOH are seen in this system.     

Potential energy curves and spectral properties for electronic states of F2 and F+2

Potential energy (PE) curves for the Rydberg states of F₂, and for the ground and lowest two electronic states each of symmetry ²Π_g,u, ²Δ_g,u and ²Σ^±_g,u of F⁺₂, have been obtained using modest-sized configuration-interaction calculations. These PE curves have been used to calculate spectroscopic constants for the electronic states and the results agree reasonably well with the limited experimental and theoretical results previously reported. The theoretical PE curves for the Rydberg states of F₂ are found to be strongly perturbed by valence-Rydberg-ionic interactions and these perturbations appear to be responsible for certain features in recently reported electron energy-loss spectra in F₂. The corresponding electronic wavefunctions have been used to calculate the electronic transition moment, as a function of the internuclear distance, for dipole-allowed transitions between the lowest excited electron state of each symmetry and the appropriate ground electronic state. The radiative emission probabilities, natural lifetimes, and absorption oscillator strengths, for each band system, are also reported here. The predicted lifetimes for vibrational levels of the A ²Π_u of electronic state in F⁺₂ vary from 1.3–1.5 μs and agree reasonably well with the single available set of measurements. The predicted radiative lifetimes for the higher electronic states of F⁺₂ are substantially longer and fall into the range 5–100 ms.     

Excited states of gaseous ions. Transitions to and predissociation of the CΣu state of n2

A configuration interaction study of different electronic states of N⁺₂ has been performed. The position in energy and the relative intensity of the photoelectron bands of the ²Σ⁺_u states has been calculated and compared with experiment. The C²Σ⁺_u state is predissociated by a ⁴Π_u state, as previously supposed. However, owing to the attractive nature of the ⁴Π_u state a double crossing occurs. Several predissociation mechanisms of the C state can therefore take place; their lifetimes have been calculated.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of radiative lifetimes in neutral gallium

Using laser spectroscopic techniques the natural radiative lifetimes of 4s ² n ₁ s ² S and 4s ² n ₂ d ² D states of neutral gallium have been measured forn ₁ = 6 to 11 andn ₂ = 4 to 9. These states, as well as previously measured4s ² np ² P states, have been investigated theoretically using multi-configuration Hartree-Fock calculations. Oscillator strengths to all lower-lying states have been calculated and theoretical lifetimes of the investigated states evaluated. The² D sequence is strongly influenced by the 4s4p ^{2 2} D perturber, and strong cancellation effects in the radiative decay are observed both theoretically and experimentally.     

Radiative and autoionization rates of the metastable 24 P J 0 states in lithiumlike neon

The delayed X-ray and electron emission from metastable states in fast, foil excited neon ions has been investigated. High resolution X-ray and electron spectroscopy at calibrated relative detection efficiencies was applied to determine fluorescence yields for the radiative decay of the (1s2s2p)⁴P _J ⁰ , J=1/2, 3/2, 5/2 states in NeVIII. Using measured total lifetimes corrected for cascading effects the forbidden radiative and autoionization rates were determined.     

The externally contracted CI method applied to N2

An approximate multireference CI method is presented. By grouping together configurations with the same internal parts and freezing their relative weights by the use of perturbation theory, the number of variational parameters is drastically reduced. The loss of correlation energy is shown to be usually less than 2%, and the timing is less than one ordinary CI iteration. Examples from calculations on some states of the nitrogen atom and nitrogen molecule are given. The basis set convergence for the lowest excitation energy in the atom is very slow. Less than 50% of the correlation effect is obtained at the s, p, d limit. After the inclusion of ? functions this value is improved to 83%. The dissociation energies of the molecule also show slow basis set convergence with errors of 0.5 eV even after addition of ? functions. The bond distances are, howeever, accurately reproduced with errors of less than 0.005 Å for all the states. A qualitative discussion of predissociation in the a ¹Π_g and B ³Π_gstates caused by spin–orbit interaction with the ⁵Σ_g⁺ state, is finally presented. Rapidly oscillating lifetimes between the different vibrational states are predicted.     

Radiative lifetimes of the lowest 3P1 metastable states of Ca and Sr

The lifetimes of the lowest ³P₁ states of Ca and Sr have been measured in atomic beam experiments. These measurements have been made by observing the exponential decay of the fluorescence emitted from excited states populated either by a discharge or a dye-laser pumping. In both cases, the velocity distributions of the radiating atoms were also measured by a time-of-flight technique. Our results show that the lifetime measurements using the discharge excitation are hampered by a systematic error introduced probably by cascade transitions that repopulate the upper energy levels of the transitions of interest. The radiative lifetimes of the 4s4p ³P₁ state of Ca and 5s5p ³P₁ state of Sr are determined to be 0.34 ± 0.02 ms and 21.3 ± 0.5 μs, respectively.     

Two exponential decay of 3371 å laser excited CS2 fluorescence

We have observed time resolved CS₂ fluorescence excited by an N₂⁺ pulsed laser at 3371 Å. The optical absorption in this region is unassigned; we find two fluorescing states with collision free lifetimes of 2.9 ± 0.3 and 17 ± 2 μsec. Deactivation rates for both states are reported for the collision partners CS₂, Ar, O₂, and N₂. All rates are near gas kinetic; the 2.9 ± 0.3 μsec state exhibits exceptionally fast deactivation, with the rate constant for CS₂ being (7.9 ± 1.2) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³/molecule sec.     

Photophysics and photochemistry of sterically strained α-haloanthraquinones: The bromo and/or chloro substituted compounds

The steric hindrance between the oxygen and halogen atoms results in the structural deformation of α-haloanthraquinones and their lowest excited triplet (T₁) states are of mixed nπ ^*-ππ ^* or ππ ^* character with unusually short lifetimes. Moreover, the rates of hydrogen-atom abstraction from ethanol by the T₁ states decrease with their increasing ππ ^* character, and the proximity of the halogen atom to the hydroxy group causes the photochemical intramolecular elimination of hydrogen halide from the initial photoproducts (α-haloanthrahydroquinones) yielding α-haloanthraquinones (or anthraquinone) with one less halogen atom than the original molecule; the final product is anthrahydroquinone. The remarkably large structural deformation of 1,8-dihaloanthrasemiquinone radicals which gives rise to the simultaneous formation of 1,8-dihaloanthrahydroquinones and the original anthraquinones. Of particular interest is observation of the absorption band(s) attributable to the second excited triplet (T₂) states of 1,8-dihaloanthraquinones. However, the electron transfer from triethylamine (TEA) to these T₂ states generating the radical anions is observed only in acetonitrile, while that to the T₁ states generating their exciplexes with TEA is observed not only in acetonitrile but also in toluene and ethanol.     

Electronic states and nature of bonding of the molecule PdSi by all electron ab initio HF-CI calculations and mass spectrometric equilibrium experiments

Six low-lying electronic states of the PdSi molecule have been investigated by performing all electron ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and configuration interaction (CI) calculations. The molecule is predicted to have a³∏ ground state and two low-lying excited states,³Σ^? and¹Σ⁺. The electronic structure of the PdSi molecule has been rationalized in a simple molecular orbital diagram. As part of the PdSi molecule the Pd atom essentially retains its (4d)¹⁰ ground term configuration. The chemical bond in the PdSi molecule has been interpreted in terms of donation and back-donation of charge. The bond is polar with charge transfer from the Pd to the Si atom. The dissociation energy of the PdSi molecule has been determined from the mass spectrometric equilibrium data in combination with the theoretical results asD ₀ ^o =257±12 kJ mol^?1.     

Lifetimes of the vibronic Ã2A1 states of H2O+ and of the 3Πi (υ′ = 0) state of OH+

Using the delayed coincidence technique, lifetimes have been measured for some Σ and Π vibronic òA₁ states of H₂O⁺ and for the ³Π_i (υ′ = 0) state of OH⁺ by analysing the decay curves of the òA₁(0, υ′₂, 0) ? X?²B₁ (0, υ″₂, 0) and the ³Π_i(υ′ = 0) ? ³Σ^?(υ″ = 0) emission intensities respectively. The excited molecular ionic states are produced via excitation of H₂O molecules by 200 eV electrons. For H₂O⁺(òA₁) the vibronic Σ levels with υ′₂ = 13 and 15 and the vibronic Π levels with υ′₂ = 12 and 14 have been considered. The radiative lifetimes obtained for these levels have about the same value, namely 10.5(±1) × 10^?6 s. The radiative lifetime for the OH⁺(³Π_iυ′= 0) state is 2.5(±0.3) × 10^?6 s. The lifetimes found in this work for H₂O⁺(òA₁) and OH⁺(³Π_i,υ′= 0) are about ten and three times longer respectively than the corresponding lifetimes given by other investigators [1,2]. The probable reason for this discrepancy is that in the other experiments no attention has been paid to the presence of a large space charge effect. This effect is caused by the positive ions which are created by the primary electron beam.     

Radiative and non-radiative processes in jet-cooled NCNO

Lifetimes of excited vibronic levels in NCNO are measured both by LIF and by monitoring excited state absorptions. Fluorescence lifetimes are longer than S₁ radiative lifetimes at all wavelengths between the band origin (11339 cm⁻¹) and D_o (17085 cm⁻¹). In the language of radiationless transitions, the behavior below D_o is characteristic of the “small or intermediate molecule lim     

Determination of radiative lifetimes in neutral nitrogen using short laser pulses from a distributed feedback dye laser

Radiative lifetimes were determined for two short-lived states in neutral nitrogen. Following photo-dissociation and two-photon excitation employing the same UV source, excitation to higher states was performed with a distributed feedback dye laser (DFDL). The lifetimes were found to be τ(2p ²4d ⁴ D _7/2)=17(3) ns and τ(2p ²5s ⁴ P _5/2)=22(3) ns.     

Lifetimes of the 4s4p 3 P 1 and 4s3d 1 D 2 states of Ca I

The lifetimes of the 4s4p ³ P ₁ and 4s3d ¹ D ₂ metastable states of Ca have been studied using the time-of-flight technique. Two kinds of observations were performed. First, the exponential decay of the fluorescence, using a (continuous) dc discharge for excitation and then the velocity distribution of the radiating atoms, using a pulsed discharge, were measured. From the combined results of these measurements the lifetimes were derived. The lifetimes of the 4s4p ³ P ₁ and 4s3d ¹ D ₂ states of Ca are determined to be 0.57±0.03 ms and 1.5±0.4 ms, respectively.     

Long‐Lived,Directional Photoinduced Charge Separation in RuII Complexes Bearing Laminate Polypyridyl Ligands

Ru^II complexes incorporating both amide‐linked bithiophene donor ancillary ligands and laminate acceptor ligands; dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (dppz), tetrapyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c:3′′,2′′‐h:2′′′,3′′′‐j]phenazine (tpphz), and 9,11,20,22‐tetraazatetrapyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c:3′′,2′′‐l:2′′′,3′′′]‐pentacene (tatpp) exhibit long‐lived charge separated (CS) states, which have been analyzed using time‐resolved transient absorption (TA), fluorescence, and electronic absorption spectroscopy in addition to ground state electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements. These complexes possess two electronically relevant ³MLCT states related to electron occupation of MOs localized predominantly on the proximal “bpy‐like” portion and central (or distal) “phenazine‐like” portion of the acceptor ligand as well as energetically similar ³LC and ³ILCT states. The unusually long excited state lifetimes (τ up to 7 μs) observed in these complexes reflect an equilibration of the ³MLCT_prox or ³MLCT_dist states with additional triplet states, including a ³LC state and a ³ILCT state that formally localizes a hole on the bithiophene moiety and an electron on the laminate acceptor ligand. Coordination of a Zn^II ion to the open coordination site of the laminate acceptor ligand is observed to significantly lower the energy of the ³MLCT_dist state by decreasing the magnitude of the excited state dipole and resulting in much shorter excited state lifetimes. The presence of the bithiophene donor group is reported to substantially extend the lifetime of these Zn adducts via formation of a ³ILCT state that can equilibrate with the ³MLCT_dist state. In tpphz complexes, Zn^II coordination can reorder the energy of the ³MLCT_prox and ³MLCT_dist states such that there is a distinct switch from one state to the other. The net result is a series of complexes that are capable of forming CS states with electron–hole spatial separation of up to 14 Å and possess exceptionally long lifetimes by equilibration with other triplet states.