Fast decay of high vibronic S1 states in gas-phase benzene

Lifetimes of different vibronic levels at high excess energies in the S₁ state of isolated benzene molecules are measured using for the first time a two-photon ionization pump–probe technique with UV femtosecond pulses. For the 6¹1³ state (3290 cm^-1 excess energy) at the onset of the ‘channel three’ a biexponential decay is found with a fast (τ_f=20 ps) and a slow (τ_s>500 ps) component. The values are in line with previous sub-Doppler high-resolution measurements of this band in our laboratory. We explain the measured faster decay (τ_f=900 fs, τ_s=100 ps) of the 7¹ state at a lower excess energy of 3077 cm^-1 by a simultaneous excitation of the adjacent 6¹ ₀1³ ₀16¹ ₁ hot band leading to a vibronic state of higher excess energy and faster decay. The vibronic levels 6¹1⁴ and 7¹1¹ at a higher excess energy of ≳4000 cm^-1 show a biexponential decay of τ_f=550 fs, τ_s=30 ps and τ_f≲300 fs, τ_s=20 ps, respectively. The experimental results point to dynamic processes within the vibronic level manifold of the S₁ state and a fast nonradiative electronic relaxation process. Received: 3 November 1999 / Published online: 5 July 2000     

Evidence for a C-H...pi type weak interaction: 1 : 1 complex of styrene with acetylene studied by mass selective high-resolution UV spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The 1 : 1 complex of styrene with acetylene has been studied by mass selective low- and high-resolution UV resonance-enhanced two-photon ionisation (R2PI) spectroscopy combined with genetic-algorithm-based computer-aided fit of the spectra with partial rotational resolution, and high level ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. Two stable conformeric geometries of the 1 : 1 complex of styrene and acetylene have been theoretically found: one with acetylene binding to styrene as a proton donor, and one with acetylene acting as a proton acceptor. From the analysis of the vibronic structure of the S1<-- S0 spectrum and the fit of the highly resolved spectrum of the 0 origin band of the complex it is shown that the favoured conformation is the one in which acetylene binds to the benzene ring of styrene through formation of a non-conventional hydrogen bond of C-H...pi type with no marked change of the transition moment orientation of styrene. The styrene moiety remains planar and the acetylene molecule is tilted by a small angle of 4 degrees relative to the C6 symmetry axis of the benzene ring, most likely due to the reduced symmetry of the benzene ring pi electrons rather than to a direct interaction with the vinyl group.     

A master equation approach to the dynamics of zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) states and ZEKE spectroscopy

We have theoretically studied important dynamic processes involved in zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy using the density matrix method with the inverse Born-Oppenheimer approximation basis sets. In ZEKE spectroscopy, the ZEKE Rydberg states are populated by laser excitation (either a one- or two-photon process), which is followed by autoionizations and l-mixing due to a stray field. The discrimination field is then applied to ionize loosely bound electrons in the ZEKE states. This is followed by using the extraction field to extract electrons from the ZEKE levels which have a strength comparable to that of the extraction field. These extracted electrons are measured for the relative intensities of the ion states under investigation. The spectral positions are determined by the applied laser wavelength and modified by the extraction electric field. In this paper, all of these processes are conducted within the context of the density matrix method. The density matrix method can provide not only the dynamics of system's population and coherence (or phase) but also the rate constants of the processes involved in the ZEKE spectroscopy. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the theoretical treatments.     

Two-photon spectroscopy in the gas phase: first excited state of naphthalene, 1B3u

Molecular two-photon spectroscopy is promising to be a new tool for finding otherwise forbidden spectroscopic transitions. Work in the gas phase is particularly important for a study of vibronic two-photon states. The proof of such a new method, at least in part, must be based on its ability to make new assignments. Benzene has up to now been the first, and only example for new assignments. We now present naphthalene as a second system for this new technique. Assignments of new states are presented and based on a spectrum at a pressure of only 70 mtorr. The analysis makes use of rotational structure, polarization behavior and hot band information. We assign not only six new fundamentals in the first excited singlet state ¹B_3u but also fix some ground state assignments, which were ambiguous in the IR spectrum.     

Two photon excitation spectrum of benzene and benzene-d6 in the gas phase: Assignment of inducing modes by hot band analysis

The two-photon absorption spectrum for benzene-h₆ and -d₆ is reported and assigned, leading to the frequency assignment for hitherto unknown vibrations in the electronically excited state. In addition absorption has been measured from hot bands in the ground state. This latter technique has allowed us to make an unequivocal assignment of the vibrational modes responsible for inducing the otherwise forbidden two-photon process. The result is in disagreement with current theory, for this prototype two-photon spectrum in the gas phase.     

Mass analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy of p-fluorostyrene

Adiabatic ionization energy (AIE) and two-color threshold ion vibrational spectra of p-fluorostyrene have been measured by mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) method via three different intermediate levels in the first excited state, vibrationless S1 origin, 42(1)41(1), and 23(1) vibronic levels. Features of the ion vibrational spectra indicates that the geometry of the molecular ion including the conformation of the vinyl chain in the ionic ground state (D0) is almost identical to that of its neutral ground state (S0), and ionization has very little effect on the vibrational potentials of the aromatic ring modes. Comparison of the AIE with the reported value of styrene shows that fluorination at the para position of the aromatic ring has little effect on energy of the electron ejected in ionization process from the styrene chromophore.     

Two-photon absorption in the collisionless gas phase: lifetimes of new vibrational levels in benzene

Two-photon photoselection has been demonstrated for a molecule in the low pressure gas phase. The excitation has been used to populate new vibrational levels in benzene under isolated molecule conditions down to 0.1 torr. The new states display unusual behaviour as compared to the lifetimes of one-photon excited states. Most unexpectedly the lifetimes of the strongest two-photon inducing mode ν₁₄ is longer than all other lifetimes, including that of the vibrationless ¹B_2u origin. Some theoretical explanations are offered.     

Multimodal Analysis of Light-Driven Water Oxidation in Nanoporous Block Copolymer Membranes**

Heterogeneous light-driven catalysis is a cornerstone of sustainable energy conversion. Most catalytic studies focus on bulk analyses of the hydrogen and oxygen evolved, which impede the correlation of matrix heterogeneities, molecular features, and bulk reactivity. Here, we report studies of a heterogenized catalyst/photosensitizer system using a polyoxometalate water oxidation catalyst and a model, molecular photosensitizer that were co-immobilized within a nanoporous block copolymer membrane. Via operando scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), light-induced oxygen evolution was determined using sodium peroxodisulfate (Na₂S₂O₈) as sacrificial electron acceptor. Ex situ element analyses provided spatially resolved information on the local concentration and distribution of the molecular components. Infrared attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR) studies of the modified membranes showed no degradation of the water oxidation catalyst under the reported light-driven conditions.