A class of luminescent cyclometalated alkynylgold(III) complexes: synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical, photophysical, and computational studies of [Au(C=N=C)(C triple bond C-R)] (C=N=C = kappa(3)C,N,C bis-cyclometalated 2,6-diphenylpyridyl)

A new class of luminescent cyclometalated alkynylgold(III) complexes, [Au(RC=N(R')=CR)(CCR' ')], i.e., [Au(C=N=C)(C triple bond CR')] (HC=N=CH = 2,6-diphenylpyridine) R' ' = C6H5 1, C6H4-Cl-p 2, C6H4-NO2-p 3, C6H4-OCH3-p 4, C6H4-NH2-p 5, C6H4-C6H13-p 6, C6H13 7, [Au(tBuC=N=CtBu)(C triple bond CC6H5)] 8 (HtBuC=N=CtBuH = 2,6-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)pyridine), and [Au(C=NTol=C)(CCC6H4-C6H13-p)] 9 (HC=NTol=CH = 2,6-diphenyl-4-p-tolylpyridine), have been synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of most of the complexes have also been determined. Electrochemical studies show that, in general, the first oxidation wave is an alkynyl ligand-centered oxidation, while the first reduction couple is ascribed to a ligand-centered reduction of the cyclometalated ligand with the exception of 3 in which the first reduction couple is assigned as an alkynyl ligand-centered reduction. Their electronic absorption and luminescence behaviors have also been investigated. In dichloromethane solution at room temperature, the low-energy absorption bands are assigned as the pi-pi* intraligand (IL) transition of the cyclometalated RC=N(R')=CR ligand with some mixing of a [pi(C triple bond CR') --> pi*(RC=N(R')=CR)] ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) character. The low-energy emission bands of all the complexes, with the exception of 5, are ascribed to origins mainly derived from the pi-pi* IL transition of the cyclometalated RC=N(R')=CR ligand. In the case of 5 that contains an electron-rich amino substituent on the alkynyl ligand, the low-energy emission band was found to show an obvious shift to the red. A change in the origin of emission is evident, and the emission of 5 is tentatively ascribed to a [pi(CCC6H4NH2) --> pi*(C=N=C)] LLCT excited-state origin. DFT and TDDFT computational studies have been performed to verify and elucidate the results of the electrochemical and photophysical studies.     

Determination of thermal residual strain in cabled optical fiber with high spatial resolution by Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry

The thermal residual strain induced in the cabled optical fiber is a very important factor for evaluating the reliability of optical fiber cables. In order to determine the distributed thermal residual strain in cabled optical fiber, a measurement method based on Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) system is proposed in the article. Thermal characteristics of residual strain along cabled optical fibers are investigated theoretically and experimentally based on Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) detection. The thermal residual strain along the cabled fiber, if any, can be determined with a high spatial resolution that is equal to that of the BOTDR system and can be less than a few meters. A double-coated fiber in loose optical cable was used as the test cabled optical fiber, and the experimental results were in good agreement with those predicted from the theory. It has been found that the fiber residual strain increases linearly with decreasing temperature in the range from 50 to ?50 °C.     

Existence of time-dependent density-functional theory for open electronic systems: time-dependent holographic electron density theorem

We present the time-dependent holographic electron density theorem (TD-HEDT), which lays the foundation of time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) for open electronic systems. For any finite electronic system, the TD-HEDT formally establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the electron density inside any finite subsystem and the time-dependent external potential. As a result, any electronic property of an open system in principle can be determined uniquely by the electron density function inside the open region. Implications of the TD-HEDT on the practicality of TDDFT are also discussed.     

Deep Red to Near‐Infrared Emitting Rhenium(I) Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry,Photophysics, and Electroluminescence Studies

A series of triarylamine‐containing tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes, [BrRe(CO)₃(N^N)] (N^N=5,5′‐bis(N,N‐diaryl‐4‐[ethen‐1‐yl]‐aniline)‐2,2′‐bipyridine), has been designed and synthesized by introducing a rhenium(I) metal center into a donor‐π‐acceptor‐π‐donor structure. All of the complexes showed an intense broad structureless emission band in dichloromethane at around 680–708 nm, which originated from an excited state of intraligand charge transfer (³ILCT) character from the triarylamine to the bipyridine moiety. Upon introduction of the bulky and electron‐donating pentaphenylbenzene units attached to the aniline groups, the emission bands were found to be red shifted. The nanosecond transient absorption spectra of two selected complexes were studied, which were suggestive of the formation of an initial charge‐separated state. Computational studies have been performed to provide further insight into the origin of the absorption and emission. One of the rhenium(I) complexes has been utilized in the fabrication of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), representing the first example of the realization of deep red to near‐infrared rhenium(I)‐based OLEDs with an emission extending up to 800 nm.     

Refractive index sensor based on an abrupt taper Michelson interferometer in a single-mode fiber

A simple refractive index sensor based on a Michelson interferometer in a single-mode fiber is constructed and demonstrated. The sensor consists of a single symmetrically abrupt taper region in a short piece of single-mode fiber that is terminated by approximately 500 nm thick gold coating. The sensitivity of the new sensor is similar to that of a long-period-grating-type sensor, and its ease of fabrication offers a low-cost alternative to current sensing applications.     

New functional inorganic polymers containing phosphorus

The C=C bond plays numerous roles in polymer science. This moiety is used as a precursor to polymers by addition polymerization and has been incorporated into π-conjugated polymers. The addition polymerization reaction has been extended to P=C bonds and the first example of a poly(methylenephosphine) has been prepared. The new macromolecule is of moderate molecular weight (ca. 10⁴ g/mol) and the oxidized polymers are air-stable. Poly(p-phenylenephosphaalkene), the first π-conjugated polymer containing P=C bonds in the backbone, has been prepared. The UV/Vis spectrum of this polymer shows a red shift in λ_max when compared with molecular model systems.